<PAGE>

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

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                       AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

                          dated as of November 7, 2002

                                  by and among

                       HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                                  as Borrower,

                         the Lenders referred to herein,

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                            as Administrative Agent,

                      DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
                              as Syndication Agent

                                       and

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                             as Documentation Agent

                       BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC and
                         DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC.,
                    as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers

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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS..................................................................................    2
SECTION 1.1   Definitions..............................................................................    2
SECTION 1.2   General..................................................................................   20
SECTION 1.3   Other Definitions and Provisions.........................................................   20

ARTICLE II CONSTRUCTION LOAN FACILITY..................................................................   20
SECTION 2.1   Commitment...............................................................................   21
SECTION 2.2   Procedure for Disbursement of Construction Loan Advances.................................   21
SECTION 2.3   Repayment of Construction Loan Advances..................................................   23
SECTION 2.4   Prepayment of Construction Loan Advances.................................................   23
SECTION 2.5   Construction Loan Notes..................................................................   24
SECTION 2.6   Use of Proceeds..........................................................................   24
SECTION 2.7   Budget Reallocation......................................................................   25
SECTION 2.8   Project Deposit..........................................................................   25
SECTION 2.9   Direct Construction Loan Advances........................................................   26

ARTICLE III GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS....................................................................   26
SECTION 3.1   Interest.................................................................................   26
SECTION 3.2   Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Construction Loan Advances............   29
SECTION 3.3   Fees.....................................................................................   30
SECTION 3.4   Manner of Payment........................................................................   30
SECTION 3.5   Crediting of Payments and Proceeds.......................................................   31
SECTION 3.6   Adjustments..............................................................................   31
SECTION 3.7   Nature of Obligations of the Lenders Regarding Construction Loan Advances;
              Assumption by the Administrative Agent...................................................   31
SECTION 3.8   Changed Circumstances....................................................................   32
SECTION 3.9   Indemnity................................................................................   34
SECTION 3.10  Capital Requirements.....................................................................   34
SECTION 3.11  Taxes....................................................................................   34
SECTION 3.12  Security.................................................................................   36
SECTION 3.13  Replacement of Lenders...................................................................   37

ARTICLE IV CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING................................................   38
SECTION 4.1   Closing..................................................................................   38
SECTION 4.2   Conditions to Closing and Initial Construction Loan Advance..............................   38
SECTION 4.3   Conditions to All Construction Loan Advances.............................................   47
SECTION 4.4   Final Construction Loan Advance for Improvements.........................................   48

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER...............................................   50
SECTION 5.1   Representations and Warranties...........................................................   50
SECTION 5.2   Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc..........................................   60
</TABLE>

                                       i

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND REPORTS......................................................................   61
SECTION 6.1   Financial Statements.....................................................................   61
SECTION 6.2   Officer's Compliance Certificate.........................................................   62
SECTION 6.3   Accountant's Certificate.................................................................   63
SECTION 6.4   Other Reports............................................................................   63
SECTION 6.5   Notice of Litigation and Other Matters...................................................   64
SECTION 6.6   Accuracy of Information..................................................................   66

ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS......................................................................   66
SECTION 7.1   Preservation of Existence and Related Matters............................................   66
SECTION 7.2   Maintenance of Property..................................................................   66
SECTION 7.3   Accounting Methods and Financial Records.................................................   66
SECTION 7.4   Payment and Performance of Obligations...................................................   66
SECTION 7.5   Compliance With Laws and Approvals.......................................................   67
SECTION 7.6   Environmental Laws.......................................................................   67
SECTION 7.7   Compliance with ERISA....................................................................   67
SECTION 7.8   Compliance With Agreements...............................................................   68
SECTION 7.9   Visits and Inspections...................................................................   68
SECTION 7.10  Construction of the Improvements.........................................................   68
SECTION 7.11  Storage of Materials.....................................................................   69
SECTION 7.12  Advertising by the Lenders...............................................................   69
SECTION 7.13  Annual Appraisal.........................................................................   69
SECTION 7.14  Construction Consultant..................................................................   69
SECTION 7.15  Reports and Vouchers.....................................................................   70
SECTION 7.16  Equipment Financing......................................................................   70
SECTION 7.17  Maintenance of Licenses, Etc.............................................................   70
SECTION 7.18  Insurance................................................................................   71
SECTION 7.19  Further Assurances.......................................................................   71

ARTICLE VIII FINANCIAL COVENANTS.......................................................................   71
SECTION 8.1   Minimum EBITDA...........................................................................   71
SECTION 8.2   Debt Service Coverage Ratio..............................................................   71

ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS..........................................................................   72
SECTION 9.1   Limitations on Debt......................................................................   72
SECTION 9.2   Limitations on Liens.....................................................................   73
SECTION 9.3   Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and Acquisitions.............................   74
SECTION 9.4   Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation...................................................   75
SECTION 9.5   Limitations on Sale of Assets............................................................   75
SECTION 9.6   Limitation on Distributions..............................................................   76
SECTION 9.7   Amendments, Payments and Prepayments of Subordinated Debt................................   77
SECTION 9.8   Transactions With Affiliates.............................................................   78
SECTION 9.9   Restrictive Agreements...................................................................   78
SECTION 9.10  Certain Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.....................................   78
SECTION 9.11  Changes to the Plans.....................................................................   78
SECTION 9.12  Contracts................................................................................   79
</TABLE>

                                       ii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
ARTICLE X DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.........................................................................   79
SECTION 10.1  Events of Default........................................................................   79
SECTION 10.2  Remedies.................................................................................   83
SECTION 10.3  Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc..........................................   85

ARTICLE XI THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT....................................................................   86
SECTION 11.1  Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent................................   86
SECTION 11.2  Delegation of Duties.....................................................................   86
SECTION 11.3  Liability of the Administrative Agent....................................................   86
SECTION 11.4  Reliance by the Administrative Agent.....................................................   87
SECTION 11.5  Notice of Default........................................................................   87
SECTION 11.6  Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by the Administrative Agent...................   88
SECTION 11.7  Indemnification of the Administrative Agent..............................................   88
SECTION 11.8  The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity......................................   89
SECTION 11.9  Successor Administrative Agent...........................................................   89
SECTION 11.10 Syndication Agent; Documentation Agent; Co-Lead Arranger.................................   90

ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS..............................................................................   90
SECTION 12.1  Notices..................................................................................   90
SECTION 12.2  Expenses; Indemnity......................................................................   92
SECTION 12.3  Set-off..................................................................................   93
SECTION 12.4  Governing Law............................................................................   93
SECTION 12.5  Jurisdiction and Venue...................................................................   93
SECTION 12.6  Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.........................................................   94
SECTION 12.7  Reversal of Payments.....................................................................   94
SECTION 12.8  Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages......................................................   95
SECTION 12.9  Accounting Matters.......................................................................   95
SECTION 12.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations...................................................   95
SECTION 12.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents.........................................................   99
SECTION 12.12 Confidentiality..........................................................................   99
SECTION 12.13 Performance of Duties....................................................................  100
SECTION 12.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest.........................................................  100
SECTION 12.15 Survival of Indemnities..................................................................  100
SECTION 12.16 Titles and Captions......................................................................  100
SECTION 12.17 Severability of Provisions...............................................................  101
SECTION 12.18 Counterparts.............................................................................  101
SECTION 12.19 Term of Agreement........................................................................  101
SECTION 12.20 Advice of Counsel........................................................................  101
SECTION 12.21 No Strict Construction...................................................................  101
SECTION 12.22 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of Covenants....................  101
</TABLE>

                                      iii

<PAGE>

                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A         -    Land
Exhibit B         -    Form of Construction Loan Note
Exhibit C         -    Form of Draw Request
Exhibit D         -    Form of Notice of Account Designation
Exhibit E         -    Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit F         -    Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit G         -    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit H         -    Form of Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit I         -    Form of Officer's Compliance Certificate
Exhibit J         -    Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit K         -    Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit L         -    Plans and Specifications
Exhibit M         -    Budget
Exhibit N         -    Storage of Materials
</TABLE>

SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<S>                    <C>
Schedule 1.1(a)   -    Lenders and Commitments
Schedule 1.1(b)   -    Guarantors
Schedule 1.1(c)   -    Related Credit Documents
Schedule 1.1(d)   -    Related Guaranty Agreements
Schedule 5.1(b)   -    Capitalization
Schedule 5.1(l)   -    Material Contracts
Schedule 5.1(s)   -    Debt and Guaranty Obligations
Schedule 5.1(t)   -    Litigation
Schedule 9.8      -    Permitted Transactions With Affiliates
</TABLE>

                                       iv

<PAGE>

                       AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of the 7th day of
November, 2002, by and among HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP, a Texas limited
partnership, as Borrower, the lenders who are or may become a party to this
Agreement, as Lenders, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the
Lenders, DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Syndication Agent for the
Lenders, and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent.

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

         WHEREAS, the Borrower entered into that certain Construction Loan
Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified as of the date hereof, the "Existing Loan Agreement"),
between the Borrower and MedCath Incorporated (successor by merger to MedCath
Finance Company), which was secured by that certain Deed of Trust, Assignment,
Security Agreement and Financing Statement, dated January 29, 2002 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as of the date hereof, the
"Existing Deed of Trust"), recorded as Document No. 20020249975 at Volume 9235,
Page 1, from Grantor to Rio Grande Valley Abstract Co., Inc., as Trustee in
favor of MedCath Incorporated;


         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide the
Construction Loan Facility (defined below) for the purpose of refinancing the
Existing Loan Agreement and for the purposes hereinafter set forth;

         WHEREAS, in connection with the refinancing of the Existing Loan
Agreement, MedCath Incorporated shall assign all of its right, title and
interest in and to the Existing Loan Agreement and the Existing Deed of Trust in
favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to accept such assignment (the
"Assignment");

         WHEREAS, in connection with the Assignment and subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Borrower and the Lenders desire to amend, restate and
consolidate the terms of the Existing Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and
have agreed to amend, restate and consolidate the Existing Deed of Trust in its
entirety.

         WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Assignment and subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, the Lenders have agreed to make the
requested Construction Loan Facility available to the Borrower;

         NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties
hereby agree as follows:

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1       Definitions. The following terms when used in this
Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

         "Adjusted Debt Service" means, with respect to the Borrower for any
period, the sum of the following determined, without duplication, in accordance
with GAAP: (i) all Interest Expense due and payable in cash or which was paid
during such period (excluding all Interest Expense paid during such period by
the Borrower to MedCath Incorporated) plus (ii) all scheduled principal payments
of Debt (excluding payments of Debt to MedCath Incorporated) which were paid
during such period.

         "Adjusted EBITDA" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period,
(i) EBITDA for such period less (ii) maintenance Capital Expenditures of
$200,000 for each fiscal quarter during such period.

         "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as
Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to
Section 11.9.

         "Administrative Agent's Office" means the office of the Administrative
Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section
12.1(c).

         "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person or any of its Subsidiaries. The term "control" means (a) the
power to vote five percent (5%) or more of the securities or other equity
interests of a Person having ordinary voting power, or (b) the possession,
directly or indirectly, of any other power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, however, that the term
"Affiliate" shall not include any owner of the Borrower (other than the Parent
and its Subsidiaries).

         "Administrative Agent-Related Persons" means the Administrative Agent
(including any successor administrative agent), together with its Affiliates
(including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Administrative
Agent, Banc of America Securities LLC as a Co-Lead Arranger), and the officers,
directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
Affiliates.

         "Aggregate Commitment" means the aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Commitments hereunder, as such amount may be reduced or modified at any time or
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Closing Date, the
Aggregate Commitment shall be thirty-one million six hundred thousand Dollars
($31,600,000).

         "Aggregate Project Cost" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 5.1(v).

<PAGE>

         "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Applicable Law" means, collectively, all international, foreign,
federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations,
requirements, ordinances, codes, constitutions and administrative or judicial
precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration
thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement,
interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative
orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and
agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having
the force of law.

         "Applicable Margin" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(c).

         "Appraised Value" means Sixty-Seven Million Seven Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($67,700,000).

         "Approved Fund" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.10(h).

         "Architect" means Odell Associates Inc.

         "Architect's Contract" means the Agreement for Architectural Services
between the Borrower and the Architect, dated January 21, 2002.

         "Assignment and Acceptance" means an Assignment and Acceptance
substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto.

         "Attorney Costs" means and includes all fees and disbursements of any
law firm or other external counsel.

         "Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A., a national banking
association, and its successors.

         "Base Rate" means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the
higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest
in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of
America as its "prime rate." Such rate is a rate set by Bank of America based
upon various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at
the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such
change.

         "Base Rate Loan" means any Construction Loan Advance bearing interest
at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 3.1(a).

         "Benefited Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.6.

<PAGE>

         "Borrower" means Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP, a Texas limited
partnership, in its capacity as borrower hereunder.

         "Budget" means the budget prepared with respect to the Project by the
Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent, which is attached hereto as
Exhibit M.

         "Business Day" means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in
clause (b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on
which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New York, are open for
the conduct of their commercial banking business, and (b) with respect to all
notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and
interest on, any Eurodollar Rate Loan, any day that is a Business Day described
in clause (a) and that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar
deposits in the London interbank market.

         "Calculation Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(c).

         "Capital Asset" means, with respect to the Borrower, any asset that
should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as a capital
asset on a balance sheet of the Borrower.

         "Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to the Borrower for any
period, the aggregate cost of all Capital Assets acquired by the Borrower during
such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Capital Lease" means any lease of any property by the Borrower, as
lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as
a capital lease on a balance sheet of the Borrower.

         "Cash Flow Available For Distribution" means, with respect to the
Borrower for any period, the sum of the following determined, without
duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (i) EBITDA for such period less (ii) all
principal and interest payments required to be paid with respect to Senior Debt
during such period less (iii) all Unfinanced Capital Expenditures during such
period.

         "Change in Control" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
10.1(j).

         "Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement or such later Business
Day upon which each condition described in Section 4.2 shall be satisfied or
waived in all respects in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in
its sole discretion.

         "CMS" means the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Administration of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services and any successor agency.

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

<PAGE>

         "Co-Lead Arrangers" means Banc of America Securities LLC and Deutsche
Bank Alex. Brown Inc. in their capacity as lead arrangers and book managers.

         "Collateral" means the collateral security for the Obligations pledged
or granted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Security Documents.

         "Collateral Assignment of Architect's Contract" means the collateral
assignment of even date with respect to the Architect's Contract executed by the
Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the
Lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.

         "Collateral Assignment of Construction Contract" means the collateral
assignment of even date with respect to the Construction Contract executed by
the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and
the Lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.

         "Commitment" means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender
to make Construction Loan Advances for the account of the Borrower in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such
Lender's name on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto, as such amount may be reduced or
modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b)
as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitment to make Construction Loan Advances.

         "Commitment Agreement" means the Commitment Agreement dated as of July
27, 2001 by and among MedCath Incorporated, the Lenders who are or may become
party thereto and the Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof.

         "Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender, (a) prior to making
all of the Construction Loan Advances, the ratio of (i) the Commitment of such
Lender to (ii) the Commitments of all Lenders and (b) after all of the
Construction Loan Advances are made, the ratio of (i) the outstanding principal
balance of the Construction Loan Advances of such Lender to (ii) the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of the Construction Loan Advances of all Lenders.

         "Completion Date" means the date upon which the Borrower has received
the final certificate of occupancy for the Improvements, all permits and
licenses required under Applicable Law to operate the Hospital, the Medicare
Certification with respect to the Hospital, and the Medicaid Certification with
respect to the Hospital (as applicable), which date shall not be later than the
Construction Loan Termination Date.

         "Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements
or financial statement items of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, such statements
or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of
consolidation under GAAP.

         "Construction Consultant" means the construction consultant, if any,
engaged by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Project.

<PAGE>

         "Construction Contract" Standard Form Agreement dated March 4, 2002,
between Borrower and the General Contractor, and converted to a lump sum
contract by letter agreement dated September 23, 2002, as may be amended from
time to time.

         "Construction Loan Advances" means the construction loan advances made
to the Borrower by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

         "Construction Loan Facility" means the construction loan facility
established pursuant to Article II.

         "Construction Loan Notes" means the Construction Loan Notes made by the
Borrower payable to the order of each of the Lenders, substantially in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing the Debt incurred by the Borrower pursuant to
the Construction Loan Facility, and any amendments, modifications and
supplements thereto, any substitute therefor, and any replacement, restatements,
renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part; "Construction Loan Note"
means any of such Construction Loan Notes.

         "Construction Loan Termination Date" means the date which is eighteen
(18) months after the Closing Date.

         "Corporate Revolver" means the Credit Agreement dated as of July 31,
1998, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, by and among MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the Initial
Lenders named therein, as lenders, the Initial Issuing Bank named therein, as
issuing bank, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral
agent, and Banc of America Securities LLC, as arranger and syndication agent.

         "Cost Savings" means either (i) the completion of any line item in the
Budget without the expenditure of all amounts allocated to such line item in the
Budget or (ii) demonstration by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent's
reasonable satisfaction that a Cost Savings has been realized with respect to
any uncompleted line item in the Budget.

         "Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower at any date and without
duplication, the sum of the following calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a)
all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money including, but
not limited to, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments of the Borrower, (b) all obligations to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services of the Borrower (including, without
limitation, all obligations under non-competition agreements), except trade
payables arising in the ordinary course of business not more than one hundred
and twenty (120) days past due, (c) all obligations of the Borrower as lessee
under Capital Leases, (d) all Debt of any other Person secured by a Lien on any
asset of the Borrower, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of the Borrower, (f) all
obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower relative to the face
amount of letters of credit, whether or not drawn, and banker's acceptances
issued for the account of the Borrower, (g) all obligations of the Borrower to
redeem, repurchase, exchange, defease or otherwise make payments in respect of
capital stock or other securities or partnership interests of the Borrower, (h)
all net payment obligations incurred by the Borrower pursuant to Hedging
Agreements and (i) all outstanding

<PAGE>

payment obligations of the Borrower with respect to 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.

         "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of
America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for
the benefit of creditors, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar
debtor relief Applicable Laws of the United States of America or other
applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of
creditors generally.

         "Default" means any of the events specified in Section 10.1 which with
the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would
constitute an Event of Default.

         "Documentation Agent" means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its
capacity as Documentation Agent hereunder.

         "Dollars" or "$" means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful
currency of the United States.

         "Draw Request" means a properly completed and executed written
application by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit C
attached hereto (or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent) setting
forth the amount of Construction Loan Advance proceeds desired, together with
such schedules, affidavits, releases, waivers, statements, invoices, bills and
other documents, certificates and information as may be required by the
Administrative Agent.

         "EBITDA" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, the sum of
the following determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net
Income for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted
in determining Net Income for such period: (i) Interest Expense for such period,
(ii) income and franchise taxes for such period, (iii) amortization and
depreciation for such period, (iv) non-cash charges for such period solely with
respect to the impairment of goodwill in accordance with GAAP, and (v) non-cash
impairment charges for such period solely with respect to loan acquisition costs
minus (c) to the extent added in the determination of Net Income, extraordinary
gains for such period.

         "Eligible Assignee" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.10(h).

         "Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the
Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at
any time within the preceding six (6) years been maintained for the employees of
the Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any current or former ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative, regulatory or
judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigations

<PAGE>

(other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of
business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind)
or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or
liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any
approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including, without limitation,
any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup,
removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution,
indemnification cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from
Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to human
health or the environment.

         "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, foreign, state,
provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits,
licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental
Authorities, relating to the protection of human health or the environment,
including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation,
handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of
Hazardous Materials.

         "Equipment Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
7.16.

         "Equipment Loan Financing" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 7.16.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to
time.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Borrower (or,
as applicable, any Guarantor) is treated as a single employer within the meaning
of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

         "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to the following formula:

                                 Eurodollar Base Rate
       Eurodollar Rate  =  -----------------------------------
                           1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

         "Eurodollar Base Rate" means for any Interest Period:

         (a)      the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the
Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the
Telerate screen that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest
Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such
Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as
of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first
day of such Interest Period, or

         (b)      in the event the rate referenced in the preceding subsection
(a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall cease
to be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the
Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service
that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement

<PAGE>

Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day
of such Interest Period, or

         (c)      in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections
(a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the
Administrative Agent as the rate of interest (rounded upward to the next 1/100th
of 1%) at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such
Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar
Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by the Administrative Agent and
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of
America's London Branch to major banks in the offshore Dollar market at their
request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the
first day of such Interest Period.

         "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means any Construction Loan Advance bearing
interest at a rate based upon the Eurodollar Rate as provided in Section 3.1(a).

         "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day during any Interest
Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the
next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any
Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement)
with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
liabilities"). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan
shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 10.1,
provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.

         "Excusable Delays" means unusually adverse weather conditions which
have not been taken into account in the construction schedule, fire, earthquake
or other acts of God, strike, lockout, acts of public enemy, any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over the operation of the hospital which is part
of the Project ceases to operate in the ordinary course, riot or insurrection or
any unforeseen circumstances or events (except financial circumstances or events
or matters which may be resolved by the payment of money) beyond the control of
the Borrower, not to exceed a total of thirty (30) days, provided the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing within ten (10) days after such
occurrence, but no Excusable Delay shall extend the Completion Date or suspend
or abate any obligation of the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other Person to
pay any money.

         "Existing Loan Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Statement of Purpose.

         "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any
successor thereto.

<PAGE>

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards to the nearest 1/100 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 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 as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate charged to Bank of America on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

         "Financing Statements" means the UCC financing statements filed to
perfect the Lien of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on certain personal
property and fixtures as more particularly described therein.

         "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Borrower ending on September
30.

         "Five-Year US Treasury Yield" means the Weekly Average Yield on U.S.
Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of five (5) years as
published in the Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15 (519) on the
applicable date of determination.

         "Foreign Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.11(e).

         "Fund" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(h).

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent
basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors throughout the period indicated and
(subject to Section 12.9) consistent with the prior financial practice of the
Borrower and the Guarantors.

         "General Contractor" means Faulkner Construction Company.

         "Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.

         "Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or political
subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person exercising executive,
legislative, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

         "Guarantor Leverage Ratio" means the ratio determined pursuant to
Section 12(c) of the Guaranty Agreement.

<PAGE>

         "Guarantors" means the Persons who have executed the Guaranty Agreement
(a) on the Closing Date or (b) after such date in accordance with Section 11(j)
of the Guaranty Agreement. The Guarantors as of the Closing Date are set forth
on Schedule 1.1(b).

         "Guaranty Agreement" means the unconditional guaranty agreement of even
date executed by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit
H attached hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

         "Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to the Borrower, without
duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person
pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or
other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations
set forth therein) be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the
stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Guaranty Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such
guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument
evidencing such Guaranty Obligation.

         "Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are
or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human
health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental
Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under
any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of
which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other
Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed to constitute a nuisance or a
trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring
properties, (f) which consist of underground or aboveground storage tanks,
whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance, or (g) which
contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived
substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

         "Hedging Agreement" means any agreement with respect to any Interest
Rate Contract, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward foreign exchange
agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency
option agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks
of any Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or
commodity prices, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.

<PAGE>

         "HHS" means the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
and any successor thereto.

         "Hospital" means a hospital owned and operated by the Borrower which
(a) is certified to participate in Medicare programs and Medicaid programs (as
applicable), (b) is at least 140,000 square feet, (c) contains at least 60
licensed beds and (d) is situated on the Land.

         "Improvements" means the Hospital and other improvements constructed
on, or to be constructed on, the Land, together with all fixtures, improvements,
and appurtenances now or later to be located on the Land and/or in such
improvements.

         "Indemnitees" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.2
(b).

         "Indemnified Liabilities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 12.2 (b).

         "Information" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.12.

         "Initial Pricing Adjustment Date" means the first Calculation Date
occurring after the date which is six (6) full fiscal quarters after the
Completion Date.

         "Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement" means any intercompany
subordination agreement of even date executed by MedCath Incorporated in favor
of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Interest Expense" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period,
the gross interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense
attributable to Capital Leases and all net payment obligations pursuant to
Hedging Agreements) of the Borrower, all determined for such period, without
duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

         "Interest Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(b).

         "Interest Rate Contract" means any interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate option or any other agreement regarding the hedging of
interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging the interest
rate exposure of any Person and any confirming letter executed pursuant to such
agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

         "Land" means the real estate described in Exhibit A attached hereto,
which is owned by the Borrower and to be encumbered by the Mortgage.

         "Lender" means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender set
forth on the signature pages hereto and each Person that hereafter becomes a
party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Section 12.10.

<PAGE>

         "Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such
Lender maintaining such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the Construction Loan
Advances.

         "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect
of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to
own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital
Lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

         "Limited Partner" means San Antonio Holdings, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation.

         "Loan Allocation" means the loan allocation identified as such in the
Budget for the Project attached hereto as Exhibit M.

         "Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Construction
Loan Notes, the Guaranty Agreement, the Security Documents, the Management Fee
and Guaranty Fee Subordination Agreement, each Intercompany Loan Subordination
Agreement and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement
executed and delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor in connection with this
Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any
Hedging Agreement), all as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

         "Management Agreement" means (i) the management services agreement
dated September 30, 2001 between the Borrower and the Management Company or (ii)
the agreement between that Management Company and the Borrower as set forth in
the limited partnership agreement of the Borrower pursuant to which the
Management Company and the Borrower agree that the Management Company shall
manage the Hospital.

         "Management Company" means San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc., a
North Carolina corporation.

         "Management Fee and Guaranty Fee Subordination Agreement" means the
subordination agreement of even date executed by the Management Company in favor
of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to the Borrower or any of
the Guarantors, a material adverse effect on (i) the properties, business,
operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of (A) the Borrower or (B) the
Guarantors on a consolidated basis, taken as a whole, or (ii) any such Person or
the ability of any such Person to perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents to which it is a party.

         "Material Contract" means (a) as of the Closing Date, the contracts and
agreements set forth on Schedule 5.1(l) and (b) after the Closing Date, (i) the
contracts and agreements set forth on Schedule 5.1(l), (ii) any contract or
other agreement, written or oral, of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors (A)
which involves monetary liability of or to any such Person in an amount in

<PAGE>

excess of (1) $1,000,000 per annum with respect to the Borrower or any Guarantor
(other than the MedCath Parent Entities) and (2) $5,000,000 with respect to any
MedCath Parent Entity and (B) which by its terms may not be canceled within
ninety (90) days, or (iii) any other contract or agreement, written or oral, of
the Borrower or any of the Guarantors the failure to comply with which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         "Maturity Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3.

         "MedCath Parent Entities" means MedCath Corporation, MedCath Holdings,
Inc., MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc. and MedCath Incorporated.

         "Medicaid Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that health care operations are in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicaid Regulations.

         "Medicaid Provider Agreement" means an agreement entered into between a
Governmental Authority or other such entity administering the Medicaid program
and a health care operation under which the health care operation agrees to
provide services for Medicaid beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the
agreement and Medicaid Regulations.

         "Medicaid Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XIX of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the medical assistance program established by Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; (ii) all applicable provisions
of all federal rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all Governmental
Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described
in clause (i) above and all federal administrative, reimbursement and other
guidelines of all Governmental Authorities (whether or not having the force of
law) promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described in
clause (i) above; (iii) all state statutes and plans for medical assistance
enacted in connection with the statutes and provisions described in clauses (i)
and (ii) above; and (iv) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations,
manuals and orders of all Governmental Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in
connection with the statutes described in clause (iii) above and all state
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines of all Governmental
Authorities (whether or not having the force of law) promulgated pursuant to or
in connection with the statutes described in clause (ii) above, in each case as
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Medicare Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that the health care operation is in
compliance with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicare
Regulations.

         "Medicare Provider Agreement" means an agreement entered into between a
Governmental Authority administering the Medicare program and a health care
operation under which the health care operation agrees to provide services for
Medicare beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the agreement and
Medicare Regulations.

<PAGE>

         "Medicare Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the health insurance program for the aged and disabled established by
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; and
(ii) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals, orders and
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines (whether or not having the
force of law) of all Governmental Authorities (including without limitation,
HHS, CMS, the Office of the Inspector General for HHS, or any person succeeding
to the functions of any of the foregoing) promulgated pursuant to or in
connection with any of the foregoing (whether or not having the force of law),
as each may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Mortgage" means the Amended and Restated Deed of Trust, Assignment,
Security Agreement and Financing Statement of even date executed by the Borrower
in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders securing the Land, the Improvements and the other property and
fixtures described therein, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or
any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has
accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding six (6) years.

         "Net Income" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, the
net income (or loss) of the Borrower for such period, determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from Net Income (a) the net
income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which shall be subject
to clause (c) below), in which the Borrower has a joint interest with a third
party, except to the extent such net income is actually paid to the Borrower by
dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss)
of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of such Person
or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or
that Person's assets are acquired by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), (c) the net
income (if positive) of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or
payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Borrower
of such net income (i) is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of
its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute rule
or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary or (ii) would be
subject to any taxes payable on such dividends or distributions.

         "Notice of Account Designation" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2.2(c).

         "Notice of Conversion/Continuation" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 3.2.

         "Notice of Prepayment" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2.4.

<PAGE>

         "Obligations" means, in each case, whether now in existence or
hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest
accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the
Construction Loan Advances, (b) all existing or future payment and other
obligations owing by the Borrower to any Lender or the Administrative Agent
under any Hedging Agreement with any Lender or the Administrative Agent, and (c)
all other fees and commissions (including Attorney Costs), charges,
indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations,
covenants and duties owing by the Borrower or any of the Guarantors to the
Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under or in respect of this
Agreement, any Construction Loan Note or any of the other Loan Documents of
every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and
whether or not evidenced by any note.

         "Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 6.2.

         "Other Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.11(b).

         "Parent" means MedCath Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

         "Participant" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.10(d).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
agency.

         "Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained for the employees of the
Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliates or (b) has
at any time within the preceding six (6) years been maintained for the employees
of the Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any of its current or
former ERISA Affiliates.

         "Permitted Changes" means changes to the Plans or Improvements and
related changes to the Construction Contract (including those resulting from the
final agreement with the General Contractor on the contract sum); provided that
the cost of any single change shall not exceed $500,000 and the aggregate amount
of all such changes (whether positive or negative) shall not exceed $1,500,000.

         "Permitted Distributions" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 9.6(c).

         "Permitted Distribution Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 9.6(c).

         "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or any other form of entity or group thereof.

         "Plans" means the detailed plans and specifications for the
construction of the Improvements currently being prepared by the Architect and
to be approved by the Administrative

<PAGE>

Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), and including such
amendments thereto as may from time to time be made by the Borrower pursuant to
the terms of the Agreement, which plans and specifications are listed on Exhibit
L attached hereto, provided that the Administrative Agent shall approve such
plans and specifications as long as they are consistent with the plans shown to
the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

         "Pledge Agreement" means the pledge and security agreement of even date
executed by the Management Company and the Limited Partner, as pledgors, and the
Borrower, as issuer, in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
itself and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit K attached hereto,
as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Pre-Opening Operating Costs" means those items of expense identified
as such in the Budget.

         "Previously Funded MedCath Incorporated Loans" means all of the loans
from MedCath Incorporated to the Borrower advanced prior to the Closing Date,
the proceeds of which have been used by the Borrower solely to fund costs of the
Project (excluding any Pre-Opening Operating Costs) incurred prior to the
Closing Date in accordance with the Loan Allocation column in the Budget.

         "Project" means construction, development and operation of Improvements
which shall consist of the Hospital.

         "Project Deposit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2.8.

         "Project Equity" means the required $7,900,000 equity investment made
or to be made in or to the Borrower to partially fund the cost of the Project.

         "Property" means the Land, the Improvements, the Tangible Personalty
and all other property constituting the "Mortgaged Property," as described in
the Mortgage, or subject to a right, lien or security interest to secure the
Construction Loan Advances pursuant to any other Loan Document.

         "Register" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(c).

         "Related Credit Documents" means the collective reference to (i) each
of the loan agreements set forth on Schedule 1.1(c) hereto (including all Loan
Documents executed in connection therewith and as defined in each of the loan
agreements) and (ii) each other loan agreement (including all Loan Documents
executed in connection therewith and as defined in each of the loan agreements)
executed in connection with the Commitment Agreement, in each case as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms
thereof.

         "Related Guaranty Agreements" means the collective reference to (i)
each of the guaranty agreements executed by certain of the Guarantors set forth
on Schedule 1.1(d) hereto and (ii) each other guaranty agreement executed by
certain of the Guarantors in connection with the

<PAGE>

Commitment Agreement, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof.

         "Replaced Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.13(c).

         "Replacement Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.13(c).

         "Required Lenders" means, at any date, any combination of Lenders
holding of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Construction Loan Notes, or if no amounts are
outstanding under the Construction Loan Notes, any combination of Lenders whose
Commitment Percentages aggregate at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66-2/3%) of the Aggregate Commitment.

         "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to any Person, any of the
following: the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of such Person
or any other officer of such Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent

         "Security Agreement" means the security agreement of even date executed
by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself
and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Security Documents" means collectively, the Guaranty Agreement, the
Mortgage, the Security Agreement, the Financing Statements, the Pledge
Agreement, the Collateral Assignment of Architect's Contract, the Collateral
Assignment of Construction Contract and each other agreement or writing pursuant
to which the Borrower or any other Person party thereto pledges or grants a
security interest in any property or assets to secure the Obligations or any
such Person guaranties the payment and/or performance of the Obligations.

         "Senior Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower at any date of
determination, all Debt other than Subordinated Debt.

         "Social Security Act" means Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States
Code, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.

         "Solvent" means, as to the Borrower and each Guarantor on a particular
date, that any such Person (a) has capital sufficient to carry on its business
and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to
engage and is able to pay its debts as they mature, (b) owns property having a
value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value, greater than
the amount required to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies),
and (c) does not believe that it will incur debts or liabilities beyond its
ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature.

         "Subordinated Debt" means the collective reference to any Debt of the
Borrower which is subordinated to the Obligations with respect to right and time
of payment, remedies, covenants and such other terms and conditions, in each
case to the reasonable satisfaction of the Required Lenders.

<PAGE>

         "Subordinated Working Capital Loan" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 9.1(f).

         "Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%)
of the outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of
such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at
the time owned by or the management is otherwise controlled by such Person
(irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or other ownership
interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power
by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified
references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the
Borrower.

         "Survey Affidavit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4.2(c)(viii).

         "Syndication Agent" means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its
capacity as Syndication Agent hereunder.

         "Tangible Personalty" means all fixtures, equipment, furnishings and
other articles of personal property now or hereafter owned by the Borrower and
attached to or contained in and used in connection with the Land and the
Improvements and all renewals or replacements thereof or articles in
substitution thereof, whether or not the same are or shall be attached to the
Land and Improvements in any manner.

         "Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.11(a).

         "Termination Event" means: (a) except for any such event that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a "Reportable Event"
described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the notice requirement has not been
waived by the PBGC, or (b) except for any withdrawal that could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the withdrawal of the Borrower
(or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan
during a plan year in which it was a "substantial employer" as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the
filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a
Pension Plan amendment as a termination, each under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or
(d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee
with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or
condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan,
or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA, or (g) except for any such event or condition that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition
which results in the reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under
Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or (h) except for any such event or condition
that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any
event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan
under Section 4041A of

<PAGE>

ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer
Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA.

         "Title Insurer" means First American Title Insurance Company.

         "Title Policy" means the mortgagee title policy issued by the Title
Insurer and meeting the requirements of this Agreement and the Mortgage.

         "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of
North Carolina.

         "Unfinanced Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to the Borrower
for any period, all Capital Expenditures other than (a) Capital Expenditures
made to replace assets to the extent financed by (i) the net cash proceeds of
asset dispositions not prohibited hereunder or (ii) the proceeds of insurance
received with respect to the loss or taking or damage to the asset or assets
being replaced or (b) Capital Expenditures financed by the proceeds of Senior
Debt.

         "United States" means the United States of America.

         SECTION 1.2       General. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in
this Agreement to a particular article, section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit
is a reference to that article, section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit of this
Agreement. Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in
either the singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, and
pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the
masculine, the feminine and the neuter. Any reference herein to "Charlotte time"
shall refer to the applicable time of day in Charlotte, North Carolina.

         SECTION 1.3       Other Definitions and Provisions.

         (a)      Use of Capitalized Terms. Unless otherwise defined therein,
all capitalized terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings
when used in this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes and the other Loan
Documents or any certificate, report or other document made or delivered
pursuant to this Agreement.

         (b)      Miscellaneous. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II

                           CONSTRUCTION LOAN FACILITY

         SECTION 2.1       Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set
forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Construction Loan Advances to
the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through the Construction
Loan Termination Date as requested by the Borrower in

<PAGE>

accordance with the terms of Section 2.2. The Construction Loan Facility is not
revolving, and any amount repaid may not be reborrowed. The aggregate principal
amount of all outstanding Construction Loan Advances (after giving effect to any
amount requested) shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment less the sum of all
outstanding Construction Loan Advances, and the principal amount of outstanding
Construction Loan Advances from any Lender to the Borrower shall not at any time
exceed such Lender's Commitment. Each Construction Loan Advance by a Lender
shall be in a principal amount equal to such Lender's Commitment Percentage of
the principal amount of the Construction Loan Advance to be made on such
occasion.

         SECTION 2.2       Procedure for Disbursement of Construction Loan
Advances.

         (a)      Requests for Construction Loan Advances.

                  (i)      The Borrower shall deliver a Draw Request to the
         Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) at
         least five (5) Business Days before each Construction Loan Advance
         specifying (A) the date of such Construction Loan Advance, which shall
         be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such Construction Loan Advance,
         (C) whether such Construction Loan Advance is to be to be a Eurodollar
         Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, and (D) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate
         Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. A Draw
         Request received after 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed
         received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall
         promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.

                  (ii)     The Borrower shall be entitled to a Construction Loan
         Advance only in an amount reasonably approved by the Administrative
         Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents. The Lenders shall not be required to make Construction Loan
         Advances more frequently than once each calendar month. The Lenders
         shall, only upon the reasonable satisfaction of all applicable
         conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, make the
         requested Construction Loan Advance to the Borrower in accordance with
         Section 2.2(c).

                  (iii)    Each Draw Request, and the Borrower's acceptance of
         any Construction Loan Advance, shall be deemed to ratify and confirm
         that all representations and warranties in the Loan Documents remain
         true and correct as of the date of the Draw Request and the
         Construction Loan Advance, respectively.

         (b)      Basis for Construction Loan Advances. Following receipt and
approval of a Draw Request, all supporting documentation and information, and
receipt and approval of a written report from the Construction Consultant, the
Administrative Agent will determine the amount of the Construction Loan Advance
the Lenders will make in accordance with this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents and the Budget, and the following standards:

                  (i)      Construction Loan Advances for construction work will
         be made on the basis of ninety percent (90%) of the costs shown on the
         application for payment from the General Contractor reviewed and
         approved by the Administrative Agent for the work or material in place
         on the Improvements that comply with the terms of the Loan Documents,

<PAGE>

         minus all previous Construction Loan Advances and all amounts required
         to be paid by the Borrower, as described in Columns (B) and (C) of the
         Budget. When the Work (as defined in the Construction Contract) is
         fifty percent (50%) complete, there shall be no further retainage for
         the balance of the Work if the Borrower is satisfied that the General
         Contractor maintains the construction schedule provided for in the
         Construction Contract and is performing to the Borrower's satisfaction.
         If the General Contractor subsequently fails to maintain the
         construction schedule or fails to perform the Work to the Borrower's
         satisfaction, the ten percent (10%) retainage may be resumed. There
         shall be no retainage with respect to the General Contractor's fee or
         with respect to the payment of costs and expenses included in the
         Budget as part of the General Conditions.

                  (ii)     Construction Loan Advances will not be made for
         building materials or furnishings that are not yet incorporated into
         the Improvements ("stored materials") unless the stored materials are
         in the Borrower's possession or control and satisfactorily stored on
         the Land and the aggregate amount of Construction Loan Advances for
         stored materials does not exceed $250,000.

                  (iii)    Construction Loan Advances will be made available to
         the Borrower solely to the extent that, at the time of each requested
         advance for construction work, the Borrower shall make available to the
         Administrative Agent in immediately available funds such portion of the
         requested advance for construction work as shall be necessary to ensure
         that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Construction
         Loan Advances at no time exceeds the lesser of (A) eighty percent (80%)
         of the Aggregate Project Cost or (B) seventy-five percent (75%) of the
         Appraised Value.

         (c)      Disbursement Procedures. Subject to the satisfaction of all
applicable conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan
Documents, not later than 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the date of the proposed
Construction Loan Advance, each Lender will make available to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative
Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender's
Commitment Percentage of the Construction Loan Advance to be made on such
borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative
Agent to disburse the proceeds of each Draw Request approved by the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds to the Borrower, the General
Contractor or the Architect, as designated by the Borrower. Each disbursement to
the Borrower shall be made by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit
account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in
the form of Exhibit D attached hereto (a "Notice of Account Designation")
delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise
agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Each
disbursement to (i) the Architect shall be made by check sent to the address set
forth below and (ii) the General Contractor shall be made by wire transfer to
the account set forth below:

      If to the Architect:              Odell Associates Inc.
                                        P.O. Box 1070
                                        Charlotte, NC 28201-1070

<PAGE>

      If to the General Contractor:     Faulkner Construction Company
                                        Bank:    Bank One
                                        ABA#:      111000614
                                        Account Name:  Faulkner Construction
                                        Account Number:  1597280419
                                        Reference Info:  Faulkner Construction
                                                         Inc.

Subject to Section 3.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated
to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance
requested pursuant to this Section 2.2 to the extent that any Lender has not
made available to the Administrative Agent its Commitment Percentage of such
Construction Loan Advance.

         SECTION 2.3       Repayment of Construction Loan Advances. The
principal amount of the Construction Loan Advances outstanding twenty-four (24)
months after the Closing Date shall be repaid by the Borrower in consecutive
monthly installments commencing on the last day of the twenty-fifth (25th) month
after the Closing Date and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter.
Each monthly payment shall be in an amount sufficient to fully amortize the
principal balance of the Construction Loan Facility outstanding twenty-four (24)
months after the Closing Date over a 240-month term; provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, the outstanding unpaid principal balance of the
Construction Loan Facility and all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and
payable in full on July 27, 2006 (the "Maturity Date").

         SECTION 2.4       Prepayment of Construction Loan Advances.

         (a)      Optional Prepayment. The Borrower may at any time and from
time to time prepay the Construction Loan Advances, in whole or in part, upon at
least three (3) Business Days' irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent
with respect to any prepayment, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (a
"Notice of Prepayment"), specifying the date and amount of prepayment and
whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans or a
combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to
each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such
notice shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial
prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof. Partial prepayments shall be applied ratably to
the remaining scheduled principal installments of the Construction Loan Advances
(including the final payment thereof) until the Construction Loan Advances are
paid in full. Any such prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and
then to Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct order of maturities of Interest Periods;
provided that any payment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by
any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof (but otherwise
without premium or penalty).

<PAGE>

         (b)      Mandatory Prepayment.

                  (i)      The Borrower shall make mandatory principal
prepayments of the Construction Loan Advances (A) in accordance with Section
9.5(b) hereof following the receipt thereby of the net cash proceeds pursuant to
any asset disposition permitted under Section 9.5(b), (B) in accordance with
Section 1.6 of the Mortgage following the receipt thereby of the net cash
proceeds under any insurance policy required to be maintained pursuant to this
Agreement, the Mortgage and the other Loan Documents and (C) in accordance with
Section 1.15 of the Mortgage following the receipt thereby of the net cash
proceeds in connection with any condemnation proceeding

                  (ii)     Upon the occurrence of any event triggering the
prepayment requirement pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), the Borrower shall
promptly deliver a Notice of Prepayment to the Administrative Agent and, upon
receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the
Lenders. Each prepayment under this Section 2.4(b) shall be applied (i) with
respect to prepayments required in connection with any asset disposition
permitted under Section 9.5(b) in the inverse order of maturity until the
Construction Loan Advances are paid in full and (ii) all other prepayments under
this Section 2.4(b), ratably to the remaining scheduled principal installments
of the Construction Loan Advances (including the final payment thereof) until
the Construction Loan Advances are paid in full. Any such prepayments shall be
applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct
order of maturities of Interest Periods; provided that any payment of any
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid
pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof (but otherwise without premium or penalty).

         (c)      General Conditions. Amounts prepaid under the Construction
Loan Advances pursuant to this Section 2.4 may not be reborrowed and will
constitute a permanent reduction in the Aggregate Commitment. Each prepayment
shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.9
hereof.

         SECTION 2.5       Construction Loan Notes. Each Lender's Construction
Loan Advances and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Construction Loan
Advances shall be evidenced by a separate Construction Loan Note executed by the
Borrower payable to the order of such Lender.

         SECTION 2.6       Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds
of the Construction Loan Advances to fund the costs of the Project in accordance
with the Loan Allocation column in the Budget (including, without limitation, to
refinance on the Closing Date any Previously Funded MedCath Incorporated Loans).
The portion of the Budget allocated to Pre-Opening Operating Costs shall be
funded by the Borrower.

         SECTION 2.7       Budget Reallocation. Construction Loan Advances may
be allocated to line items in the Budget for other purposes or in different
proportions as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems reasonably
necessary or advisable. The Borrower may reallocate Cost Savings from one line
item to another line item in the Budget provided the amount of such reallocation
does not exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the

<PAGE>

applicable line item then being reallocated, and (ii) $500,000 per line item
increased or $1,500,000 in the aggregate. The Borrower shall (i) not, except as
provided in the immediately preceding sentence, reallocate the proceeds of the
Construction Loan Advances from one Budget line item to another or otherwise
amend the Budget without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent,
not to be unreasonably withheld, other than changes resulting from Permitted
Changes; and (ii) notify the Administrative Agent promptly whenever the Borrower
becomes aware that the Budget is, or might be, inaccurate in any material
respect, and submit to the Administrative Agent an amended Budget.

         SECTION 2.8       Project Deposit. If at any time the Administrative
Agent determines that the sum of (i) the unadvanced portion of the Construction
Loan Facility to which the Borrower is entitled plus (ii) the amount of the
Aggregate Project Cost scheduled to be paid by the Borrower from other funds
which are available, set aside and committed, to the Administrative Agent's
reasonable satisfaction, is or will be insufficient to pay the unpaid actual
Aggregate Project Cost, the Borrower shall cause MedCath Incorporated, within
seven (7) days after written notice from the Administrative Agent, to deposit
with the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders the amount of the
deficiency (the "Project Deposit") in an interest-bearing account, with interest
earned thereon to be part of the Project Deposit. The Project Deposit is hereby
pledged as additional collateral for the Obligations, and the Borrower hereby
grants and conveys to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a
security interest in all funds so deposited with the Administrative Agent as
additional collateral for the Obligations. Upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the Administrative Agent may (but shall have no obligation to) apply
all or any part of the Project Deposit against the unpaid Obligations in such
order as the Required Lenders determine. Upon (i) the issuance of the
certificate of occupancy for the Improvements and (ii) the Administrative
Agent's confirmation that either (A) the Borrower has satisfied of all
obligations required to be paid by the Borrower in connection with the
construction of the Project or (B) the Borrower has reserved such funds
necessary to satisfy the remaining obligations to be paid by the Borrower in
connection with the construction of the Project), all funds remaining in the
Project Deposit, shall be used to prepay the Construction Loan Facility to the
extent necessary to ensure that the outstanding principal amount under the
Construction Loan Facility does not exceed an amount equal to the lesser of (x)
eighty percent (80%) of the Aggregate Project Cost or (y) seventy-five percent
(75%) of the Appraised Value. The balance, if any, shall be returned to the
Borrower.

         SECTION 2.9       Direct Construction Loan Advances. The Borrower
hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, during the continuance
of any Event of Default (but the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation),
to hold, use, disburse and apply the proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance
to the satisfaction of the Obligations. Each such direct Construction Loan
Advance (except for application of the Project Deposit) shall be added to the
outstanding principal balance of the Construction Loan Advances and shall be
secured by the Loan Documents. Unless the Borrower pays such interest from other
resources, the Administrative Agent may make Construction Loan Advances pursuant
to this Section 2.9 for interest payments as and when due. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be construed to permit the Borrower to defer payment of
interest beyond the date(s) due. The allocation of the proceeds of the
Construction Loan Advances in the Budget for interest shall not affect the
Borrower's absolute obligation to pay the same in accordance with the Loan
Documents. The Administrative Agent

<PAGE>

may hold, use, disburse and apply the Construction Loan Advances and the Project
Deposit for payment of any obligation of the Borrower under the Loan Documents.
The Borrower hereby assigns and pledges the proceeds of the Construction Loan
Facility and the Project Deposit to the Administrative Agent for such purposes.
The Administrative Agent may advance and incur such expenses as the
Administrative Agent deems necessary for the completion of the Improvements and
to preserve the Property and any Liens thereon, and such expenses, even though
in excess of the amount of the Construction Loan Advances, shall be secured by
the Loan Documents and shall be payable to the Lenders on demand. The
Administrative Agent may disburse any portion of any Construction Loan Advance
at any time, and from time to time, to Persons other than the Borrower for the
purposes specified in this Section 2.9 and the amount of Construction Loan
Advances to which the Borrower shall thereafter be entitled shall be
correspondingly reduced. Notice of the disbursement of any Construction Loan
Advance under this Section 2.9 shall be given by the Administrative Agent to the
Borrower.

                                   ARTICLE III

                             GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

         SECTION 3.1       Interest.

         (a)      Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this
Section 3.1, at the election of the Borrower, Construction Loan Advances shall
bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin as set forth in
Section 3.1(c) or (B) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin as set
forth in Section 3.1(c). The Borrower shall select the type of interest and
Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Construction Loan Advance at the time
a Draw Request is delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.2
or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section
3.2. Each Construction Loan Advance or portion thereof bearing interest based on
the Base Rate shall be a "Base Rate Loan" and each Construction Loan Advance or
portion thereof bearing interest based on the Eurodollar Rate shall be an
"Eurodollar Rate Loan". Any Construction Loan Advance or any portion thereof as
to which the Borrower has not duly specified an interest rate as provided herein
shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan.

         (b)      Interest Periods. In connection with each Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the Borrower, by giving notice at the times described in Section 3.1(a),
shall elect an interest period (each, an "Interest Period") to be applicable to
such Construction Loan Advance, which Interest Period shall be a period of one
(1), two (2), three (3), or six (6) months with respect to each Eurodollar Rate
Loan; provided that:

                  (i)      the Interest Period shall commence on the date of
         advance of or conversion to any Eurodollar Rate Loan and, in the case
         of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest
         Period shall commence on the date on which the next preceding Interest
         Period expires;

<PAGE>

                  (ii)     if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a
         day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on
         the next succeeding Business Day; provided, that if any Interest Period
         with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day
         that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no
         further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall
         expire on the next preceding Business Day;

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

                  (iv)     no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity
         Date, and Interest Periods shall be selected by the Borrower so as to
         permit the Borrower to make the monthly principal installment payments
         pursuant to Section 2.3 without payment of any amounts pursuant to
         Section 3.9; and

                  (v)      there shall be no more than five (5) Interest Periods
         in effect at any time.

         (c)      Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin provided for in
Section 3.1(a) with respect to any Construction Loan Advance (the "Applicable
Margin") shall be based upon the table set forth below and shall be determined
and adjusted quarterly on the date (each a "Calculation Date") ten (10) Business
Days after the date by which the Borrower is required to provide an Officer's
Compliance Certificate for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the
Borrower; provided, however, that (i) the initial Applicable Margin shall be
3.50% for Eurodollar Rate Loans and 2.25% for Base Rate Loans and shall remain
in effect until the Initial Pricing Adjustment Date and thereafter the
Applicable Margin shall be determined by reference to the Guarantor Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the
Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date and (ii) if the Borrower
fails to provide the Officer's Compliance Certificate as required by Section 6.2
for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the
applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from such Calculation Date
shall be based on Pricing Level IV (as shown below) until such time as an
appropriate Officer's Compliance Certificate is provided, at which time the
Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Guarantor Leverage Ratio
as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower
preceding such Calculation Date. The Applicable Margin shall be effective from
one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the
Applicable Margin shall be applicable to all Construction Loan Advances then
existing or subsequently made or issued.

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        ---------------------------------
                                                                                                Applicable Margin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pricing Level                         Guarantor Leverage Ratio                           Eurodollar Rate     Base Rate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>                                                                  <C>                 <C>

        I                        Less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00                          2.50%            1.25%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       II           Less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but greater than 2.00 to 1.00         2.75%            1.50%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       III          Less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than 2.50 to 1.00         3.00%            1.75%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       IV                            Greater than 3.00 to 1.00                               3.50%            2.25%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

         (d)      Default Rate. Subject to Section 10.3, at the discretion of
the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Borrower shall no longer have
the option to request Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) all outstanding Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess
of the rate then applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans until the end of the
applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in
excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans, and (iii) all outstanding
Base Rate Loans and other Obligations shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate
Loans or such other Obligations. Interest shall continue to accrue on the
Construction Loan Notes after the filing by or against the Borrower of any
petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any act or law pertaining to
insolvency or debtor relief, whether state, federal or foreign.

         (e)      Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate
Loan shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar
quarter commencing December 31, 2002; and interest on each Eurodollar Rate Loan
shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and
if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three
(3) month interval during such Interest Period. Interest on Eurodollar Rate
Loans and all fees payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed and interest on Base
Rate Loans shall be computed on the basis of a 365/66-day year and assessed for
the actual number of days elapsed.

         (f)      Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the
aggregate of all amounts deemed interest hereunder or under any of the
Construction Loan Notes charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or pursuant to any of the Construction Loan Notes exceed the highest
rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent
jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the
event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received
interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect
hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by
Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent's option (i)
promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess
of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) shall apply such excess to the principal
balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or
contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender
receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever,
interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable
Law.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.2       Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of
Construction Loan Advances. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a)
convert at any time all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans in a
principal amount equal to $100,000 or any whole multiple of $10,000 in excess
thereof into one or more Eurodollar Rate Loans and (b) upon the expiration of
any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding Eurodollar
Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $100,000 or a whole multiple of
$10,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or (ii) continue such Eurodollar
Rate Loans as Eurodollar Rate Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or
continue Construction Loan Advances as provided above, the Borrower shall give
the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit F (a "Notice of Conversion/Continuation") not later than 12:00
p.m. (Charlotte time) three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed
conversion or continuation of such Construction Loan Advance is to be effective
specifying (A) the Construction Loan Advances to be converted or continued, and,
in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last
day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion
or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of
such Construction Loan Advances to be converted or continued, and (D) the
Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued Eurodollar Rate
Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of such Notice
of Conversion/Continuation.

         SECTION 3.3       Fees.

         (a)      Commitment Fee. During the period commencing on the Closing
Date through and including the Construction Loan Termination Date, the Borrower
shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, a
non-refundable commitment fee at a rate per annum equal to .50% on the average
daily unused portion of the Aggregate Commitment. The commitment fee shall be
payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the
term of this Agreement commencing on the last Business Day of the first calendar
quarter end following the Closing Date, and on the Construction Loan Termination
Date. Such commitment fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to
the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Lenders' respective Commitment
Percentages.

         (b)      Annual Administrative Fees. In order to compensate the
Administrative Agent for administering the Construction Loans, the Borrower
agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its account, the annual
administrative fees set forth in the separate fee letter agreement executed by
the Borrower, Bank of America and Banc of America Securities dated June 1, 2001.

         SECTION 3.4       Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on
account of the principal of or interest on the Construction Loan Advances or of
any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Lenders under this Agreement
or any Construction Loan Note shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte
time) on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the
Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's Office for the account of the
Lenders (other than as set forth below) pro rata in accordance with their
respective Commitment Percentages (except as specified below), in Dollars, in
immediately available funds and shall be made without any condition, set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after
such time but before 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on such day shall be

<PAGE>

deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 10.1, but for all
other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business
Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed to
have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon
receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative
Agent shall distribute to each Lender at its address for notices set forth
herein its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with such Lender's
Commitment Percentage (except as specified below) and shall wire advice of the
amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent
of Administrative Agent's fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the
Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender under Sections 3.8,
3.9, 3.10, 3.11 or 12.2 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the applicable Lender. Subject to Section 3.1(b)(ii) if any payment
under this Agreement or any Construction Loan Note shall be specified to be made
upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding
day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be
included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment.

         SECTION 3.5       Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that
the Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Obligations when due and the
Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2, all payments
received by the Lenders upon the Construction Loan Notes and the other
Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Obligations shall
be applied first to all expenses then due and payable by the Borrower hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents, then to all indemnity obligations then due
and payable by the Borrower hereunder, then to all Administrative Agent's fees
then due and payable, then to all commitment and other fees and commissions then
due and payable, then to accrued and unpaid interest on the Construction Loan
Notes, then to any termination payments due in respect of a Hedging Agreement
with any Lender or the Administrative Agent (which such Hedging Agreement is
permitted or required hereunder) (pro rata in accordance with all such amounts
due), and then to the principal amount of the Construction Loan Notes, in that
order.

         SECTION 3.6       Adjustments. If any Lender (a "Benefited Lender")
shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to
it, or interest thereon, or if any Lender shall at any time receive any
collateral in respect to the Obligations owing to it (whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, by set-off or otherwise) in a greater proportion than any such
payment to and collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of
the Obligations owing to such other Lender, or interest thereon, such Benefited
Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders such portion of each such
other Lender's Construction Loan Advances, or shall provide such other Lenders
with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be
necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits
of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, that
if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered
from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase
price and benefits returned to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest. The Borrower agrees that each Lender so purchasing a portion of
another Lender's Construction Loan Advances may exercise all rights of payment
(including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion
as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.7       Nature of Obligations of the Lenders Regarding
Construction Loan Advances; Assumption by the Administrative Agent. The
obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Construction Loan
Advances are several and are not joint or joint and several. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to a
proposed borrowing date that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of the amount to be borrowed
on such date (which notice shall not release such Lender of its obligations
hereunder), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Administrative Agent on the proposed borrowing date in
accordance with Section 2.2(c), and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the Administrative
Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such Lender shall pay to the
Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid, equal to the product of
(a) the amount not made available by such Lender in accordance with the terms
hereof, times (b) the daily average Federal Funds Rate during such period as
determined by the Administrative Agent, times (c) a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of days that elapse from and including such borrowing date
to the date on which such amount not made available by such Lender in accordance
with the terms hereof shall have become immediately available to the
Administrative Agent and the denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the
Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 3.7
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such Lender's Commitment
Percentage of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent
by such Lender within three (3) Business Days after such borrowing date, the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount made available by
the Administrative Agent with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable
to such borrowing, on demand, from the Borrower. The failure of any Lender to
make available its Commitment Percentage of any Construction Loan requested by
the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any,
hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Construction Loan Advance
available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the
failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such
Construction Loan Advance available on the borrowing date. Notwithstanding
anything set forth herein to the contrary, any Lender that fails to make
available its Commitment Percentage shall not (a) have any voting or consent
rights under or with respect to any Loan Document or (b) constitute a "Lender"
(or be included in the calculation of Required Lenders hereunder) for any voting
or consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document.

         SECTION 3.8       Changed Circumstances.

         (a)      Circumstances Affecting Eurodollar Rate Availability. If with
respect to any Interest Period the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after
consultation with Administrative Agent) shall determine that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally,
deposits in eurodollars, in the applicable amounts are not being quoted via any
applicable page or screen or otherwise offered to the Administrative Agent or
such Lender for such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer
exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans and the right
of the Borrower to convert any Construction Loan Advance to or continue any
Construction Loan Advance as a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be suspended, and the
Borrower shall

<PAGE>

repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal
amount of each such Eurodollar Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon,
on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such
Eurodollar Rate Loan or convert the then outstanding principal amount of each
such Eurodollar Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such
Interest Period.

         (b)      Laws Affecting Eurodollar Rate Availability. If, after the
date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any of its Lending
Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall
make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their
respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or
maintain any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice
thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer
exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans and the
right of the Borrower to convert any Construction Loan Advance or continue any
Construction Loan Advance as a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be suspended and
thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans hereunder, and (ii) if
any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a Eurodollar Rate Loan
to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto as a
Eurodollar Rate Loan, the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loan shall immediately be
converted to a Base Rate Loan for the remainder of such Interest Period.

         (c)      Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the introduction
of, or any change in, any Applicable Law, or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of such
Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency:

                  (i)      shall subject any of the Lenders (or any of their
         respective Lending Offices) to any tax, duty or other charge with
         respect to any Construction Loan Note or shall change the basis of
         taxation of payments to any of the Lenders (or any of their respective
         Lending Offices) of the principal of or interest on any Construction
         Loan Note or any other amounts due under this Agreement in respect
         thereof (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall net
         income of any of the Lenders or any of their respective Lending Offices
         imposed by the jurisdiction in which such Lender is organized or is or
         should be qualified to do business or such Lending Office is located);
         or

                  (ii)     shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
         (including, without limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors
         of the Federal Reserve System), special deposit, insurance or capital
         or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
         account of, or credit extended by any of the Lenders (or any of their
         respective Lending Offices) or shall impose on any of the Lenders (or
         any of their respective Lending Offices) or the foreign exchange and
         interbank markets any other condition affecting any

<PAGE>

         Construction Loan Note; and the result of any of the foregoing is to
         increase the costs to any of the Lenders of maintaining any Eurodollar
         Rate Loan or to reduce the yield or amount of any sum received or
         receivable by any of the Lenders under this Agreement or under the
         Construction Loan Notes in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, then such
         Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, and the
         Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of such fact
         and demand compensation therefor and, within fifteen (15) days after
         such notice by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to such
         Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender
         or Lenders for such increased cost or reduction. The Administrative
         Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of any event of which it has
         knowledge which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to
         this Section 3.8(c);

provided, that the Administrative Agent shall incur no liability whatsoever to
the Lenders or the Borrower in the event it fails to do so. The amount of such
compensation shall be determined, in the applicable Lender's sole discretion,
based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of
the Eurodollar Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any
reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate
and practical. A certificate of such Lender setting forth the basis for
determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be
forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be
conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

         SECTION 3.9       Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of
the Lenders against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to
each Lender's obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds
acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Construction Loan Advance (a) as a
consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any
amount due hereunder in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) due to any
failure of the Borrower to borrow on a date specified therefor in a Draw Request
or a Notice of Continuation/Conversion or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or
conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the
Interest Period therefor. The amount of such loss or expense shall be
determined, in the applicable Lender's sole discretion, based upon the
assumption that such Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of the Eurodollar
Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution
or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate and practical. A
certificate of such Lender setting forth the basis for determining such amount
or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the
Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to
be correct save for manifest error.

         SECTION 3.10      Capital Requirements. If either (a) the introduction
of, or any change in, or in the interpretation of, any Applicable Law or (b)
compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or comparable
agency or other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law),
has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of,
or has affected or would affect the amount of capital required to be maintained
by, any Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of,
or with reference to the Commitments and other commitments of this type, below
the rate which such Lender or such other corporation could have achieved but for
such introduction, change or compliance, then within five (5) Business Days
after written demand by any such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to

<PAGE>

such Lender from time to time as specified by such Lender additional amounts
sufficient to compensate such Lender or other corporation for such reduction. A
certificate as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent by such Lender, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be presumed to be
correct and binding for all purposes.

         SECTION 3.11      Taxes.

         (a)      Payments Free and Clear. Any and all payments by the Borrower
hereunder or under the Construction Loan Notes shall be made free and clear of
and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholding, and all liabilities with respect thereto
excluding, (i) in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, income
and franchise taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or is or
should be qualified to do business or any political subdivision thereof and (ii)
in the case of each Lender, income and franchise taxes imposed by the
jurisdiction of such Lender's Lending Office or any political subdivision
thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the
Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Construction Loan Note to any
Lender or the Administrative Agent, (A) the sum payable shall be increased as
may be necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings
(including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 3.11) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case
may be) receives an amount equal to the amount such party would have received
had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (B) the Borrower shall make
such deductions or withholdings, (C) the Borrower shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with
Applicable Law, and (D) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
evidence of such payment to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental
Authority in the manner provided in Section 3.11(d).

         (b)      Stamp and Other Taxes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay any
present or future stamp, registration, recordation or documentary taxes or any
other similar fees or charges or excise or property taxes, levies of the United
States or any state or political subdivision thereof or any applicable foreign
jurisdiction which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution,
delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, the
Construction Loan Advances, or the other Loan Documents, or the perfection of
any rights or security interest in respect thereof (hereinafter referred to as
"Other Taxes").

         (c)      Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the
Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including,
without limitation, any Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section 3.11) paid by such Lender or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted.
Such indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such
Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand
therefor.

<PAGE>

         (d)      Evidence of Payment. Within thirty (30) days after the date of
any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 12.1, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence of
payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         (e)      Delivery of Tax Forms. Each Lender organized under the laws of
a jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof (a "Foreign
Lender") shall deliver to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent,
on the Closing Date or concurrently with the delivery of the relevant Assignment
and Acceptance, as applicable, (i) two United States Internal Revenue Service
Forms W-8ECI or Forms W-8BEN, as applicable (or successor forms) properly
completed and certifying in each case that such Lender is entitled to a complete
exemption from withholding or deduction for or on account of any United States
federal income taxes, and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI
or successor applicable form, as the case may be, to establish an exemption from
United States backup withholding taxes. Each such Lender further agrees to
deliver to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a Form W-8BEN
or W-8ECI, or successor applicable forms or manner of certification, as the case
may be, on or before the date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete or
after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form
previously delivered by it to the Borrower, certifying in the case of a Form
W-8BEN or W-8ECI that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this
Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income
taxes (unless in any such case an event (including, without limitation, any
change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any
such delivery would otherwise be required which renders such forms inapplicable
or the exemption to which such forms relate unavailable and such Lender notifies
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not entitled to receive
payments without deduction or withholding of United States federal income taxes)
and, in the case of a Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, establishing an exemption from
United States backup withholding tax.

         (f)      Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other
agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the
Borrower contained in this Section 3.11 shall survive the payment in full of the
Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

         SECTION 3.12      Security. The Obligations of the Borrower shall be
secured as provided in the Security Documents.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.13      Replacement of Lenders.

         (a)      If any Lender requests compensation pursuant to Section 3.8 or
Section 3.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any
Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 3.11, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a
different lending office for funding or booking its Construction Loan Advances
hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its
offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such
designation or assignment (A) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant
to Section 3.8, Section 3.10 or Section 3.11, as the case may be, in the future
and (B) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and
would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby
agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in
connection with any such designation or assignment.

         (b)      If any Lender requests compensation pursuant to Section 3.8 or
Section 3.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any
Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 3.11, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice
to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and
delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions
contained in Section 12.10), all its interests, rights and obligations under
this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which
assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided
that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (B) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Construction Loan Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued
fees, breakage costs and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the
assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and
fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (C) in the case of
any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation pursuant to Section
3.8 or Section 3.10, such assignment will result in a reduction in such
compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such
assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such
Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such
assignment and delegation cease to apply.

         (c)      To the extent that any Lender (a "Replaced Lender") is
required to assign all of its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement to an Eligible Assignee (a "Replacement Lender") pursuant to this
Section 3.13, upon the execution of all applicable assignment documents and the
satisfaction of all other conditions set forth herein, the Replacement Lender
shall become a Lender hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to be a
Lender hereunder, except with respect to the indemnification provisions under
this Agreement, which provisions shall survive as to such Replaced Lender.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                  CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

         SECTION 4.1       Closing. The closing shall take place at the offices
of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P., 100 North Tryon Street, Suite
4200, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, at 10:00 a.m. on [September 19, 2002], or
on such other date and time as the parties hereto shall mutually agree.

         SECTION 4.2       Conditions to Closing and Initial Construction Loan
Advance. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the
initial Construction Loan Advance is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following conditions:

                  (a)      Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, the
         Construction Loan Notes, the Guaranty Agreement, the Pledge Agreement,
         the Security Agreement, the Mortgage, the Collateral Assignment of
         Architect's Contract, the Collateral Assignment of Construction
         Contract, the Management Fee and Guaranty Fee Subordination Agreement,
         each Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement, together with any other
         applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed
         and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall
         be in full force and effect and no default or event of default shall
         exist thereunder, and the Borrower shall have delivered original
         counterparts thereof to the Administrative Agent.

                  (b)      Closing Certificates; etc.

                           (i)      Officer's Certificate of the Borrower. The
                  Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a
                  Responsible Officer of the Management Company, in its capacity
                  as the duly authorized and acting Manager of the Borrower, in
                  form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
                  to the effect that all representations and warranties of the
                  Borrower contained in this Agreement and the other Loan
                  Documents are true, correct and complete; that the Borrower is
                  not in violation of any of the covenants contained in this
                  Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that, after giving
                  effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no
                  Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
                  and that the Borrower has satisfied each of the closing
                  conditions.

                           (ii)     Officer's Certificate of the Guarantors. The
                  Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a
                  Responsible Officer of the Parent, on behalf of itself and the
                  other Guarantors, in form and substance satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent, to the effect that all representations
                  and warranties of the Guarantors contained in the Guaranty
                  Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and
                  complete; that the Guarantors are not in violation of any of
                  the covenants contained in the Guaranty Agreement and the
                  other Loan Documents; that, after giving effect to the
                  transactions contemplated by the Guaranty Agreement, no
                  Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
                  and that the Guarantors have satisfied each of the closing
                  conditions.

<PAGE>

                           (iii)    Certificate of Secretary of the Borrower.
                  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of
                  the secretary or assistant secretary of the Management
                  Company, in its capacity as the duly authorized Manager of the
                  Borrower, certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of
                  the signature of each officer of the Management Company
                  executing Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party and
                  certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and
                  complete copy of (A) the certificate of limited partnership of
                  the Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified as of a
                  recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its
                  jurisdiction of incorporation, (B) the limited partnership
                  agreement of the Borrower as in effect on the date of such
                  certifications, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
                  Directors of the Management Company as general partner and
                  manager of the Borrower and resolutions duly adopted by the
                  investor representatives of the Borrower authorizing the
                  borrowings contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery
                  and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
                  to which the Borrower is a party, (D) each certificate
                  required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(v) and (E)
                  the Management Agreement (if applicable).

                           (iv)     Certificate of Secretary of the Guarantors.
                  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of
                  the secretary or assistant secretary of each Guarantor
                  certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the
                  signature of each officer of each Guarantor executing Loan
                  Documents to which it is a party, certifying that attached
                  thereto is a true, complete and correct copy of (A) the
                  articles of organization, the articles of incorporation or
                  such other charter documents of such Guarantor and all
                  amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the
                  appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of
                  organization or incorporation, (B) the operating agreement,
                  the bylaws or such other applicable documents governing
                  management of such Guarantor as in effect on the date of such
                  certification, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
                  Directors of such Guarantor authorizing the execution,
                  delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is
                  a party and (D) each certificate required to be delivered
                  pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(v).

                           (v)      Certificates of Good Standing.

                                    (A)      The Administrative Agent shall have
                  received certificates as of a recent date of the good standing
                  of the Borrower and of the Management Company under the laws
                  of their respective jurisdictions of organization and
                  certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of the
                  Borrower and the Management Company under the laws of the
                  State in which the Project is located and certificates of the
                  relevant taxing authorities of such jurisdictions certifying
                  that such Person has filed required tax returns and owes no
                  delinquent taxes.

                                    (B)      The Administrative Agent shall have
                  received certificates as of a recent date of the good standing
                  of each Guarantor (other than the

<PAGE>

                  Management Company) under the laws of its jurisdiction of
                  organization and, to the extent requested by the
                  Administrative Agent, each other jurisdiction where the each
                  Guarantor is qualified to do business and a certificate of the
                  relevant taxing authorities of such jurisdictions certifying
                  that each Guarantor has filed required tax returns and owes no
                  delinquent taxes.

                           (vi)     Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative
                  Agent shall have received favorable opinions of counsel to the
                  Borrower and the Guarantors addressed to the Administrative
                  Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Borrower and the
                  Guarantors, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the
                  Lenders shall request.

                           (vii)    Tax Forms. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received copies of the United States Internal Revenue
                  Service forms required by Section 3.11(e) hereof.

                  (c)      Collateral.

                           (i)      Filings and Recordings. All filings and
                  recordations necessary to perfect the liens and security
                  interests of the Lenders in the collateral described in the
                  Security Documents shall have been executed and delivered to
                  the Administrative Agent.

                           (ii)     Pledged Collateral. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have received original stock certificates or other
                  certificates evidencing the capital stock or other ownership
                  interests pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, if any,
                  together with an undated stock power for each such certificate
                  duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof.

                           (iii)    Lien Search. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received (A) the results of a Lien search (including a
                  search as to judgments, pending litigation and tax matters)
                  made against the Borrower under the Uniform Commercial Code
                  (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in any state in
                  which any of its assets are located, indicating among other
                  things that its assets are free and clear of any Lien except
                  for Liens permitted hereunder and (B) if required by the
                  Administrative Agent, the results of a search of the
                  appropriate judgment and tax lien records, showing no
                  outstanding judgment or tax lien against the Borrower or any
                  Guarantor.

                           (iv)     Hazard (Builder's Risk) and Liability
                  Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received
                  certificates of insurance, evidence of payment of all
                  insurance premiums for the current policy year of each
                  insurance policy, and, if requested by the Administrative
                  Agent, copies (certified by a Responsible Officer of the
                  Management Company) of each insurance policy in the form
                  required hereunder and under the Security Documents and
                  otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

                           (v)      Title Insurance. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have received a marked-up commitment for a policy of
                  title insurance, insuring the Lenders' first priority Lien and
                  showing no Liens prior to the Lenders' Lien other than for ad
                  valorem taxes not yet due and payable and encumbrances on, and
                  exceptions to, title acceptable to the Administrative Agent,
                  with title insurance companies and coverages acceptable to the
                  Administrative Agent on the property subject to the Mortgage,
                  with the final title insurance policy being delivered within
                  thirty (30) days after the Closing Date. Furthermore, the
                  Borrower agrees to provide or obtain any customary affidavits
                  and indemnities as may be required or necessary to obtain
                  title insurance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                           (vi)     Title Exceptions. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have received copies of all recorded documents creating
                  exceptions to the title policy referred to in Section
                  4.2(c)(v).

                           (vii)    Matters Relating to Flood Hazard Properties.
                  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certification
                  from a nationally recognized reporting agency, certifying that
                  none of the Land is located in a flood hazard area.

                           (viii)   Boundary Survey. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have a boundary survey of the Land as of a date not more
                  than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date certified by a
                  registered engineer or land surveyor. To the extent necessary
                  to permit the issuance of title insurance without exception
                  for matters of survey, such survey shall be accompanied by an
                  affidavit (a "Survey Affidavit") of the Management Company, on
                  behalf of the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to
                  the Administrative Agent. Such survey shall show the area of
                  the Land, all boundaries of the Land with courses and
                  distances indicated, including chord bearings and arc and
                  chord distances for all curves, and shall show dimensions and
                  locations of all easements, private drives, roadways, and
                  other facts materially affecting the Land, and shall show such
                  other details as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
                  request, including, without limitation, any encroachment (and
                  the extent thereof in feet and inches) onto the Land or by any
                  of the improvements on the property upon adjoining land or
                  upon any easement burdening the Land; any improvements, to the
                  extent constructed, and the relation of the improvements by
                  distances to the boundaries of the Land, to any easements
                  burdening the Land, and to the established building lines and
                  the street lines; and if improvements are existing, (A) a
                  statement of the number of each type of parking space required
                  by applicable laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations,
                  restrictive covenants and easements affecting the
                  improvements, and the number of each such type of parking
                  space provided, and (B) the location of all utilities serving
                  the improvements.

                           (ix)     Environmental Assessment. The Administrative
                  Agent shall have received a Phase I environmental assessment
                  and such other environmental reports reasonably requested by
                  the Administrative Agent regarding the Land by an

<PAGE>

                  environmental engineering firm acceptable to the
                  Administrative Agent showing no environmental conditions or
                  liabilities in violation of Environmental Laws that could
                  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (x)      Plans. The Administrative Agent shall have
                  received and approved a true and correct copy of all existing
                  Plans (including the site plan), together with satisfactory
                  evidence that all applicable Governmental Authorities, the
                  Borrower, Architect, General Contractor and Construction
                  Consultant have approved the same.

                           (xi)     Contracts. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received and approved (a) a list containing the names and
                  addresses of the General Contractor and Architect, their
                  respective contract amounts, and a copy of their contracts;
                  and (b) duly executed, acknowledged and delivered originals
                  from the General Contractor and the Architect of (i) consents
                  or other agreements reasonably satisfactory to Administrative
                  Agent and (ii) agreements reasonably satisfactory to
                  Administrative Agent subordinating all rights, liens, claims
                  and charges they may have or acquire against the Borrower or
                  the Property to the rights, liens and security interests of
                  Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders.

                           (xii)    Soil Reports. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received and approved a soil composition and test boring
                  report with respect to the Land, which shall be satisfactory
                  to the Administrative Agent and upon which the Administrative
                  Agent shall be entitled to rely, made within thirty (30) days
                  of the Closing Date of this Agreement by a licensed
                  professional engineer satisfactory to the Administrative
                  Agent.

                           (xiii)   Access, Utilities, and Laws. The
                  Administrative Agent shall have received and approved (a)
                  satisfactory evidence that the Land abuts and has fully
                  adequate direct access to a public street (indication of such
                  access on the as-built survey noted in clause (viii) above
                  being deemed satisfactory evidence); (b) evidence that all
                  utilities necessary for the Improvements are available at the
                  Land in sufficient capacity (indication of such availability
                  on the as-built survey noted in clause (viii) above being
                  deemed satisfactory evidence); (c) satisfactory evidence that
                  all applicable zoning ordinances, restrictive covenants and
                  governmental requirements affecting the Land permit the use
                  for which the Property is intended and have been or will be
                  complied with without the necessity of variance and without
                  the Property being a nonconforming use; (d) a true and correct
                  copy of a valid building permit or grading permit, as
                  applicable, for the Improvements, together with all other
                  permits and approvals necessary for construction of the
                  Improvements; and (e) evidence satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent of compliance by the Borrower and the
                  Property, and the proposed construction, use and occupancy of
                  the Improvements, with such other applicable laws and
                  governmental requirements as the Administrative Agent may
                  request, including all laws and governmental requirements
                  regarding access and facilities for handicapped or disabled
                  persons including, without limitation and to the extent

<PAGE>

                  applicable, The Federal Architectural Barriers Act (42
                  U.S.C. Section 4151 et seq.), The Fair Housing Amendments
                  Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Section 3601 et seq.), The Americans
                  With Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et
                  seq.), The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794)
                  and any applicable state requirements.

                           (xiv)    Priority. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received and approved evidence satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent that (A) no activity or circumstance was
                  visible on or near the Land which would constitute inception
                  of a mechanic's or materialman's lien against the Land unless
                  (1) such lien has been fully waived or subordinated or (2) the
                  underlying obligation with respect to such lien has been paid
                  in full, in each case to the Administrative Agent's
                  satisfaction, (B) no contract, or memorandum thereof, for
                  construction, design, surveying, or any other service relating
                  to the Project has been filed for record in the county where
                  the Land is located and (C) no mechanic's or materialman's
                  lien claim or notice, lis pendens, judgment, or other claim or
                  encumbrance against the Land has been filed for record in the
                  county where the Land is located or in any other public record
                  which by law provides notice of claims or encumbrances
                  regarding the Land.

                           (xv)     Bonds. The Administrative Agent shall have
                  received and approved (a) a performance bond for the General
                  Contractor, in amount, form and content reasonably
                  satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (b) a payment
                  bond for the General Contractor, in amount, form and content
                  reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                           (xvi)    Tax and Standby Fee Certificates. The
                  Administrative Agent shall have received and approved
                  satisfactory evidence (a) of the identity of all taxing
                  authorities and utility districts (or similar authorities)
                  having jurisdiction over the Property or any portion thereof;
                  (b) that all taxes, standby fees and any other similar charges
                  have been paid, including copies of receipts or statements
                  marked "paid" by the appropriate authority; and (c) that the
                  Land is a separate tax lot or lots with separate assessment or
                  assessments of the Land and Improvements, independent of any
                  other land or improvements.

                           (xvii)   Construction Contract. The Construction
                  Contract shall be in full force and effect.

                           (xviii)  Appraisal. The Administrative Agent shall
                  have received and accepted a market value appraisal of the
                  Property (including, without limitation, evidence that the
                  Aggregate Commitment does not exceed seventy-five percent
                  (75%) of the Appraised Value).

                           (xix)    Budget and Draw Schedule. The Administrative
                  Agent shall have received and approved (A) the Budget and (B)
                  the Borrower's proposed cash flow, draw schedule and
                  construction schedule for the Project.

<PAGE>

                           (xx)     Other Information. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have received such other certificates, documents and
                  information as are reasonably requested by the Lenders,
                  including, without limitation, local opinions of counsel,
                  engineering and structural reports and evidence of zoning
                  compliance, each in form and substance satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent.

                  (d)      Consents; Defaults.

                           (i)      Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The
                  Borrower shall have obtained all necessary approvals,
                  authorizations and consents of any Person which are material
                  to the conduct of its business and of all Governmental
                  Authorities and courts having jurisdiction with respect to the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
                  Documents and the conduct of its business.

                           (ii)     No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding,
                  investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been
                  instituted or threatened in writing before any Governmental
                  Authority to enjoin, restrain, or prohibit, or to obtain
                  substantial damages in respect of, or which is related to or
                  arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
                  the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
                  thereby, or which, in the Administrative Agent's sole
                  discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such other
                  Loan Documents.

                           (iii)    No Event of Default. No Default or Event of
                  Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

                  (e)      Financial Matters.

                           (i)      Financial Statements. The Administrative
                  Agent shall have received the most recent audited Consolidated
                  financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, all
                  in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent and prepared in accordance with GAAP.

                           (ii)     Financial Condition Certificate.

                                    (A)      The Borrower shall have delivered
                  to the Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and
                  substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
                  and certified as accurate by a Responsible Officer of the
                  Borrower, that (1) the Borrower is Solvent, (2) the Borrower's
                  payables are current and not past due except those contested
                  in good faith and (3) the financial projections previously
                  delivered to the Administrative Agent represent the good faith
                  estimates (utilizing reasonable assumptions) of the financial
                  condition and operations of the Borrower .

<PAGE>

                                    (B)      The Parent shall have delivered to
                  the Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance
                  reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and
                  certified as accurate by a Responsible Officer of the Parent,
                  that (1) the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are each
                  Solvent, (2) the payables of the Parent and each of its
                  Subsidiaries are current and not past due except those
                  contested in good faith, (3) attached thereto are calculations
                  evidencing compliance on a pro forma basis with the covenants
                  contained in Section 12 of the Guaranty Agreement and (4) the
                  financial projections previously delivered to the
                  Administrative Agent represent the good faith estimates
                  (utilizing reasonable assumptions) of the financial condition
                  and operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

                           (iii)    Project Equity. The Administrative Agent
                  shall have received evidence satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent that (A) the net cash proceeds of the
                  Project Equity have been contributed to the Borrower or (B) to
                  the extent such net cash proceeds of the Project Equity have
                  not been contributed to the Borrower, the Borrower shall have
                  received an irrevocable letter of credit securing the
                  irrevocable obligation of the equityholders to make such
                  contribution, which letter of credit shall be in form and
                  substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                           (iv)     Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. The
                  Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent and the
                  Lenders the fees set forth or referenced in Section 3.1 of the
                  Commitment Agreement and Section 3.3 hereof and any other
                  accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due thereunder or
                  hereunder (including, without limitation, Attorney Costs of
                  Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.) and to any other
                  Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with
                  the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes,
                  fees and other charges in connection with the execution,
                  delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the
                  Loan Documents.

                           (v)      Payment of Budget Amounts. The Borrower
                  shall have paid all amounts required to be paid by the
                  Borrower as described in Column (B) and (C) of the Budget.

                  (f)      Miscellaneous.

                           (i)      Draw Request and Notice of Account
                  Designation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
                  Draw Request from the Borrower in accordance with Section
                  2.2(a) and a Notice of Account Designation from the Borrower
                  in accordance with Section 2.2(c).

                           (ii)     Other Documents. All opinions, certificates
                  and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with
                  the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
                  satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative
                  Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of
                  all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably
                  requested thereby, with respect to the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 4.3       Conditions to All Construction Loan Advances. The
obligations of the Lenders to make any Construction Loan Advance (including the
initial Construction Loan Advance), or convert or continue any Construction Loan
Advance are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on
the relevant borrowing, conversion or continuation date:

                  (a)      Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
         representations and warranties contained in Article V hereof and
         Section 9 of the Guaranty Agreement shall be true and correct on and as
         of such borrowing, conversion or continuation date with the same effect
         as if made on and as of such date, except for any representation and
         warranty made as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty
         shall remain true and correct as of such earlier date.

                  (b)      No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default
         shall have occurred and be continuing on such borrowing, conversion or
         continuation date with respect to such Construction Loan Advance or
         after giving effect to the Construction Loan Advances to be made,
         converted or continued on such date.

                  (c)      Additional Documents. The Administrative Agent shall
         have received each additional document, instrument or other item
         reasonably requested by it.

                  (d)      Mechanics Liens. No mechanic's or materialman's lien
         or other encumbrance shall have been filed and remain in effect against
         the Property (except Liens permitted under this Agreement), and
         releases or waivers of mechanics' liens and receipted bills showing
         payment of all amounts due to all parties who have furnished materials
         or services or performed labor of any kind in connection with the
         Property shall have been obtained.

                  (e)      Construction Consultant Certification. The
         Administrative Agent shall have received written certification by the
         Construction Consultant, and if required by the Administrative Agent,
         the Architect, that to the best of each such Person's knowledge,
         information, and belief, construction is in accordance with the Plans,
         the quality of the work for which the Construction Loan Advance is
         requested is in accordance with the applicable contract, the amount of
         the Construction Loan Advance requested represents work in place based
         on on-site observations and the data comprising the Draw Request, the
         work has progressed as indicated, and the applicable contractor is
         entitled to payment of the amount certified.

                  (f)      No Damage. The Improvements shall not have been
         materially damaged and not repaired.

                  (g)      Payment of Budgeted Amounts. The Borrower shall have
         paid all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower under Columns (B)
         and (C) of the Budget.

                  (h)      Applications for Payment. With respect to any
         Construction Loan Advance to pay a contractor, the Administrative Agent
         shall have received original

<PAGE>

         applications for payment in form approved by the Administrative Agent,
         containing a breakdown by trade and/or other categories acceptable to
         the Administrative Agent, executed and certified by each contractor and
         the Architect, accompanied by invoices, and reasonably approved by
         Construction Consultant.

                  (i)      Title Updates. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent or if required
         by the applicable title insurance company, updates of the title
         insurance policy referred to in Section 4.2(c)(v) (such updates in form
         and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

                  (j)      Miscellaneous. (A) The cost to be funded with the
         Construction Loan Advance is contained in the Budget, other than costs
         in connection with Permitted Changes, (B) the Construction Loan Advance
         for any line item in the Budget, when added to all prior Construction
         Loan Advances for such line item, does not exceed the lesser of (i) the
         actual cost incurred by the Borrower for such line item or (ii) the sum
         allocated in the Loan Allocation column in the Budget for such item
         (which shall include any Cost Savings that have been allocated to such
         line pursuant to this Section 4.3), (C) with respect to any
         Construction Loan Advance for a contingency line item, the
         Administrative Agent shall have consented to such Construction Loan
         Advance, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (D) the
         Lenders shall not be required to make any Construction Loan Advance to
         fund interest on the Construction Loan Facility after the earlier of
         (i) the Construction Loan Termination Date or (ii) commencement of
         operations in the Improvements if and to the extent that there is
         sufficient net operating income from the Property to pay such interest
         and (E) the Lenders shall not be required to make any Construction Loan
         Advance to fund any Improvement which requires a valid building permit
         unless the Borrower shall have delivered a true and correct copy of
         such valid building permit to the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 4.4       Final Construction Loan Advance for Improvements. The
final Construction Loan Advance for the Improvements (including retainage) shall
not be made until thirty (30) days after the date on which a final certificate
of occupancy for the Project has been issued. The Administrative Agent shall
have received the following as additional conditions precedent to the requested
Construction Loan Advance:

                  (a)      Construction Matters.

                           (i)      Certificates from the Architect, the General
         Contractor and, if required by the Administrative Agent, the
         Construction Consultant, certifying that the Improvements (including
         any off-site improvements) have been completed substantially in
         accordance with, and as completed comply with, the Plans and all
         Applicable Laws; and

                           (ii)     Two (2) sets of detailed "as built" Plans
         approved in writing by the Borrower, the Architect, the General
         Contractor and, if required by the Administrative Agent, the
         Construction Consultant.

<PAGE>

                  (b)      Lien Affidavits. Final affidavits (in a form approved
         by the Administrative Agent) from the Architect and the General
         Contractor certifying that each of them and their subcontractors,
         laborers, and materialmen has been paid in full for all labor and
         materials for construction of the Improvements; and final lien releases
         or waivers (in a form approved by the Administrative Agent) executed by
         the Architect and the General Contractor, and all subcontractors,
         materialmen, and other parties who have supplied labor, materials, or
         services for the construction of the Improvements, or who otherwise
         might be entitled to claim a contractual, statutory or constitutional
         lien against the Property.

                  (c)      Title Insurance. The Title Insurer shall commit in
         writing to issue an endorsement to remove any exception for mechanics'
         or materialmen's liens or pending disbursements, with no additional
         title change or exception objectionable to the Administrative Agent,
         and such other endorsements as may be required by the Administrative
         Agent, such obligation to be conditioned only upon the making of the
         final Construction Loan Advance for the Improvements (including
         retainage).

                  (d)      Compliance with Laws. Evidence satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent that all material Applicable Laws have been
         satisfied in connection with the completion, use, occupancy and
         operation of the Improvements, including, without limitation, receipt
         by the Borrower of all material governmental licenses, certificates and
         permits (including certificates of occupancy, the license to operate
         the Hospital, the Medicare Certification and the Medicaid Certification
         (as applicable)) with respect to the completion, use, occupancy and
         operation of the Improvements, together with evidence satisfactory to
         the Administrative Agent that all such material governmental licenses,
         certificates, and permits are in full force and effect and have not
         been revoked, cancelled or modified.

                  (e)      As-Built Survey. Two (2) copies of a final as-built
         survey of the Land and Improvements satisfactory to the Administrative
         Agent.

                                    ARTICLE V

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER

         SECTION 5.1       Representations and Warranties. To induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce
the Lenders to make the Construction Loan Advances, the Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before
and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereunder that:

                  (a)      Organization; Power; Qualification. The Borrower is
         (i) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
         laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (ii) has
         the power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its
         business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and (iii)
         is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in
         which the character of its properties or the nature of its business
         requires such qualification and authorization except where the

<PAGE>

         failure to be so qualified and authorized could not reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which
         the Borrower is organized and qualified to do business as of the
         Closing Date are only (i) its state of formation and (ii) the state in
         which the Project is located.

                  (b)      Ownership. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries. As of
         the Closing Date, the capitalization of the Borrower consists of the
         partnership interests, authorized, issued and outstanding, described on
         Schedule 5.1(b). All outstanding partnership interests have been duly
         authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable,
         with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and not
         subject to any preemptive or similar rights. As of the Closing Date,
         there are no outstanding purchase warrants, subscriptions, options,
         securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature
         whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise
         provide for or permit the issuance of partnership interests of the
         Borrower, except as set forth in the limited partnership agreement of
         the Borrower.

                  (c)      Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and
         Borrowing. Each of the Borrower and the Management Company has the
         right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and
         other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
         this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a
         party in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and
         each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered
         by the duly authorized officers of the Management Company on behalf of
         the Borrower, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and
         binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its
         terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal
         debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which affect the
         enforcement of creditors' rights in general and the availability of
         equitable remedies.

                  (d)      Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing
         with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower
         of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party, in accordance
         with their respective terms, the borrowings hereunder and the
         transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, by the passage of
         time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (i) require any Governmental
         Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to the Borrower, (ii)
         conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the
         organizational documents of the Borrower or any indenture, agreement or
         other instrument to which the Borrower is a party or by which any of
         its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to
         the Borrower, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of
         any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter
         acquired by the Borrower other than Liens arising under the Loan
         Documents or (iv) require any consent or authorization of, filing with,
         or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and
         no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the
         execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this
         Agreement.

<PAGE>

                  (e)      Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. The
         Borrower (i) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable
         Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and
         effect, is final and not subject to review or appeal and is not the
         subject of any pending or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened
         attack by direct or collateral proceeding, (ii) is in compliance with
         each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all
         other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective
         properties, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably
         be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) has timely
         filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to
         be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental
         Authority and has retained all material records and documents required
         to be retained by it under Applicable Law.

                  (f)      Tax Returns and Payments. The Borrower has duly filed
         or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax returns
         required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate
         provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and other
         material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it
         and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable,
         except for taxes (i) that are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being
         contested in good faith and against which adequate reserves are being
         maintained in accordance with GAAP. Such returns accurately reflect in
         all material respects all liability for taxes of the Borrower for the
         periods covered thereby. There is no ongoing audit or examination or,
         to the knowledge of the Borrower, other investigation by any
         Governmental Authority of the tax liability of the Borrower. No
         Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other claim against the
         Borrower with respect to unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or
         resolved. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the
         Borrower in respect of federal, state, local and other taxes for all
         Fiscal Years and portions thereof since the organization of the
         Borrower are in the judgment of the Borrower adequate, and the Borrower
         does not anticipate any additional material taxes or assessments for
         any of such periods.

                  (g)      Intellectual Property Matters. The Borrower owns or
         possesses rights to use all franchises, licenses, copyrights, copyright
         applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications,
         trademarks, trademark rights, service mark, service mark rights, trade
         names, trade name rights, copyrights and rights with respect to the
         foregoing which are required to conduct its business. No event has
         occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
         permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and the
         Borrower is not liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable
         Law with respect to any such rights as a result of its business
         operations, except for such infringements that, individually or in the
         aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (h)      Environmental Matters.

                           (i)      The properties owned, leased or operated by
                  the Borrower now or in the past do not contain, and to its
                  knowledge have not previously contained, any Hazardous
                  Materials in amounts or concentrations which (A) constitute or

<PAGE>

                  constituted a material violation of applicable Environmental
                  Laws or (B) could give rise to material liability under
                  applicable Environmental Laws;

                           (ii)     The Borrower and such properties and all
                  operations conducted in connection therewith are in
                  compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable
                  Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or
                  about such properties or such operations which could
                  reasonably interfere with the continued operation of such
                  properties or impair the fair saleable value thereof;

                           (iii)    The Borrower has not received any notice of
                  violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                  potential liability regarding environmental matters, Hazardous
                  Materials, or compliance with Environmental Laws from (A) any
                  Governmental Authority or (B) to the extent any such
                  violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                  potential liability could reasonably be expected to have a
                  Material Adverse Effect, any other Person, nor does the
                  Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such
                  notice will be received or is being threatened;

                           (iv)     Hazardous Materials have not been
                  transported or disposed of to or from the properties owned,
                  leased or operated by of the Borrower in violation of, or in a
                  manner or to a location which could give rise to a material
                  liability under, Environmental Laws, nor have any Hazardous
                  Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at,
                  on or under any of such properties in violation of, or in a
                  manner that could give rise to a material liability under, any
                  applicable Environmental Laws;

                           (v)      No judicial proceedings or governmental or
                  administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the
                  Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which the
                  Borrower is or will be named as a potentially responsible
                  party with respect to such properties or operations conducted
                  in connection therewith, 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 the
                  Borrower or such properties or such operations; and

                           (vi)     There has been no release, or to the best of
                  the Borrower's knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous
                  Materials at or from properties owned, leased or operated by
                  the Borrower, now or in the past, in violation of or in
                  amounts or in a manner that could give rise to a material
                  liability under Environmental Laws.

                  (i)      ERISA.

                           (i)      The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate is in
                  material compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA
                  and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
                  with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans

<PAGE>

                  except for any required amendments for which the remedial
                  amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has
                  not yet expired and except where a failure to so comply could
                  not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
                  Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified
                  under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the
                  Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified, and each trust
                  related to such plan has been determined to be exempt under
                  Section 501(a) of the Code except for such plans that have not
                  yet received determination letters but for which the remedial
                  amendment period for submitting a determination letter has not
                  yet expired. No liability has been incurred by the Borrower or
                  any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or
                  penalties with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any
                  Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that could not
                  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                           (ii)     As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has
                  been terminated, nor has any accumulated funding deficiency
                  (as defined in Section 412 of the Code) been incurred (without
                  regard to any waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code),
                  nor has any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue Service
                  been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan,
                  nor has the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate failed to make any
                  contributions or to pay any amounts due and owing as required
                  by Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms
                  of any Pension Plan prior to the due dates of such
                  contributions under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
                  ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure
                  under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect
                  to any Pension Plan;

                           (iii)    Except where the failure of any of the
                  following representations to be correct in all material
                  respects could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
                  Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate
                  has: (A) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction
                  described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the
                  Code, (B) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains
                  outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are
                  no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (C) failed to
                  make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer
                  Plan, or (D) failed to make a required installment or other
                  required payment under Section 412 of the Code;

                           (iv)     No Termination Event with respect to the
                  Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has occurred or is reasonably
                  expected to occur; and

                           (v)      Except where the failure of any of the
                  following representations to be correct in all material
                  respects could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
                  Adverse Effect, no proceeding, claim (other than a benefits
                  claim in the ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or
                  investigation is existing or, to the best knowledge of the
                  Borrower after due inquiry, threatened concerning or involving
                  any (A) employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section
                  3(1) of

<PAGE>

                  ERISA) currently maintained or contributed to by the Borrower
                  or any ERISA Affiliate, (B) Pension Plan or (C) Multiemployer
                  Plan.

                  (j)      Margin Stock. The Borrower is not engaged principally
         or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the
         purpose of "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (as each such
         term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the
         Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the
         proceeds of any of the Construction Loan Advances will be used for
         purchasing or carrying margin stock or for any purpose which violates,
         or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U
         or X of such Board of Governors.

                  (k)      Government Regulation. The Borrower is not an
         "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
         company" (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment
         Company Act of 1940, as amended) and the Borrower is not, or after
         giving effect to any Construction Loan Advance will not be, subject to
         regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or the
         Interstate Commerce Act, each as amended, or any other Applicable Law
         which limits its ability to incur or consummate the transactions
         contemplated hereby.

                  (l)      Material Contracts. From and after the Closing Date,
         each Material Contract is, and after giving effect to the consummation
         of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will be, in full
         force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof. The Borrower has
         delivered to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of each
         Material Contract listed on Schedule 5.1(l). Neither the Borrower nor,
         to the knowledge of the Borrower, any other party thereto, is in breach
         of or in default under any Material Contract, except where such breach
         or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (m)      Employee Relations. As of the Completion Date, the
         Borrower has a stable work force in place. The Borrower knows of no
         pending, threatened or contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other
         collective labor disputes involving its employees.

                  (n)      Burdensome Provisions. The Borrower is not a party to
         any indenture, agreement, lease or other instrument, or subject to any
         corporate or partnership restriction, Governmental Approval or
         Applicable Law which is so unusual or burdensome as in the foreseeable
         future could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
         The Borrower does not presently anticipate that future expenditures
         needed to meet the provisions of any statutes, orders, rules or
         regulations of a Governmental Authority will be so burdensome as to
         have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (o)      No Material Adverse Change. Since the Closing Date,
         there has been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Borrower
         and no event has occurred or condition arisen that could reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

                  (p)      Solvency. As of the Closing Date and both before and
         after giving effect to each Construction Loan Advance made hereunder,
         the Borrower and each Guarantor will be Solvent.

                  (q)      Title to Properties. The Borrower and each Guarantor
         has such title to the real property owned or leased by it, including,
         but not limited to, the Land and the Improvements, which are material
         to the conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all of its
         personal property and assets which are material to the conduct of its
         business, including, but not limited to, the Tangible Personalty,
         except those which have been disposed of by the Borrower or such
         Guarantor subsequent to such date which dispositions have been in the
         ordinary course of business or as otherwise expressly permitted
         hereunder.

                  (r)      Liens. None of the properties and assets of the
         Borrower is subject to any Lien, except Liens permitted pursuant to
         Section 9.2. No financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
         of any state which names the Borrower as debtor and which has not been
         terminated, has been filed in any state or other jurisdiction and the
         Borrower has not signed any such financing statement or any security
         agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file any such
         financing statement, except to perfect those Liens permitted by Section
         9.2.

                  (s)      Debt and Guaranty Obligations.

                           (i)      Schedule  5.1(s) is a complete and correct
                  listing of all Debt and Guaranty Obligations of the
                  Borrower as of the Closing Date.

                           (ii)     As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has
                  performed and is in compliance with all of the terms of all
                  Debt and Guaranty Obligations set forth on Schedule 5.1(s)
                  which are in excess of $1,000,000 and all instruments and
                  agreements relating thereto, and no default or event of
                  default, or event or condition which with notice or lapse of
                  time or both would constitute such a default or event of
                  default on the part of the Borrower exists with respect to any
                  such Debt or Guaranty Obligation.

                  (t)      Litigation. Except for matters existing on the
         Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 5.1(t), there are no actions,
         suits or proceedings pending nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
         threatened in writing against or in any other way relating adversely to
         or affecting the Borrower or any of its properties in any court or
         before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental
         Authority which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (u)      Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is
         continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, or which
         constitutes, or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or
         both would constitute, a default or event of default by the Borrower
         under any Material Contract or judgment, decree or order to which the
         Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower or any of its properties
         may be bound or

<PAGE>

         which would require the Borrower to make any payment thereunder prior
         to the scheduled maturity date therefor which could reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (v)      Budget. The Budget has been prepared by the Borrower
         and the Borrower represents to the Lenders that it includes all costs
         and expenses, the aggregate amount of which costs and expenses are
         specifically identified thereon (the "Aggregate Project Cost"),
         incident to the Construction Loan Advances and the Project (excluding
         costs and expenses attributable to any equipment which is subject to
         the Equipment Loan Financing), through the Construction Loan
         Termination Date, after taking into account the requirements of this
         Agreement.

                  (w)      Mortgage.

                           (i)      As of the Closing Date, the Mortgage, and
                  the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
                  thereunder, will have priority over all other Liens on the
                  Land or Improvements, including, without limitation, any
                  mechanic's or materialman's lien or similar lien.

                           (ii)     After the Closing Date, the Mortgage, and
                  the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
                  thereunder, will have priority over all other Liens on the
                  Land or Improvements, including, without limitation, any
                  mechanic's or materialman's lien or similar lien (other than
                  Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2(i)).

                  (x)      Plans. The Plans when completed will contain all
         detail necessary and will be adequate for the construction of the
         Improvements, and will comply with the Loan Documents, Applicable Laws,
         restrictive covenants, and governmental requirements, rules and
         regulations.

                  (y)      Separate Tax Lot. The Land is not part of a larger
         tract of land owned by the Borrower or its affiliates or any Guarantor
         and is not otherwise included under any unity of title or similar
         covenant with other lands not encumbered by the Mortgage, and the
         Borrower has obtained a separate tax lot or lots with a separate tax
         assessment or assessments for the Land and the Improvements,
         independent of any other lands or improvements.

                  (z)      Compliance with Laws. The Land and Improvements
         comply with all Applicable Laws, including all subdivision and platting
         requirements, without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring
         property, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                  (aa)     Construction Schedule. The construction schedule for
         the Project is realistic and the Completion Date is a reasonable
         estimate of the time required to complete the Project.

<PAGE>

                  (bb)     Healthcare Matters. From and after the Completion
         Date,

                           (i)      The Borrower:

                                    (A)      has not been convicted of an
                  offense or committed an act or omission which could reasonably
                  form a basis under 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7 and any statutes
                  succeeding thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder
                  for the Secretary of HHS to exclude the Borrower from
                  participation in a "Federal health care program" (as that term
                  is defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(f), or any successor
                  statute thereto); and

                                    (B)      is not in default in the
                  performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the
                  obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any Medicaid
                  Provider Agreement, any Medicare Provider Agreement or any
                  other agreement or instrument to which the Borrower is a
                  party, which default has resulted in, or if not remedied
                  within any applicable grace period could result in, the
                  revocation, termination, cancellation or suspension of the
                  Medicaid Certification of the Borrower or the Medicare
                  Certification of the Borrower.

                           (ii)     Reimbursement from Third Party Payors.

                                    (A)      Accounts Receivable. The accounts
                  receivable of the Borrower have been and will continue to be
                  adjusted to reflect reimbursement policies of third party
                  payors such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield,
                  private insurance companies, health maintenance organizations,
                  preferred provider organizations, alternative delivery
                  systems, managed care systems, government contracting agencies
                  and other third party payors. In particular, accounts
                  receivable relating to such third party payors do not and
                  shall not exceed amounts any obligee is entitled to receive
                  under any capitation arrangement, fee schedule, discount
                  formula, cost-based reimbursement or other adjustment or
                  limitation to its usual charges.

                                    (B)      Filings and Reports. The Borrower
                  has timely filed all material reports, administrative forms
                  and filings required to be filed in connection with the
                  Medicare Regulations and the Medicaid Regulations (as
                  applicable) due on or before the date hereof, and all required
                  reports and administrative forms and filings are true and
                  complete in all material respects, in each case except to the
                  extent that any such failure could not reasonably be expected
                  to have a Material Adverse Effect; there are no claims,
                  actions, proceedings or appeals pending (and the Borrower has
                  not filed anything that would result in any claims, actions or
                  appeals) before any Governmental Authority with respect to any
                  cost reports required to be filed by the Medicare Regulations
                  or the Medicaid Regulations (as applicable) or claims filed by
                  the Borrower on or before the date hereof, or with respect to
                  any adjustments, denials, recoupments or disallowances by any
                  intermediary, carrier, other insurer, commission, board or
                  agency in connection with any cost reports or claims; no
                  validation review, survey, inspection, audit,

<PAGE>

                  investigation or program integrity review related to the
                  Borrower has been conducted with respect to the Borrower by
                  any Governmental Authority or government contractor in
                  connection with the Medicare program or the Medicaid program
                  (as applicable), and no such reviews are scheduled, pending
                  or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened against or
                  affecting the Borrower; and the Borrower has timely filed all
                  material reports, data and other information required by any
                  other Governmental Authority with authority to regulate the
                  Borrower or its business in any manner.

                            (iii)   Licensing and Accreditation. The Borrower
                  has, to the extent applicable: (A) obtained (or been duly
                  assigned) and maintains in good standing all required (if any)
                  certificates of need or determinations of need as required by
                  the relevant state Governmental Authority for the acquisition,
                  construction, expansion of, investment in or operation of its
                  businesses as currently operated; (B) obtained and maintains
                  in good standing all required licenses, permits, certificates,
                  approvals and other authorizations (or waivers thereof)
                  required by any Governmental Authority which are necessary to
                  the conduct of its business; (C) to the extent prudent and
                  customary in the industry in which it is engaged, obtained and
                  maintains accreditation from all generally recognized
                  accrediting agencies; (D) obtained and maintains Medicaid
                  Certification and Medicare Certification; and (E) entered into
                  and maintains in good standing its Medicare Provider Agreement
                  and its Medicaid Provider Agreement.

                            (iv)    Fraud and Abuse. Neither the Borrower nor,
                  to the knowledge of the Borrower's officers, any of its
                  officers or directors, have engaged in any activities which
                  are prohibited under the Medicare Regulations and Medicaid
                  Regulations, 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b, 42 U.S.C. Section
                  1395nn, or the regulations promulgated pursuant to such
                  statutes or related state or local statutes or regulations, or
                  which are prohibited by binding rules of professional conduct,
                  or which are prohibited under any statute which constitutes a
                  "Federal health care offense" (as that term is defined by 18
                  U.S.C. Section 24, or any successor statute thereto), or the
                  regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes, including
                  but not limited to the following: (A) knowingly and willfully
                  making or causing to be made a false statement or
                  representation of a material fact in any applications for any
                  benefit or payment; (B) knowingly and willfully making or
                  causing to be made any false statement or representation of a
                  material fact for use in determining rights to any benefit or
                  payment; (C) failing to disclose knowledge by a claimant of
                  the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or continued
                  right to any benefit or payment on its own behalf or on behalf
                  of another, with intent to secure such benefit or payment
                  fraudulently; (D) knowingly and willfully soliciting or
                  receiving any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or
                  rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash
                  or in kind or offering to pay such remuneration (1) in return
                  for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or
                  arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which
                  payment may be made in whole or in part by a Federal health
                  care program or other applicable third party payors, or (2) in
                  return for purchasing, leasing or ordering or arranging for or

<PAGE>

                  recommending the purchasing, leasing or ordering of any good,
                  facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in
                  whole or in part by a Federal health care program or other
                  applicable third party payors; (E) knowingly or willfully
                  offering or paying any remuneration (including any kickback,
                  bribe, or rebate) directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly,
                  in cash or in kind to any Person to induce such Person (1) to
                  refer an individual to a person for the furnishing or
                  arranging for the furnishing of any item or service for which
                  payment may be made in whole or in part under a Federal health
                  care program, or (2) to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for
                  or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering any good,
                  facility, service, or item for which payment may be made in
                  whole or in part under a Federal health care program.

                  (cc)     Senior Debt Status. The Obligations of the Borrower
         and each Guarantor under this Agreement and each of the other Loan
         Documents ranks and shall continue to rank at least senior in priority
         of payment to all Subordinated Debt.

                  (dd)     Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written
         information, reports, statements and other papers and data produced by
         or on behalf of the Borrower and furnished to the Administrative Agent
         or any Lender in connection with this Agreement, or any of the other
         Loan Documents, were, at the time the same were so furnished, complete
         and correct in all material respects to the extent necessary to give
         the Administrative Agent or any Lender complete, true and accurate
         knowledge of the subject matter based on the Borrower's knowledge
         thereof (other than projections, budgets or other estimates which shall
         be determined in good faith utilizing reasonable assumptions). No
         document furnished or written statement made to the Administrative
         Agent or the Lenders by the Borrower in connection with the
         negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any of the
         Loan Documents contains or will contain any untrue statement of a fact
         material to the creditworthiness of the Borrower or omits or will omit
         to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
         therein not misleading to the extent material to the creditworthiness
         of the Borrower. The Borrower is not aware of any facts which it has
         not disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent having a Material
         Adverse Effect, or insofar as the Borrower can now foresee, which could
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 5.2       Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this Article V and all
representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan
Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty
made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute
representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations
and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at
and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a
specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                        FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND REPORTS

         Until all the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been
obtained in the manner set forth in Section 12.11, the Borrower will furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's
Office at the address set forth in Section 12.1 and to the Lenders at their
respective addresses as set forth Schedule 1.1(a), or such other office as may
be designated by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to time:

         SECTION 6.1       Financial Statements.

         (a)      Monthly and Quarterly Financial Statements.

                  (i)      Monthly Financial Statements. Commencing with the
         first full month after the Completion Date and continuing for the first
         twelve months after the Completion Date, as soon as practicable and in
         any event within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month,
         an unaudited balance sheet of the Borrower as of the close of such
         fiscal month and unaudited statements of income and expenses and cash
         flow for the fiscal month then ended and that portion of the Fiscal
         Year then ended, all in reasonable detail and prepared by the Borrower
         in accordance with GAAP (without footnotes) and certified by a
         Responsible Officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all material
         respects the financial condition of the Management Company on behalf of
         the Borrower as of their respective dates and the results of operations
         of the Borrower for the respective periods then ended, subject to
         normal year end adjustments; provided that (A) with respect to each
         fiscal month end which is also fiscal quarter end, the Borrower shall
         provide such monthly financial statements as soon as practicable and in
         any event within fifty-five days after the end of each such fiscal
         month and (B) with respect to each fiscal month end which is also
         Fiscal Year end, the Borrower shall provide such monthly financial
         statements as soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred
         (100) days after the end of each such fiscal month.

                  (ii)     Quarterly Financial Statements. With respect to each
         fiscal quarter ending after the date which is twelve (12) months after
         the Completion Date, as soon as practicable and in any event within
         fifty-five (55) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, an unaudited
         balance sheet of the Borrower as of the close of such fiscal quarter
         and unaudited statements of income and expenses and cash flow for the
         fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then
         ended, all in reasonable detail and prepared by the Borrower in
         accordance with GAAP (without footnotes) and certified by a Responsible
         Officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all material respects the
         financial condition of the Borrower as of their respective dates and
         the results of operations of the Borrower for the respective periods
         then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments.

          (b)     Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any
event within one hundred (100) days after the end of each Fiscal Year,
commencing with the Fiscal Year ending

<PAGE>

September 30, 2003, an audited balance sheet of the Borrower as of the close of
such Fiscal Year and audited statements of income and expenses, retained
earnings and cash flow for the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes
thereto, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and
accompanied by a report thereon prepared by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, or another
independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing
which is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, that such financial
statements are not qualified with respect to scope limitations imposed by the
Borrower or with respect to accounting principles followed by the Borrower not
in accordance with GAAP.

         (c)      Annual Forecasts. As soon as practicable and in any event no
later than thirty (30) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, an annual
forecast prepared by management of the Borrower, in reasonable detail and in the
form customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use and
setting forth an explanation for the principal assumptions on which such
forecasts were based, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow
statements on a quarterly basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter until the
Maturity Date.

         (d)      Other Information. Such other information regarding the
operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

         SECTION 6.2       Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time
financial statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 6.1(a)(ii) or 6.1(b) and
at such other times as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request a
certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of Borrower in the
form of Exhibit I attached hereto (an "Officer's Compliance Certificate"):

                  (a)      stating that such officer has reviewed such financial
         statements and, to the best of his knowledge, such financial statements
         fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the
         Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations
         and cash flows for the periods indicated;

                  (b)      stating that to such officer's knowledge, based on a
         reasonable examination, no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if
         such is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and
         its nature, when it occurred, whether it is continuing and the steps
         being taken by the Borrower with respect to such Default or Event of
         Default;

                  (c)      stating that the Borrower is in compliance with the
         covenants and restrictions set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX of
         this Agreement and, with respect to the covenants set forth in Article
         VIII, the calculations applicable thereto; and

                  (d)      setting forth any other information reasonably
         required by the Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this
         Agreement.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 6.3       Accountant's Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b), a certificate of the
independent public accountants certifying such financial statements addressed to
the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders:

         (a)      stating that in making the examination necessary for the
certification of such financial statements, they obtained no knowledge of any
Default or Event of Default or, if such is not the case, specifying such Default
or Event of Default and its nature and period of existence; and

         (b)      including the calculations prepared by such accountants
required to establish whether or not the Borrower are in compliance with the
financial covenants set forth in Article VIII hereof as at the end of each
respective period.

         SECTION 6.4       Other Reports.

         (a)      Accountants Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of
all reports, if any, submitted to the Borrower or its Board of Directors by its
independent public accountants in connection with their auditing function,
including, without limitation, any management report and any management
responses thereto.

         (b)      Clinical Procedures Reports. At such times as the
Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, and at least quarterly, a
certificate of an executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the types of
clinical procedures performed during such period, the number of the clinical
procedures performed during such period, the patient days related to the
clinical procedures performed during such period and any other operating
statistics reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in a form prepared
by the Borrower in the ordinary course of its business.

         (c)      Permitted Payment Certificate. Not less than ten (10) days
prior to the proposed date of any Permitted Distribution pursuant to Section
9.6, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the
Management Company on behalf of the Borrower:

                  (i)      stating that such officer has reviewed the most
         recent financial statements of the Borrower and, to the best of his
         knowledge, such financial statements fairly present in all material
         respects the financial condition of the Borrower as of the dates
         indicated and the results of its operations and cash flows for the
         periods indicated;

                  (ii)     setting forth the calculations required to establish
         that the Borrower shall be in compliance with the requirements set
         forth in Section 9.6(c) both before and after giving effect to such
         Permitted Distribution; and

                  (iii)    setting forth any other information reasonably
         required by the Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this
         Agreement.

<PAGE>

         (d)      Other Reports. Such other information regarding the
operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

         SECTION 6.5       Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but
in no event later than ten (10) days after an officer of the Borrower obtains
knowledge thereof) telephonic and written notice of:

         (a)      the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or
before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court
or before any arbitrator against or involving the Borrower or any of its
properties, assets or businesses which, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (b)      any violation by the Borrower of any Applicable Law or any
notice of any violation received by the Borrower from any Governmental Authority
including, without limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws,
which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;

         (c)      any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens to
result in, a strike or other work action against the Borrower or any contractor
or any material development in any labor controversy which if adversely
determined could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (d)      any actual or threatened condemnation of any portion of the
Property, any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any loss of or
substantial damage to the Property (excluding any such condemnation which only
affects a de minimus portion of the Property);

         (e)      any notice received by the Borrower with respect to the
cancellation, alteration or non-renewal of any insurance coverage maintained by
the Borrower except as in the ordinary course of the business of the Borrower
solely in connection with the replacement of any such insurance coverage;

         (f)      any failure by the Borrower or any contractor to perform any
material obligation under any construction contract that is a Material Contract
(including, without limitation, the Construction Contract), any event or
condition which would permit termination of any such construction contract or
suspension of work thereunder, or any notice given by the Borrower or any
contractor with respect to any of the foregoing.

         (g)      any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding
$500,000 that may be assessed against the Borrower (to the extent such
attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is not fully covered by insurance and
with respect to which the applicable insurance carrier has not acknowledged that
such attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is fully covered by insurance);

         (h)      (i) any Default or Event of Default or (ii) any event which
constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would
constitute a default or event of default

<PAGE>

under any Material Contract to which the Borrower is a party or by which the
Borrower or any of its properties may be bound which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (i)      (i) any unfavorable determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under
Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (ii) all notices
received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intent to
terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any
Pension Plan, (iii) all notices received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of
withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA and (iv) the Borrower
obtaining knowledge or reason to know that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan
under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA;

         (j)      from and after the Completion Date, any expiration,
termination or cancellation of the Borrower's license to operate, Medicare
Certification or Medicaid Certification or the receipt by the Borrower of any
notice with respect thereto; and

         (k)      any event which makes any of the representations set forth in
Section 5.1 inaccurate in any respect.

         SECTION 6.6       Accuracy of Information. All written information,
reports, statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Article VI,
or any other provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,
shall be, at the time the same is so furnished, in compliance with the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.1(dd).

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and
the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner
provided for in Section 12.11, the Borrower will:

         SECTION 7.1       Preservation of Existence and Related Matters.
Preserve and maintain its separate existence as a limited partnership and all
rights, franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to the conduct of its
business, and qualify and remain qualified as a foreign company and authorized
to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature and scope of its activities
require it to so qualify under Applicable Law, including in any event, the state
of its formation and the state in which the Project is located.

         SECTION 7.2       Maintenance of Property. In addition to the
requirements of any of the Security Documents, protect and preserve all
properties useful in and material to the conduct of its business, including
copyrights, patents, trade names, service marks and trademarks material

<PAGE>

to the conduct of its business; maintain in good working order and condition,
reasonable wear and tear and casualty excepted, all buildings, items of
equipment and other items of tangible real and personal property material to the
conduct of its business; and from time to time make or cause to be made all
renewals, replacements and additions to such property necessary for the conduct
of its business, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly conducted at all times.

         SECTION 7.3       Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a
system of accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be
true and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be
necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with
GAAP and in compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.

         SECTION 7.4       Payment and Performance of Obligations. Pay and
perform all Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and
pay or perform (a) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that
may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its property, and (b) all other
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade
practices; provided, that the Borrower may contest any item described in clauses
(a) or (b) of this Section 7.4 in good faith so long as adequate reserves are
maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

         SECTION 7.5       Compliance With Laws and Approvals. Observe and
remain in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws and
maintain in full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case
applicable to the conduct of its business, except where the failure to observe
or comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 7.6       Environmental Laws. In addition to and without
limiting the generality of Section 7.5, (a) comply in all material respects
with, and use its best efforts to ensure such compliance in all material
respects by all tenants and subtenants (if any) with, all applicable
Environmental Laws and obtain and comply in all material respects with and
maintain, and use its best efforts to ensure that all tenants and subtenants, if
any, obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, any and all
licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by
applicable Environmental Laws, (b) conduct and complete all investigations,
studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions
required under Environmental Laws, and promptly comply in all material respects
with all lawful orders and directives of any Governmental Authority regarding
Environmental Laws, except to the extent that the same are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and the pendency of such proceedings could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) defend,
indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their
respective parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, employees, agents, officers and
directors, from and against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities,
settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or
unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the
presence of Hazardous Materials, or the violation of, noncompliance with or
liability under any Environmental Laws applicable to the operations of the
Borrower, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities
related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable

<PAGE>

attorney's and consultant's fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response
costs, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the
foregoing directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
party seeking indemnification therefor.

         SECTION 7.7       Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without
limiting the generality of Section 7.5, (a) except where the failure to so
comply could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) comply with all material applicable
provisions of ERISA and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans, (ii) not take any action or fail to
take action the result of which could be a liability to the PBGC or to a
Multiemployer Plan, (iii) not participate in any prohibited transaction that
could result in any civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (iv)
operate each Employee Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax
liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified
beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code and (b) furnish to the
Administrative Agent upon the Administrative Agent's request such additional
information about any Employee Benefit Plan as may be reasonably requested by
the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 7.8       Compliance With Agreements. Comply in all respects
with each term, condition and provision of all leases, agreements and other
instruments entered into in the conduct of its business including, without
limitation, any Material Contract, except (i) where the failure to so comply
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where
any such term, condition or provision is contested in good faith through
applicable proceedings and where adequate reserves are maintained in accordance
with GAAP.

         SECTION 7.9       Visits and Inspections.

         (a)      Upon reasonable notice to the Borrower (unless there exists
any Default or Event of Default), permit representatives of the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, from time to time, to visit and inspect its properties and
any materials thereon (including, without limitation, the Land and the
Improvements); inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and
files, including, but not limited to, management letters prepared by independent
accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its independent
accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of
operations and business prospects; provided that the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders shall use their best efforts not to unreasonably interfere with the
construction of the Improvements;

         (b)      Upon reasonable notice to the Borrower (unless there exists
any Default or Event of Default), furnish to the Administrative Agent at any
time for inspection and copying all Plans, shop drawings, specifications, books
and records, and other documents and information required by the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders; and

         (c)      Cooperate with the General Contractor in the performance of
all inspections performed thereby in order to use their best efforts to keep
construction on schedule.

         SECTION 7.10      Construction of the Improvements. Prosecute the
construction of the Improvements with diligence and continuity, in a good and
workmanlike manner, and in

<PAGE>

accordance with sound building and engineering practices, all applicable laws
and governmental requirements, the Loan Documents, and the Plans. The Borrower
shall not permit cessation of work for a period in excess of twenty (20) days
(whether or not consecutive but excluding weekends and legal holidays), except
for Excusable Delays. The Borrower shall complete construction of the
Improvements, and shall obtain a permanent unconditional certificate of
occupancy and all other permits, licenses, and approvals for the occupancy, use
and operation of the Improvements from all applicable Governmental Authorities
on or before the Completion Date, free and clear of all Liens except as
permitted pursuant to Section 9.2. The Borrower shall correct promptly (a) any
material defect in the Improvements, (b) any material departure from the Plans,
except with respect to Permitted Changes, or governmental requirements, or (c)
any encroachment by any Improvements or structure on any building setback line,
easement, property line or restricted area. All increases in the cost of
constructing the Improvements which result from Permitted Changes shall be
applied against the $1,000,000 building contingency in the Budget and, to the
extent such increases exceed $1,000,000 shall be paid by the Borrower from its
own funds.

         SECTION 7.11      Storage of Materials. Except as provided in Exhibit
N, cause all materials supplied for, or intended to be utilized in the
construction of the Improvements, but not yet affixed to or incorporated into
the Improvements on the Land, to be stored on the Land with adequate safeguards
as required by the Administrative Agent to prevent loss, theft, damage or
commingling with other materials or projects.

         SECTION 7.12      Advertising by the Lenders. At the Lenders' request
and expense, erect and maintain on the Property one or more advertising signs
approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower indicating that the
construction financing for the property has been provided by the Lenders.

         SECTION 7.13      Annual Appraisal. Upon the request of the
Administrative Agent, during the continuance of any Event of Default, permit the
Administrative Agent to obtain, at the Borrower's expense, once in each calendar
year an appraisal of any part of the Property prepared in accordance with
written instructions from the Administrative Agent by a third-party appraiser
engaged directly by the Administrative Agent. Each such appraiser and appraisal
shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including satisfaction of
applicable regulatory requirements). The cost of each such appraisal shall be
due and payable by the Borrower on demand and shall be secured by the Security
Documents.

         SECTION 7.14      Construction Consultant. Cooperate with the
Construction Consultant and furnish Construction Consultant whatever documents
or cooperation the Construction Consultant considers reasonably necessary or
useful to perform its duties. The duties of the Construction Consultant run
solely to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Construction
Consultant shall have no obligations or responsibilities whatsoever to the
Borrower, the Architect, the General Contractor or to any of their agents or
employees. The Construction Consultant may, among other duties, perform
construction cost analyses, review the Plans and any proposed changes thereto,
observe work in place, and review Draw Requests. Unless prohibited by Applicable
Law, the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of the Construction Consultant
shall be paid by the Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall use its

<PAGE>

best efforts to ensure that the Construction Consultant acts promptly in the
discharge of its duties in order to facilitate construction as scheduled.

         SECTION 7.15      Reports and Vouchers.

         (a)      Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent copies of all
reports, studies, inspections and tests made on the Land, the Improvements or
the materials to be incorporated into the Improvements (including, without
limitation, any such report, study, inspection or test which indicates any
material adverse condition in the Land or the Improvements);

         (b)      Make additional tests as the Administrative Agent or any
Lender reasonably requires; and

         (c)      Deliver to the Administrative Agent, on demand, any contracts,
bills of sale, statements, receipted vouchers or agreements under which the
Borrower claims title to any materials, fixtures or articles incorporated or to
be incorporated in the Improvements or otherwise subject to a lien or security
interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

         SECTION 7.16      Equipment Financing.

         (a)      Within nine (9) months following the Closing Date, secure a
binding commitment from MedCath Incorporated or one or more third party lenders
(each, in such capacity, an "Equipment Lender" and collectively, the "Equipment
Lenders") to finance the purchase or lease by the Borrower of the equipment to
be included within the Project (the "Equipment Loan Financing"). The terms and
conditions of each such commitment shall be in form and substance satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent. Such terms and conditions shall include, without
limitation, the following: (a) an interest rate not to exceed the Five-Year US
Treasury Yield plus 7%, (b) a term of not less than thirty-six (36) months or
more than one hundred twenty (120) months and (c) an amount equal to not less
than eighty percent (80%) or more than one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of
the equipment.

         (b)      Maintain the Equipment Loan Financing (after obtaining it as
required pursuant to Section 7.16(a)); provided that the terms and conditions of
the Equipment Loan Financing shall not be amended, modified or changed in a
manner which is adverse in any respect to the rights or interests of the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders unless approved in writing by the
Administrative Agent

         SECTION 7.17      Maintenance of Licenses, Etc. In addition to and
without limiting the generality of Section 7.5, (a) observe and remain in
compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws, including, without
limitation, Medicare Regulations and Medicaid Regulations (as applicable), in
connection with the ownership or operation of the Hospital, (b) obtain and
preserve, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, all certifications
and authorizations necessary to ensure that the Hospital and the Borrower are
eligible for reimbursement under the Medicare Regulations and the Medicaid
Regulations (as applicable),

<PAGE>

and (c) obtain and preserve all material licenses, permits, authorizations and
qualifications required under Applicable Laws in connection with the ownership
or operation of the Hospital.

         SECTION 7.18      Insurance.

         (a)      Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable
insurance companies against such risks and in such amounts as are customarily
maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law and as
are required by any Security Documents (including, without limitation, Sections
1.4 through 1.8 of the Mortgage), and on the Closing Date and from time to time
thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent upon its request a detailed list
of the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies,
the amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and
the properties and risks covered thereby.

         (b)      For the purpose of Section 1.6 of the Mortgage, decisions to
be made by the Administrative Agent regarding the application of net cash
proceeds under any insurance policy shall be made by the Administrative Agent at
the direction of the Required Lenders.

         SECTION 7.19      Further Assurances. Make, execute and deliver all
such additional and further acts, things, deeds and instruments as the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably require to document and
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to vest completely in and
insure the Administrative Agent and the Lenders their respective rights under
this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes and the other Loan Documents.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               FINANCIAL COVENANTS

         Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and
the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set
forth in Section 12.11, the Borrower will not:

         SECTION 8.1       Minimum EBITDA. As of the end of each of the fourth
(4th) full fiscal quarter and the fifth (5th) full fiscal quarter following the
Completion Date, permit EBITDA for such fiscal quarter to be less than $0.

         SECTION 8.2       Debt Service Coverage Ratio. As of the end of any
fiscal quarter, commencing with the end of the sixth (6th) full fiscal quarter
following the Completion Date, permit the ratio of (a) Adjusted EBITDA for the
fiscal quarter then ended to (b) Adjusted Debt Service for such fiscal quarter
to be less than the corresponding ratio set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             Period                                       Ratio
             ------                                       -----
<S>                                                    <C>
Sixth full fiscal quarter following                    1.25 to 1.00
the Completion Date
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and
the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set
forth in Section 12.11, the Borrower will not:

         SECTION 9.1       Limitations on Debt. Create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Debt except:

                  (a)      the Obligations;

                  (b)      Debt incurred in connection with the Equipment Loan
         Financing in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at
         any time (or any refinancing, but not any increase in the principal
         amount, thereof);

                  (c)      Debt incurred after the Closing Date consisting of
         Capital Leases or other purchase money Debt incurred to provide all or
         a portion of the purchase price (or to finance such purchase price
         within ninety (90) days of acquisition) or the cost of construction of
         an asset; provided that (i) such Debt when incurred shall not exceed
         one hundred percent (100%) of the purchase price or the cost of
         construction of such asset; (ii) no such Debt shall be refinanced for a
         principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon
         at the time of such refinancing; and (iii) the total amount of all such
         Debt shall not exceed $5,000,000 on any date of determination;

                  (d)      Debt which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any
         performance, surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations obtained
         in the ordinary course of business;

                  (e)      Debt incurred in connection with a Hedging Agreement
         with a counterparty and upon terms and conditions (including interest
         rate) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided,
         that any counterparty that is a Lender shall be deemed satisfactory to
         the Administrative Agent; and

                  (f)      Subordinated Debt to MedCath Incorporated evidencing
         intercompany loans by MedCath Incorporated to the Borrower for
         short-term working capital and other general corporate purposes in an
         aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 (the "Subordinated
         Working Capital Loan"); provided, that the Subordinated Working Capital
         Loan shall be subordinated pursuant to an Intercompany Loan
         Subordination Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 9.2       Limitations on Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer
to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of the Borrower's assets or
properties (including, without limitation, shares of capital stock or other
ownership interests), real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
except:

<PAGE>

         (a)      Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or
levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of
Environmental Laws) not yet due or as to which the period of grace (not to
exceed thirty (30) days), if any, related thereto has not expired;

         (b)      Liens consisting of deposits or pledges made in the ordinary
course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations
under workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation;

         (c)      Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

         (d)      encumbrances on and exceptions to title contained in the Title
Policy;

         (e)      Liens securing Debt permitted under Section 9.1(b); provided
that such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the
equipment (and the proceeds thereof) of the Borrower to be included in the
Project which is financed by such Debt;

         (f)      purchase money Liens securing purchase money Debt (and
refinancings thereof) to the extent permitted under Section 9.1(c); provided
that (i) such purchase money Liens shall be created substantially simultaneously
with the acquisition of the related asset and (ii) such purchase money Liens do
not at any time encumber any property other than the property (and the proceeds
thereof) financed by such Debt;

         (g)      Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases to the extent
permitted under Section 9.1(c); provided that (i) such Liens shall be created
substantially simultaneously with the lease of the related asset and (ii) such
Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property (and the
proceeds thereof) financed by such Debt;

         (h)      Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in
circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.1(o);

         (i)      carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (i)
which secure obligations which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty
(60) days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings;

         (j)      Liens in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 which are
being contested by the Borrower in good faith and which are dismissed,
discharged, stayed, bonded off or quashed within thirty (30) days of issuance;
and

         (k)      Liens on accounts receivable of the Borrower in connection
with the Subordinated Working Capital Loan; provided that such Liens are
subordinated to the

<PAGE>

Liens on such accounts receivable in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) on the terms and conditions
which are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 9.3       Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and
Acquisitions. Purchase, own, invest in or otherwise acquire, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock, interests in any partnership, limited liability
company or joint venture (including, without limitation, the creation or
capitalization or any Subsidiary), evidence of Debt or other obligation or
security, substantially all or a portion of the business or assets of any other
Person or any other investment or interest whatsoever in any other Person, or
make or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any loans, advances or
extensions of credit to, or any investment in cash or by delivery of property
in, any Person, or enter into, directly or indirectly, any commitment or option
in respect of the foregoing except investments in:

         (a)      cash and marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof
maturing within 120 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

         (b)      commercial paper maturing no more than 120 days from the date
of creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from
either Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

         (c)      certificates of deposit maturing no more than 120 days from
the date of creation thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the
laws of the United States of America, each having combined capital, surplus and
undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a rating of "A" or
better by a nationally recognized rating agency; provided, that the aggregate
amount invested in such certificates of deposit shall not at any time exceed
$5,000,000 for any one such certificate of deposit and $10,000,000 for any one
such bank;

         (d)      time deposits maturing no more than thirty (30) days from the
date of creation thereof with commercial banks or savings banks or savings and
loan associations each having membership either in the FDIC or the deposits of
which are insured by the FDIC and in amounts not exceeding the maximum amounts
of insurance thereunder;

         (e)      loans and advances to officers, directors, employees and
Affiliates (including advances for travel and miscellaneous expenses) in the
ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000 on any
date of determination (without regard to write-offs or write-downs thereof);

         (f)      investments (including debt obligations) received in
connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and
in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers
and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

<PAGE>

         (g)      investments by the Borrower in Hedging Agreements permitted
under Section 9.1(e); and

         (h)      investments by the Borrower in joint ventures; provided that
(i) such investments shall not exceed $150,000 individually or $300,000 in the
aggregate during the term of this Agreement, (ii) each such joint venture shall
be in substantially the same field of business as that to be conducted by the
Borrower on the Completion Date, (iii) the Borrower shall provide written notice
of each such joint venture not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the
proposed date of consummation of such joint venture, (iv) the Borrower shall
comply with all terms and conditions of the Security Documents in connection
with its interest in each such joint venture within thirty (30) days of the date
of consummation of each such joint venture and (v) the Borrower shall provide to
the Administrative Agent all other agreements, certificates and other documents
reasonably requested thereby in connection with each such joint venture.

         SECTION 9.4       Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation. Merge,
consolidate or enter into any similar combination with any other Person or
liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution).

         SECTION 9.5       Limitations on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease,
assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets
(including, without limitation, the sale of any receivables and leasehold
interests and any sale-leaseback or similar transaction), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired except:

         (a)      the sale of obsolete assets no longer used or usable in the
business of the Borrower; and

         (b)      the sale of not more than1.25 acres of the Land for the
purpose of constructing a medical office building on such Land; provided that,
(i) the fair market value of the Land sold shall not exceed $600,000 and (ii)
100% of the net cash proceeds of such asset disposition shall be promptly
applied to the remaining scheduled principal installments of the Construction
Loan Advances as required by Section 2.4(b) hereof; and

         (c)      the sale of assets which are replaced in the ordinary course
of business, the fair market value of which shall not exceed $500,000 with
respect to any transaction and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for all such
transactions during the term of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.6       Limitation on Distributions. Purchase, redeem,
retire or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its ownership or
equity interests, or make any distribution of cash, property or assets among the
holders of its ownership or equity interests or make any changes in its capital
structure; provided that:

                  (a)      so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
         occurred and be continuing or will exist immediately after giving
         effect to the distributions described herein, the Borrower may make
         distributions to its equityholders, not otherwise permitted hereunder,
         in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000 during the term of this
         Agreement; provided that the Borrower shall (i) notify the
         Administrative Agent in writing

<PAGE>

         prior to making any such distribution and (ii) provide to the
         Administrative Agent all documentation in connection therewith;

                  (b)      so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default under
         Sections 10.1(a) or 10.1(b) shall have occurred and be continuing or
         will exist immediately after giving effect to the distributions
         described herein and (ii) no obligations have been accelerated pursuant
         to Section 10.2(a), the Borrower may make quarterly distributions to
         its equityholders on their pro rata share of the income of the Borrower
         in an aggregate amount not to exceed in any year the amount of the
         income tax liability incurred by such equityholders as a result of the
         reporting of the Borrower's income, deductions, gains or losses on the
         federal or state income tax returns of the equityholders, the aggregate
         amount of which shall be calculated assuming all equityholders will pay
         taxes at the highest combined federal and state tax rate; provided that
         the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent all
         documentation in connection therewith; and

                  (c)      the Borrower may declare or make distributions to its
         equityholders to the extent not otherwise permitted hereunder or redeem
         the partnership interests of its equityholders to the extent provided
         for in the limited partnership agreement of the Borrower (as in effect
         on the date of this Agreement or as subsequently amended, modified or
         changed in accordance with Section 9.10) (such distributions and
         payments, the "Permitted Distributions"); provided that:

                           (i)      the aggregate amount of all Permitted
                  Distributions made during any Fiscal Year of the Borrower
                  shall not exceed Cash Flow Available for Distribution for the
                  preceding Fiscal Year of the Borrower; and

                           (ii)     all Permitted Distributions made during any
                  Fiscal Year must be made during the sixty (60) day period (A)
                  commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the
                  Agent and the Lenders of the annual financial statements for
                  the prior Fiscal Year of the Borrower which are required to be
                  delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b) and (B) ending on the
                  date which is sixty (60) days after the date of such delivery
                  (provided that no Permitted Distributions may be made until
                  the first Fiscal Year following the date which is six (6) full
                  fiscal quarters after the Completion Date);

                           (iii)    no Default or Event of Default shall have
                  occurred and be continuing or will exist immediately after
                  giving effect to any Permitted Distribution;

                           (iv)     the sum of (A) the cash balance of the
                  Borrower plus (B) the aggregate amount of unused availability
                  under Section 11(l)(ii) of the Guaranty Agreement shall not be
                  less than $2,000,000 (such amount, the "Required Cash
                  Availability") as of the end of the Business Day on which any
                  Permitted Distribution is made (such date, the "Permitted
                  Distribution Date") (the Required Cash Availability to exist
                  after the payment and disbursement of (A) all operating
                  expenses due and payable as of the Permitted Distribution
                  Date, (B) all principal

<PAGE>

                  and interest on any Senior Debt due and payable as of the
                  Permitted Distribution Date, (C) all principal and interest on
                  any Subordinated Debt due and payable as of the Permitted
                  Distribution Date and (D) all other Permitted Distributions
                  due and payable as of such date); and

                           (v)      the Borrower shall deliver to the
                  Administrative Agent, as required by Section 6.4(c), a
                  certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the
                  Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance by the Borrower
                  with the requirements set forth in this Section 9.6(c).

         SECTION 9.7       Amendments, Payments and Prepayments of Subordinated
Debt. Amend or modify (or permit the modification or amendment of) any of the
terms or provisions of any Subordinated Debt, or cancel or forgive, make any
principal payment on, make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on,
or redeem or acquire for value (including, without limitation, by way of
depositing with any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due
for the purpose of paying when due) any Subordinated Debt; provided that if no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist
immediately after giving effect to the payments described below, the Borrower
may:

         (a)      make all scheduled interest payments on Subordinated Debt;

         (b)      repay the Subordinated Working Capital Loan; and

         (c)      increase the amount of the Subordinated Working Capital Loan
(to the extent any such increase is permitted under Section 9.1(f)).

         SECTION 9.8       Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed
on Schedule 9.8 attached hereto, directly or indirectly:

         (a)      make any loan or advance to, or purchase or assume any note or
other obligation to or from, any of its officers, members, managers or other
Affiliates, or to or from any member of the immediate family of any of its
officers, members, managers, shareholders or other Affiliates, or subcontract
any operations to any of its Affiliates (other than loans and advances to
officers, directors, employees and Affiliates permitted pursuant to Section
9.3(e)), or

         (b)      enter into, or be a party to, any other transaction not
described in subsection (a) above with any of its Affiliates, except in the
ordinary course of business pursuant to the reasonable requirements of its
business and upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to the
Borrower than the Borrower would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction
with a Person not its Affiliate.

         SECTION 9.9       Restrictive Agreements. Enter into any Debt which
contains any negative pledge on assets (other than, with respect to assets
financed thereby, the Equipment Loan Financing) or any covenants more
restrictive than the provisions hereof, or which restricts, limits or otherwise
encumbers its ability to incur Liens on or with respect to any of its assets or
properties other than the assets or properties securing such Debt.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 9.10      Certain Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.
(a) Change its Fiscal Year end, or make any change in its accounting treatment
and reporting practices except as required by GAAP or (b) amend, modify or
change its certificate of limited partnership (or corporate charter or other
similar organizational documents) or amend, modify or change its limited
partnership agreement (or other similar documents) in any manner adverse in any
respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders.

         SECTION 9.11      Changes to the Plans. Without the Administrative
Agent's prior written consent, which consent shall not to be unreasonably
withheld, change or modify the Plans, undertake any construction on the Land
except as shown in the Plans, agree to any change order, or allow any extras to
any contractor or any subcontractor, except Permitted Changes. The
Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to review a proposed change which
requires the Administrative Agent's consent unless it has received all documents
necessary to review such change, including the change order, cost estimates,
plans and specifications, and evidence that all approvals by all applicable
parties have been obtained. The Administrative Agent shall furnish the Lenders
with timely written notice of any change to the Plans consented to by the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 9.12      Contracts. Without the Administrative Agent's prior
written approval as to parties, terms and all other matters, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld, (a) enter into any Material Contract for the
performance of any work or the supplying of any labor, materials or services for
the design or construction of the Improvements (other than the Construction
Contract or the Architect's Contract), (b) enter into any management or leasing
contract with a third party pertaining to the Property not described in clause
(a) above that is not unconditionally terminable by the Borrower or any
successor owner without penalty or payment on not more than thirty (30) days
notice to the other party thereunder, or (c) materially modify, amend or
terminate any such contracts except for Permitted Changes. All such contracts
shall provide that all Liens of the applicable contractor, architect, supplier,
surveyor or other party and any right to remove removable Improvements are or
will be subordinate to rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The
Borrower shall not default under any Material Contract or permit any Material
Contract to terminate by reason of any failure of the Borrower to perform
thereunder, and the Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of
any material default thereunder. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative
Agent, upon request of the Administrative Agent, the names of all persons or
entities with whom each contractor has contracted or intends to contract for the
construction of the Improvements or for the furnishing of labor or materials
therefor. The Administrative Agent shall furnish the Lenders on a monthly basis
with a written report of all approvals granted by the Administrative Agent under
this Section 9.12 and of any notice of default received from the Borrower.

                                    ARTICLE X

                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

<PAGE>

         SECTION 10.1      Events of Default. Each of the following shall
constitute an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether
it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or
pursuant to any judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation
of any Governmental Authority or otherwise:

                  (a)      Default in Payment of Principal of Construction
         Loans. The Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any
         Construction Loan Advance or Construction Loan Note when and as due
         (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), and such
         default shall continue unremedied for two (2) Business Days.

                  (b)      Other Payment Defaults. The Borrower shall default in
         the payment of any interest on any Construction Loan Advance or
         Construction Loan Note or the payment of any other Obligation when and
         as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise),
         and such default shall continue unremedied for five (5) Business Days.

                  (c)      Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty
         made or deemed to be made by the Borrower or any Guarantor under this
         Agreement, any Loan Document or any amendment hereto or thereto, shall
         at any time prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material
         respect when made or deemed made.

                  (d)      Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. The
         Borrower shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant
         or agreement contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.5(h)(i) or Articles
         VIII or IX of this Agreement or any Guarantor shall default in the
         performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in
         Sections 10(a), 10(b), 10(e)(v)(A), 11(l), 12 and 13 of the Guaranty
         Agreement.

                  (e)      Default in Performance of Other Covenants and
         Conditions. The Borrower or any Guarantor shall default in the
         performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement
         contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for
         otherwise in this Section 10.1) or any other Loan Document and such
         default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written
         notice thereof has been given to the Borrower or such Guarantor by the
         Administrative Agent.

                  (f)      Hedging Agreement. The Borrower shall default in the
         performance or observance of any terms, covenant, condition or
         agreement under any Hedging Agreement with the Administrative Agent or
         any Lender.

                  (g)      Specific Cross Defaults.

                           (i)      The occurrence of an event of default under
         the Corporate Revolver.

                           (ii)     Any Guarantor shall default in the
         performance of any of its obligations under any of the Related Guaranty
         Agreements; provided, however, that a default by any Affiliate of any
         Guarantor which owns or operates a hospital or diagnostic center under
         the terms of any instrument or loan to which it is a party and for

<PAGE>

         which such Guarantor provided its guaranty shall not be considered a
         Default or an Event of Default of such Guarantor pursuant to this
         Section 10.1(g)(ii) unless (A) written demand for payment of all or a
         portion of such debt has been made against such Guarantor by the lender
         or lenders thereunder (or an agent or trustee acting on behalf of the
         lender or lenders) and (B) such Guarantor fails to immediately (1) pay
         such debt and (2) perform all other related obligations in connection
         therewith.

                  (h)      Other Debt Cross-Default. The Borrower or any
         Guarantor shall (i) default in the payment of any Debt (other than (A)
         Debt evidenced by the Construction Loan Notes and (B) any inter-company
         Debt, including any Debt of the Borrower to any Guarantor) beyond the
         period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under
         which such Debt was created and provided that with respect to the
         Parent and MedCath Incorporated, such Debt exceeds an aggregate of
         $1,000,000 and with respect to the Borrower and any other Guarantor,
         such Debt exceeds an aggregate of $500,000, or (ii) default in the
         observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating
         to any Debt (other than Debt evidenced by the Construction Loan Notes)
         or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or
         relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the
         effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to
         permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee or agent on
         behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice
         if required, any such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity
         (any applicable grace period having expired); provided, however, that a
         default by any Affiliate of any Guarantor which owns or operates a
         hospital or diagnostic center under the terms of any instrument or loan
         to which it is a party and for which such Guarantor provided its
         guaranty shall not be considered a Default or an Event of Default of
         such Guarantor pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) unless demand for
         payment of all or a portion of such debt has been made against such
         Guarantor by the lender or lenders thereunder (or an agent or trustee
         acting on behalf of the lender or lenders).

                  (i)      Other Cross-Defaults. The Borrower or any Guarantor
         shall default in the payment when due, or in the performance or
         observance, of any material obligation or condition of any Material
         Contract and such default shall continue beyond the period of grace, if
         any, provided in such Material Contract unless, but only as long as,
         the existence of any such default is being contested by the Borrower or
         such Guarantor in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate
         reserves in respect thereof have been established on the books of the
         Borrower or such Guarantor to the extent required by GAAP.

                  (j)      Change in Control. (i) Any person or group of persons
         (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended), other than any direct or indirect shareholder of the
         Parent existing immediately prior to the Initial Public Offering (as
         defined in the Commitment Agreement), shall obtain ownership or control
         in one or more series of transactions of more than fifty percent (50%)
         of the common stock or fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
         Parent entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of
         directors of the Parent, (ii) MedCath Incorporated shall cease to be a
         wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent, (iii) the Management Company or
         the Limited Partner shall cease to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
         MedCath

<PAGE>

         Incorporated or (iv) the Management Company and the Limited Partner
         shall be the beneficial owner of less than that percentage of the
         equity interests in the Borrower owned by the Management Company and
         the Limited Partner on the Closing Date or the Management Company shall
         cease to be a general partner and manager of the Borrower (any such
         event, a "Change in Control").

                  (k)      Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. The Borrower or any
         Guarantor shall (i) commence a voluntary case under the federal
         bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect), (ii) file a petition
         seeking to take advantage of any other laws, domestic or foreign,
         relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or
         composition for adjustment of debts, (iii) consent to or fail to
         contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed against
         it in an involuntary case under such bankruptcy laws or other laws,
         (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and
         appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by,
         a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a
         substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign, (v) admit in
         writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (vi) make a
         general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vii) take any
         corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.

                  (l)      Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other
         proceeding shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Guarantor in
         any court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under the
         federal bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect) or under any
         other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, winding up or adjustment of debts, or (ii) the
         appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like
         for the Borrower or any Guarantor or for all or any substantial part of
         their respective assets, domestic or foreign, and such case or
         proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty
         (60) consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in
         such case or proceeding (including, but not limited to, an order for
         relief under such federal bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.

                  (m)      Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this
         Agreement or of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to
         be valid and binding on the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person
         party thereto or the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person party
         thereto shall so state in writing, or this Agreement or any other Loan
         Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected
         first priority Lien on, or security interest in, any of the collateral
         purported to be covered thereby, in each case other than in accordance
         with the express terms hereof or thereof, the priority of which shall
         be subject only to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.

                  (n)      ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following
         events: (i) the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate fails to
         make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions
         of any Pension Plan or Section 412 of the Code, the Borrower, any
         Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions
         thereto, (ii) an accumulated funding deficiency in excess of $2,000,000
         occurs or exists, whether or not waived, with respect to any Pension
         Plan of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate, (iii) a
         Termination Event with respect

<PAGE>

         to the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate or (iv) the
         Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate as an employer under one
         or more Multiemployer Plans makes a complete or partial withdrawal from
         any such Multiemployer Plan and the plan sponsor of any such
         Multiemployer Plan notifies such withdrawing employer that such
         employer has incurred a withdrawal liability requiring payment in an
         amount exceeding $2,000,000.

                  (o)      Judgment. A judgment or order by any court for the
         payment of money which causes the aggregate amount of all judgments and
         orders by any court in any Fiscal Year (which are not fully covered by
         insurance or with respect to which the applicable insurance carrier has
         not acknowledged that such judgment is fully covered by insurance) to
         exceed (i) $500,000 with respect to the Borrower, (ii) $1,000,000 with
         respect to any Guarantor (other than MedCath Parent Entities), (iii)
         $1,500,000 in the aggregate with respect to the Borrower and the
         Guarantors (other than the MedCath Parent Entities) or (iv) $2,000,000
         with respect to any of the MedCath Parent Entities, and such judgment
         or order shall continue without discharge or stay for a period of
         thirty (30) days.

                  (p)      Certificate of Occupancy; Medicare Certification and
         Medicaid Certification. The Borrower shall fail to obtain a final
         certificate of occupancy, a license to operate, Medicare Certification
         and Medicaid Certification (as applicable) within eighteen (18) months
         after the Closing Date or after the receipt thereof, such license to
         operate, Medicare Certification or Medicaid Certification (as
         applicable) shall expire, terminate, be cancelled or otherwise lost.

                  (q)      Limited Partnership Agreement. The Borrower shall
         amend the Borrower's limited partnership agreement in a manner which
         would have a Material Adverse Effect without the prior written consent
         of the Required Lenders.

                  (r)      Management Agreement. The Management Agreement shall
         be amended in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect,
         without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, or shall
         cease to be valid and binding in accordance with its terms.

                  (s)      Environmental. Any one or more Environmental Claims
         shall have been asserted against the Borrower or any Guarantor; the
         Borrower or any Guarantor would be reasonably likely to incur liability
         as a result thereof; and such liability would be reasonably likely,
         individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 10.2      Remedies.

         (a)      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, with the consent
of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of
the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, do any one or more of the
following:

                  (i)      declare the principal of and interest on the
         Construction Loan Advances and the Construction Loan Notes at the time
         outstanding, and all other amounts owed to

<PAGE>

         the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any
         other Loan Document and all other Obligations (other than obligations
         owing under any Hedging Agreement), to be forthwith due and payable,
         whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without
         presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
         are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or any other Loan
         Document to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the
         Construction Loan Facility, any right of the Borrower to request
         borrowings thereunder and any obligation to disburse any sum from the
         Project Deposit; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of
         Default specified in Section 10.1(k) or (l), the Construction Loan
         Facility, any right of the Borrower to request borrowings thereunder
         and any obligation to disburse any sum from the Project Deposit shall
         be automatically terminated and all Obligations (other than obligations
         owing under any Hedging Agreement) shall automatically become due and
         payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
         kind, all of which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or
         any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding;

                  (ii)     institute an action to reduce any claim to judgment;

                  (iii)    exercise any and all rights and remedies afforded by
         this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, Applicable Law, equity or
         otherwise;

                  (iv)     set-off and apply, to the extent thereof and to the
         maximum extent permitted by law, any and all deposits, funds or assets
         at any time held and any and all other indebtedness at any time owing
         by any Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower against
         any Obligations (other than Obligations owing under any Hedging
         Agreement); or

                  (v)      in its own name or in the name of the Borrower, enter
         into possession of the Property, perform all work necessary to complete
         the construction of the Improvements substantially in accordance with
         the Plans, the Loan Documents, laws and governmental requirements, and
         continue to employ the Architect and any engineer or contractor
         pursuant to the applicable contracts or otherwise.

         (b)      The Borrower hereby appoints the Administrative Agent as the
attorney-in-fact of the Borrower, which power of attorney is irrevocable and
coupled with an interest, with full power of substitution and in the name of the
Borrower, if the Administrative Agent elects to do so, upon the occurrence of a
Default or an Event of Default, to:

                  (i)      use such sums as are necessary, including any
         proceeds of the Construction Loan Advances and the Project Deposit,
         make such changes or corrections in the Plans and employ such
         architects, engineers and contractors as may be required for the
         purpose of completing the construction of the Improvements
         substantially in accordance with the Plans, the Loan Documents, laws
         and governmental requirements, or as otherwise may be reasonably
         necessary for purposes of completing such construction;

<PAGE>

                  (ii)     execute all applications and certificates in the name
         of the Borrower which may be required for completion of construction of
         the Improvements;

                  (iii)    endorse the name of the Borrower on any checks or
         drafts representing proceeds of any insurance policies, or other checks
         or instruments payable to the Borrower with respect to the Property;

                  (iv)     do every act with respect to the construction of the
         Improvements which the Borrower may do;

                  (v)      prosecute or defend any action or proceeding incident
         to the Property,

                  (vi)     pay, settle or compromise all bills and claims so as
         to clear title to the Property; and

                  (vii)    take over and use all or any part of the labor,
         materials, supplies and equipment contracted for, owned by or under the
         control of the Borrower, whether or not previously incorporated into
         the Improvements.

Any amounts expended by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall be a
demand obligation owing by the Borrower to the Lenders. The Lenders shall have
no liability to the Borrower for the sufficiency or adequacy of any such actions
taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders unless such actions constitute
gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Administrative Agent
or the Lenders.

         SECTION 10.3      Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc. The
enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the
exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy
shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which
shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist
at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action
on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right,
power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege
or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of
dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their
respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge
any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to
constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

<PAGE>

         SECTION 11.1      Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative
Agent. Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 11.9) appoints,
designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its
behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and
to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it
by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those
expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed
to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no
implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term "agent" herein and in
the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not
intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations
arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead, such term is used
merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only
an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

         SECTION 11.2      Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may
execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or
through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice
of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to
such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the
absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         SECTION 11.3      Liability of the Administrative Agent. No
Administrative Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or
omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its
own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties
expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender
or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by
the Borrower, any Guarantor or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any
other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or
in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Borrower, any Guarantor or
any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or
thereunder. No Administrative Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation
to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or
performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or
records of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof.

         SECTION 11.4      Reliance by the Administrative Agent.

         (a)      The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall
be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature,
resolution, representation, notice,

<PAGE>

consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone
message, statement 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 counsel
to the Borrower and the Guarantors), independent accountants and other experts
selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document
unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders
as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, 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 Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in
accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders or all the Lenders,
if required hereunder, and such request and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and participants. Where
this Agreement expressly permits or prohibits an action unless the Required
Lenders otherwise determine, the Administrative Agent shall, and in all other
instances, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, initiate
any solicitation for the consent or a vote of the Lenders.

         (b)      For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
specified in Section 4.2, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be
deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each
document or other matter either sent by the Administrative Agent to such Lender
for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required thereunder to be
consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender.

         SECTION 11.5      Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall
not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or
Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal,
interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement,
describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a
"notice of default." The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its
receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with
respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be directed by the Required
Lenders in accordance with Article X; provided, however, that unless and until
the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative
Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from
taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall
deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

         SECTION 11.6      Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by the
Administrative Agent. Each Lender acknowledges that no Administrative
Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no
act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any consent to and
acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower, any
Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by any Administrative Agent-Related Person to any
Lender as to any matter, including whether Administrative Agent-Related Persons
have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents
to the Administrative Agent that it has,

<PAGE>

independently and without reliance upon any Administrative Agent-Related Person
and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower,
the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or
other regulatory Applicable Laws relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend
credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will,
independently and without reliance upon any Administrative Agent-Related Person
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrower and the Guarantors. Except for notices, reports
and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the
Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other
condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors or any of
their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any
Administrative Agent-Related Person.

         SECTION 11.7      Indemnification of the Administrative Agent. Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall
indemnify upon demand each Administrative Agent-Related Person (to the extent
not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Guarantors promptly upon
demand therefor and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower and the
Guarantors to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Administrative
Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities
incurred by it; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the
payment to any Administrative Agent-Related Person of any portion of such
Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the
directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross
negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 11.7. Without
limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative
Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses
(including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection
with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or
referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower promptly upon
demand therefor. The undertaking in this Section 11.7 shall survive termination
of the Commitments, the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation
or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 11.8      The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity.
Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit
for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and
generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting
or other business with the Borrower and each of the

<PAGE>

Guarantors and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of America were not
the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the
Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of
America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower, any
Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof (including information that may be subject to
confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any
Affiliate thereof) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under
no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its
Construction Loan Advances, Bank of America shall have the same rights and
powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and
powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms "Lender"
and "Lenders" include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

         SECTION 11.9      Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative
Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice to the
Lenders. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required
Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent
for the Lenders which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by
the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default
(which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of
the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may
appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor
administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, such successor
administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the
retiring Administrative Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean
such successor administrative agent and the retiring Administrative Agent's
appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated.
After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article XI and Sections 5.2 and
10.3 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken
by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor
administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the
date which is thirty (30) days following a retiring Administrative Agent's
notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation shall
nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the
duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the
Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

         SECTION 11.10     Syndication Agent; Documentation Agent; Co-Lead
Arranger. None of the Lenders identified on the facing page or signature pages
of this Agreement as a "syndication agent", "documentation agent" or "co-lead
arranger" shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or
duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such.
Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders so identified shall have or
be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender
acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders so
identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking
action hereunder.

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 12.1      Notices.

         (a)      Method of Communication. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing, or by
telephone subsequently confirmed in writing. Any notice shall be effective if
delivered by hand delivery or sent via telecopy, recognized overnight courier
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall be presumed to be
received by a party hereto (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand or
sent by telecopy, (ii) on the next Business Day if sent by recognized overnight
courier service and (iii) on the third Business Day following the date sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested. A telephonic notice to the
Administrative Agent as understood by the Administrative Agent will be deemed to
be the controlling and proper notice in the event of a discrepancy with or
failure to receive a confirming written notice.

         (b)      Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent to
it at the following addresses, or any other address as to which all the other
parties are notified in writing.

         If to the Parent:           MedCath Corporation
                                     10720 Sikes Place
                                     Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
                                     Attention:     James E. Harris
                                     Telephone No.: (704) 708-6610
                                     Telecopy No.:  (704) 708-5035

         If to the Borrower:         Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP
                                     c/o San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc.
                                     10720 Sikes Place
                                     Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
                                     Attention:     James E. Harris
                                     Telephone No.: (704) 708-6610
                                     Telecopy No.:  (704) 708-5035

         With copies to:             Moore & Van Allen PLLC
                                     Bank of America Corporate Center
                                     100 North Tryon Street, Floor 47
                                     Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                     Attention:     Hal A. Levinson, Esq.
                                     Telephone No.: (704) 331-1050
                                     Telecopy No.:  (704) 331-1159

         If to Bank of America as    Bank of America, N.A.
          Administrative Agent:      IL1-231-08-03
                                     231 South LaSalle Street

<PAGE>

                                     Chicago, Illinois 60604
                                     Attention:     Kristine Hyde
                                     Telephone No.: (312) 828-1657
                                     Telecopy No.:  (877) 206-8412

         With copies to:             Bank of America, N.A.
                                     Commercial Construction Administration
                                     1111 East Main Street
                                     Richmond, Virginia 23219
                                     Attention:     Kathryn V. Traylor
                                     Telephone No.: (804) 788-3873
                                     Telecopy No.:  (804) 788-2248

         With copies to:             Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.
                                     Bank of America Corporate Center
                                     100 North Tryon Street
                                     Suite 4200
                                     Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                     Attention:     J. Donnell Lassiter, Esq.
                                     Telephone No.: (704) 331-7444
                                     Telecopy No.:  (704) 331-7598

         If to any Lender:           To the address set forth on Schedule 1.1(a)
                                     hereto

         (c)      Administrative Agent's Office. The Administrative Agent hereby
designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent
office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the
Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent's Office referred to herein,
to which payments due are to be made and at which Construction Loan Advances
will be disbursed.

         SECTION 12.2      Expenses; Indemnity.

         (a)      The Borrower agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Administrative
Agent and the Syndication Agent for all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or
other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the
consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including, without limitation, all out-of-pocket syndication and due
diligence expenses and all Attorney Costs (provided that such Attorney Costs
shall be limited to the fees and expenses of a single law firm representing the
Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent), and (ii) to pay or reimburse
the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any
rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including
all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout" or restructuring in
respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law),

<PAGE>

including, without limitation, all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and
expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and
appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public
accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender. The agreements in this Section 12.2(a) shall survive the termination
of the Commitments and repayment of all the other Obligations.

         (b)      Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, the Borrower agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each
Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors,
officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the
"Indemnitees") from and against: (i) any and all claims, demands, actions or
causes of action that are asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (other
than the Administrative Agent or any Lender) relating directly or indirectly to
a claim, demand, action or cause of action that such Person asserts or may
assert against the Borrower, any Guarantor, any Affiliate thereof or any of
their respective officers or directors; (ii) any and all claims, demands,
actions or causes of action that may at any time (including at any time
following repayment of the Obligations and the resignation or removal of the
Administrative Agent or the replacement of any Lender) be asserted or imposed
against any Indemnitee, arising out of or relating to, the Loan Documents, any
predecessor loan documents, the Commitments, the use or contemplated use of the
proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance, or the relationship of the Borrower,
the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document; (iii) any administrative or investigative proceeding by
any Governmental Authority arising out of or related to a claim, demand, action
or cause of action described in clause (i) or (ii) above; and (iv) any and all
liabilities (including liabilities under indemnities), losses, costs or expenses
(including Attorney Costs) that any Indemnitee suffers or incurs as a result of
the assertion of any foregoing claim, demand, action, cause of action or
proceeding, or as a result of the preparation of any defense in connection with
any foregoing claim, demand, action, cause of action or proceeding, in all
cases, whether or not arising out of the negligence of an Indemnitee, and
whether or not an Indemnitee is a party to such claim, demand, action, cause of
action or proceeding (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified
Liabilities"); provided that no Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification
for any claim caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct or for
any loss asserted against it by another Indemnitee. The agreements in this
Section 12.2(b) shall survive the termination of the Commitments and repayment
of all the other Obligations.

         SECTION 12.3      Set-off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter
granted under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights,
upon and after the occurrence of any Event of Default and during the continuance
thereof, the Lenders and any assignee or participant of a Lender in accordance
with Section 12.10 are hereby authorized by the Borrower at any time or from
time to time, without notice to the Borrower or to any other Person, any such
notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, including, but not
limited to, indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured
or unmatured) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by the
Lenders, or any such assignee or participant to or for the credit or the account
of the Borrower against and on account of the Obligations irrespective of
whether or not (a) the Lenders shall have made any demand under

<PAGE>

this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or (b) the Administrative
Agent shall have declared any or all of the Obligations to be due and payable as
permitted by Section 10.2 and although such Obligations shall be contingent or
unmatured. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, each Lender agrees to notify
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and
application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and application.

         SECTION 12.4      Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONSTRUCTION LOAN
NOTES AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH
THEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR
CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND
EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

         SECTION 12.5      Jurisdiction and Venue.

         (a)      Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to the
personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of
any dispute in connection with this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes and
the other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or
the performance of such rights and obligations. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
consents to the service of a summons and complaint and other process in any
action, claim or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in
connection with this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes or the other Loan
Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the performance
of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its property, in the
manner specified in Section 12.1. Nothing in this Section 12.5 shall affect the
right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to serve legal process in any
other manner permitted by Applicable Law or affect the right of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to bring any action or proceeding against the
Borrower or its properties in the courts of any other jurisdictions.

         (b)      Venue. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives any objection it
may have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid
jurisdiction in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder. The Borrower irrevocably waives, in
connection with such action, claim or proceeding, any plea or claim that the
action, claim or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

         SECTION 12.6      Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY TO THIS
AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR
ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS

<PAGE>

RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND
WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES
AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE
DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY
FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 12.6 WITH ANY COURT AS
WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

         SECTION 12.7      Reversal of Payments. To the extent the Borrower
makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit
of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent receives any payment or proceeds of
the collateral which payments or proceeds or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or
required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to
the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Obligations or part thereof
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect
as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative
Agent.

         SECTION 12.8      Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.

         (a)      The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails
to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under
this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the
Lenders. Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at the Lenders'
option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any
such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

         (b)      The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower (on
behalf of itself and the Guarantors) hereby agree that no such Person shall have
a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan
Document and each such Person hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or
exemplary damages that it may now have or which may arise in the future in
connection with any dispute, whether such dispute is resolved through
arbitration or judicially.

         SECTION 12.9      Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting
calculations, measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to
this Agreement, including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the
Borrower or the Guarantors to determine compliance with any covenant contained
herein, shall, except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there
is an express written direction by the Administrative Agent to the contrary
agreed to by the Borrower, be performed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on
the Closing Date. In the event that changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, or any similar accounting body of
comparable standing, or shall be recommended by the Borrower's certified public
accountants, to the extent that such changes would modify such accounting terms
or the interpretation or computation thereof, such changes shall be followed in
defining such accounting terms only from and after the date the Borrower and

<PAGE>

the Required Lenders shall have amended this Agreement to the extent necessary
to reflect any such changes in the financial covenants and other terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 12.10     Successors and Assigns; Participations.

         (a)      The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower
without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement,
expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than
the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby
and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

         (b)      Any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or
a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Construction Loan Advances at the time owing
to it); provided that:

                  (i)      except in the case of an assignment of the entire
         remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the
         Construction Loan Advances at the time owing to it or in the case of an
         assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund
         with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which
         for this purpose includes Construction Loan Advances outstanding
         thereunder) of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment,
         determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to
         such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent, shall not be
         less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so
         long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
         Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably
         withheld or delayed);

                  (ii)     each partial assignment shall be made as an
         assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights
         and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Construction
         Loan Advances or the Commitment assigned; and

                  (iii)    the parties to each assignment shall execute and
         deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance,
         together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to subsection (c) of this Section 12.10, from and after the effective date
specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the Eligible Assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under
this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its
obligations under

<PAGE>

this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of
the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender
shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 and 12.2). Upon request, the Borrower
(at its expense) shall execute and deliver new or replacement Construction Loan
Notes to the assigning Lender and the assignee Lender. Any assignment or
transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not
comply with this subsection (b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement
as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in
accordance with subsection (d) of this Section 12.10.

         (c)      The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an
agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a
copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of,
and principal amount of the Construction Loan Advances owing to, each Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register
pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         (d)      Any Lender may, with notice to, but without the consent of,
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more
banks or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's
rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of
its Commitment and/or the Construction Loan Advances owing to it); provided that
(i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii)
such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a
participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to
enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may
provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree
to any amendment, waiver or other modification that would (i) postpone any date
upon which any payment of money is scheduled to be paid to such Participant,
(ii) reduce the principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable to such
Participant, (iii) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty or (iv) release all
or substantially all of the Collateral. Subject to subsection (e) of this
Section 12.10, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to
the benefits of Sections 3.8(c), 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11; provided that, subject to
subsection (e) of this Section 12.10, no Participant shall be entitled to
receive any greater amount pursuant to such Sections 3.8(c), 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11
than the transferor Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the
amount of the participation transferred by such transferor Lender to such
Participant had no such transfer occurred. To the extent permitted by law, each
Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.3 as though it
were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 3.6 as
though it were a Lender.

<PAGE>

         (e)      A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater
payment under Sections 3.8(c), 3.10 or 3.11 than the applicable Lender would
have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such
Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made
with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign
Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.11
unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant
and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with
Section 3.11(e) as though it were a Lender.

         (f)      Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security
interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including
under its Construction Loan Notes, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender,
including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve
Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release a Lender from any
of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such
Lender as a party hereto.

         (g)      If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment or to an
Eligible Assignee is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment
which does not meet the minimum assignment threshold specified in clause (i) of
the proviso to the first sentence of Section 12.10(b)), the Borrower shall be
deemed to have given its consent ten (10) Business Days after the date notice
thereof has been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative
Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such
fifth (5th) Business Day.

         (h)      As used herein, the following terms have the following
meanings:

                  "Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a
         Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; or (d) any other Person (other than a
         natural Person) approved by the Administrative Agent and, unless (i)
         such Person is taking delivery of an assignment in connection with
         physical settlement of a credit derivatives transaction or (ii) an
         Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each
         such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

                  "Fund" means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is
         (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise
         investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the
         ordinary course of its business.

                  "Approved Fund" means any Fund that is administered or managed
         by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an
         Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 12.11     Amendments, Waivers and Consents.

         (a)      Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any
Loan Document, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or
any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and any
consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent
is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent
with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative
Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that
no amendment, waiver or consent shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender,
(ii) reduce the rate of interest or fees payable on any Construction Loan
Advance, (iii) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Construction Loan
Advance, (iv) extend the originally scheduled time or times of payment of the
principal of any Construction Loan Advance or the time or times of payment of
interest on any Construction Loan Advance or any fee or commission with respect
thereto, (v) permit any subordination of the principal or interest on any
Construction Loan Advance, (vi) release the Borrower from the Obligations
hereunder, (vii) release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty
Agreement (other than as specifically permitted or contemplated in this
Agreement or the Guaranty Agreement), (viii) permit any assignment (other than
as specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement) of any of the
Borrower's rights and obligations hereunder, (ix) release all or any material
portion of the Collateral or release any Security Document (other than asset
sales permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 and as otherwise specifically permitted
or contemplated in this Agreement or the applicable Security Document) or (x)
amend the provisions of this Section 12.11 or the definition of Required
Lenders, in each case, without the prior written consent of each Lender. In
addition, no amendment, waiver or consent to the provisions of Article XI shall
be made without the written consent of the Administrative Agent.

         (b)      In the case of any amendment, waiver, consent or other
modification in connection with this Agreement for which a substantially similar
corresponding amendment, waiver, consent or other modification with regard to
any the Related Credit Documents will be made effective thereunder
contemporaneously, each Lender must vote in the same manner with respect to each
such amendment, waiver, consent or other modification in connection with this
Agreement and all such other Related Credit Documents.

         SECTION 12.12     Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent and each
of the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as
defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its
Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants,
legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom
such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such
Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the
extent requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d)
to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any
remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement
or the enforcement of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.12, to (i) any
Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of
or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii)
any direct or indirect contractual

<PAGE>

counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty's or
prospective counterparty's professional advisor) to any credit derivative
transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors; (g) with
the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes
publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 12.12 or
(ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower and the Guarantors;
or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other
similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires
access to information about a Lender's or its Affiliates' investment portfolio
in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender or its Affiliates.
For the purposes of this Section 12.12, "Information" means all information
received from the Borrower and the Guarantors relating to the Borrower and the
Guarantors or the business, other than any such information that is available to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
disclosure by the Borrower or the Guarantors; provided that, in the case of
information received from the Borrower or any Guarantor after the date hereof,
such information is clearly identified in writing at the time of delivery as
confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information
as provided in this Section 12.12 shall be considered to have complied with its
obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to
maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to
its own confidential information.

         SECTION 12.13     Performance of Duties. The Borrower's obligations
under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by
the Borrower at its sole cost and expense.

         SECTION 12.14     All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of
attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative
Agent and any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any
of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Construction Loan
Facility has not been terminated.

         SECTION 12.15     Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any
termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XII and any
other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in
full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
against events arising after such termination as well as before.

         SECTION 12.16     Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles,
Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are
for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this
Agreement.

         SECTION 12.17     Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 12.18     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be
binding upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION 12.19     Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in
effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all
Obligations shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in
full. The Administrative Agent is hereby permitted to release all Liens on the
Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of
itself and the Lenders, upon repayment of the outstanding principal of and all
accrued interest on the Construction Loan Advances, payment of all outstanding
fees and expenses hereunder and the termination of the Lender's Commitments. No
termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision
of this Agreement which survives such termination.

         SECTION 12.20     Advice of Counsel. Each of the parties represents to
each other party hereto that it has discussed this Agreement with its counsel.

         SECTION 12.21     No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have
participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the
event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this
Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no
presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by
virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 12.22     Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent
Effect of Covenants.

         (a)      In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this
Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall
control; provided, that any provision of the Security Documents which imposes
additional burdens on the Borrower or the Guarantors or further restricts the
rights of the Borrower or the Guarantors or gives the Administrative Agent or
Lenders additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent
with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.

         (b)      The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each
covenant contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections 11, 12 and
13 of the Guaranty Agreement shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the
Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted
under any covenant contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections
11, 12 and 13 of the Guaranty Agreement if, before or after giving effect to
such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other
covenant contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections 11, 12 and
13 of the Guaranty Agreement.

                           [Signature pages to follow]

<PAGE>

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

                                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP
                                     By: San Antonio Hospital Management,
                                     Inc., its General Partner

                                     By: /s/ James A. Parker
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: James A. Parker
                                     Title: Treasurer

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                      Agent

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication
                                      Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                               LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

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

                                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP
                                     By: San Antonio Hospital Management,
                                     Inc., its General Partner

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                     Name: James A. Parker
                                     Title: Treasurer

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                      Agent

                                     By: /s/ Kristine Thennes
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: Kristine Thennes
                                     Title: Vice President

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication
                                      Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                               LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

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

                                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP
                                     By: San Antonio Hospital Management,
                                     Inc., its General Partner

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                     Name: James A. Parker
                                     Title: Treasurer

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                      Agent

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                     By: /s/ G. Morrison Creech
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: G. Morrison Creech
                                     Title: Senior Vice President

                                     BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication
                                      Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                               LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP
                                     By: San Antonio Hospital Management,
                                     Inc., its General Partner

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                      Agent

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as
                                      Syndication Agent and as Lender

                                     By: /s/ Diane F. Rolfe
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: Diane F. Rolfe
                                     Title: Vice President

                                     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP
                                     By: San Antonio Hospital Management,
                                     Inc., its General Partner

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                      Agent

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication
                                      Agent and as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Documentation Agent and as Lender

                                     By: /s/ Douglas T. Davis
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: Douglas T. Davis
                                     Title: Director

LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                                     GE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SERVICES, as Lender

                                     By: /s/ Dev Lobo
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Dev Lobo
                                         Title: Risk Manager

                                     SIEMENS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     JP MORGN CHASE BANK., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                     FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN OHIO), as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                            Name:  _____________________________
                                            Title: _____________________________

                                       97

<PAGE>

                                     GE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SERVICES, as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     THE FOOTHILL GROUP, INC., as Lender

                                     By: /s/ M.E. Stearns
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name: M.E. Stearns
                                     Title: Sr. V. P.

                                     THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                     FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN OHIO), as Lender

                                     By:    ____________________________________
                                     Name:  ____________________________________
                                     Title: ____________________________________

                                               LOAN AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                                     GE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SERVICES, as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                     SIEMENS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                     JP MORGN CHASE BANK., as Lender

                                     By: /s/ Dawn Lee Lum
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Dawn Lee Lum
                                         Title: Vice President

                                     FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN OHIO), as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                       97

<PAGE>

                                     GE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SERVICES, as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                     SIEMENS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                     JP MORGN CHASE BANK., as Lender

                                     By: _______________________________________
                                         Name:  ________________________________
                                         Title: ________________________________

                                     FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN OHIO), as Lender

                                     By: /s/ Brian B. Bergmann
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Brian B. Bergmann
                                         Title: Vice President

                                       97

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LAND

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                LEGAL DESCRIPTION

                                    EXHIBIT A

                               (LEGAL DESCRIPTION)
TRACT I:

Lots 17 and 18, of the Heart Hospital of San Antonio Subdivision recorded in
Volume 9554, Page 8 of the Deed and Plat Records of Bexar County, Texas, in the
City of Balcones Heights of Bexar County, Texas.

Tract II: Rights of non-exclusive ingress and egress over across a 0.2870 acre
tract of land being more particularly described as follows:

A 0.2870 acre, or 12,503 square foot more or less, tract of land, being the same
0.2870 acre Easement Parcel recorded in Volume 9235, page 51 of the Official
Public Records of Real Property, Bexar County, Texas, being a 43.60 foot wide
Ingress/Egress Easement out of Lot 15, County Block 5508 of the Wonderland Annex
Subdivision recorded in Volume 5700, Page 30 of the Deed and Plat Records of
Bexar County, Texas, in the City of Balcones Heights, Bexar County, Texas. Said
0.2870 acre easement being more fully described as follows:

COMMENCING: At a found 1/2" iron rod on the south right-of-way line of North
Crossroads Boulevard, a 100.00 foot right-of-way, said iron rod also being the
north corner of Lot 15;

THENCE: S 75(degree)28'42" W, the basis of bearings for this survey is based on
the North American Datum of 1983, from State Plane Coordinates established for
the Texas South Central Zone, along and with the said right-of-way of North
Crossroads Boulevard, a distance of 94.43 feet to a point at the northwest
corner of said Lot 15;

THENCE: S 31(degree)05'41" W, along and with the cutback of said southeast
right-of-way line of North Crossroads Boulevard and the Crossroads Boulevard a
distance of 69.97 feet to the northwest corner of this easement and the POINT OF
BEGINNING;

THENCE: Departing the said right-of-way of Crossroads Road, the following calls
and distances:

S 63(degree)46'28" E, a distance of 150.23 feet to set 1/2" iron rod with yellow
cap marked "Pape-Dawson", S 60(degree)31'18" E, a distance of 135.92 feet to the
northeast corner of this easement on the northwest line of Lot 17, County Block
5508, Heart Hospital of San Antonio, Volume 9554, page 8, of the Deed and Plat
Records of Bexar County, Texas, from which a found 1/2" iron rod with a yellow
cap marked "Pape-Dawson"on the southline of Lot 16, County Block 5508, of the
Wonderland Annex Subdivision, recorded in Volume 5700, Page 30 of the Deed and
Plat Records of Bexar County, Texas, set for the northwest corner of said Lot
17, bears N 29(degree)28'42" E, a distance of 2.60 feet; S 29(degree)28'42" W,
along and with the northwest line of said Lot 17, a distance of 43.60 feet to a
set 1/2" iron rod with a yellow cap marked "Pape-Dawson" the southeast corner of
this easement from which a found 1/2" iron rod with a yellow cap marked "Pape
Dawson", on the southwest line of said Lot 15 and a corner of said Lot 17, bears
S 29(degree)28'42" W, a distance of 169.71 feet; N 60(degree)31'18" W, a
distance of 134.68 feet to a set 1/2" iron rod with yellow plastic cap marked
"Pape-Dawson", N 63(degree)46'28" W, a distance of 152.70 feet to a set 1/2"
iron

<PAGE>

rod with yellow plastic cap marked "Pape-Dawson" on the southeast right-of-way
line of Crossroads Blvd., at the southwest corner of this easement;

THENCE: N 31(degree)05'41" E, along and with the southeast right-of-way line of
Crossroads Blvd., a distance of 43.76 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING and
containing 0.2870 of an acre of land in the City of Balcones Heights, Bexar
County, Texas said tract described in accordance with a survey made on the
ground and a survey map prepared by Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc.

TRACT III:

Lot 16, in the Wonderland Annex Subdivision, in the City of Balcones Heights, an
addition in Bexar County Texas, according to the map or plat thereof recorded in
Volume 5700, Page 30, Deed and Plat Records of Bexar County, Texas.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                         FORM OF CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE

                                       2

<PAGE>

                             CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE

$__________                                                     November 7, 2002

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
a North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to
the order of ______________________________ (the "Lender"), at the place and
times provided in the Loan Agreement referred to below, the principal sum of
____________________ DOLLARS ($__________) or, if less, the principal amount of
all Construction Loan Advances made by the Lender pursuant to that certain
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2002 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement") by and among the Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become a party
thereto, as Lenders (collectively, the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein
and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         The unpaid principal amount of this Construction Loan Note from time to
time outstanding is subject to mandatory repayment from time to time as provided
in the Loan Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 3.1 of the
Loan Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on this Construction Loan
Note shall be payable in lawful currency of the United States of America in
immediately available funds to the account designated in the Loan Agreement.

         This Construction Loan Note is entitled to the benefits of, and
evidences Obligations incurred under, the Loan Agreement, to which reference is
made for a description of the security for this Construction Loan Note and for a
statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and
required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations
evidenced by this Construction Loan Note and on which such Obligations may be
declared to be immediately due and payable.

         THIS CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE
CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

         The Debt evidenced by this Construction Loan Note is senior in right of
payment to all Subordinated Debt referred to in the Loan Agreement.

         The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence,
presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Loan
Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Construction Loan Note.

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Construction Loan
Note under seal as of the day and year first above written.

[CORPORATE SEAL]                 HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                                 as Borrower

                                      By: San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc.,
                                          its General Partner

                                      By:_______________________________________
                                         Name:__________________________________
                                         Title:_________________________________

                                       2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                              FORM OF DRAW REQUEST

<PAGE>

                                  DRAW REQUEST

                              DRAW REQUEST NO. ___

         PURSUANT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
         NOVEMBER 7, 2002 (AS AMENDED, RESTATED SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE
         MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE "LOAN AGREEMENT") BY AND AMONG HEART
         HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP, AS BORROWER (THE "BORROWER"), THE LENDERS
         WHO ARE OR MAY BECOME PARTY THERETO, AS LENDERS (THE "LENDERS"), AND
         BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (THE "ADMINISTRATIVE
         AGENT").

TO:               Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent Date: _________

BORROWER:         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC

PROJECT:          _____________________________

DRAW REQUEST
NUMBER:           _____________________________         TOTAL AMOUNT:$__________

DRAW BREAKDOWN:

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                <C>
(a)      Borrower                           $__________
(b)      General Contractor                 $__________
(c)      Architect                          $__________
(d)      Administrative Agent
           [for fees and expenses]          $__________
</TABLE>

PERIOD COVERED: _____________________  THROUGH____________________

         BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary, on this day personally appeared the
person executing this affidavit, who, being by me first duly sworn, deposed and
said:

         1.       He is the duly authorized representative of San Antonio
Hospital Management, Inc., the duly authorized and acting Manager of the
Borrower (the "Management Company"), the office which he holds in the Management
Company being indicated on the execution line of this affidavit; and he is duly
authorized to make this affidavit and to execute and deliver the related request
for payment on behalf of the Borrower.

         2.       All reports, statements, and other documentation heretofore or
herewith delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
are substantially true and correct and in all material respects what they
purport and appear to be.

<PAGE>

         3.       Attached is a Draw Request for Work Completed Summary, and if
a Construction Loan Advance for hard costs is requested, also attached are AIA
Document G-702 and G-703 (1983 Edition) forms executed by the General Contractor
and approved by the Borrower's Architect, all completed for the above amount and
period, together with all supporting documentation required by the Loan
Agreement for the Project, all of which are true and correct and in all respects
what they purport and appear to be.

         4.       The Borrower has not been served with any written notice that
a lien will be claimed for any amount unpaid for materials delivered, labor
performed, or services provided in connection with the Project, or any part
thereof.

         5.       This affidavit is made to induce the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders to advance funds to the Borrower, which funds shall be applied by
the Borrower in accordance with the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and, in so lending funds, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are relying
upon the accuracy of matters stated in this affidavit.

         6.       All representations and warranties contained in the Loan
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and accurate in all material
respects as of the date of this Draw Request and will be true in all material
respects as of the date on which the requested Construction Loan Advance is
disbursed, except as follows (if any): ________________.

         7.       No Default or Event of Default exists (or would result from
the Construction Loan Advance herein requested).

         8.       No part of the Property has been taken by eminent domain
proceedings, and the Borrower has not received written notice of any proceedings
or negotiations therefor which are pending.

         9.       All previously disbursed funds received in connection with
Construction Loan Advances have been expended, or are being held in trust, for
the sole purpose of paying Project costs included in the Budget and previously
incurred by the Borrower as set forth in previous Draw Requests; and no part of
said funds has been used for any other purpose.

         10.      The Borrower has previously or concurrently disclosed to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders all matters known to the Borrower that are
required to be so disclosed under the Loan Documents.

         11.      All conditions precedent to the Borrower's right to receive
the requested Construction Loan Advance have been met in accordance with the
terms of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         12.      The amounts and percentages set forth in this Draw Request
(including the Draw Request for Work Completed Summary and any AIA Document
G-702 and G-703 submitted in connection herewith) are true and correct.

         13.      The aggregate sum of (i) Construction Loan Advance funds
previously disbursed for hard costs, plus (ii) the Construction Loan Advance
funds included in this Draw Request for hard costs, plus (iii) the existing
retainage required under Section 2.2(b)(i) of the Loan Agreement, does not
exceed

<PAGE>

the aggregate amount incurred and/or expended to date for hard costs included in
the Work (as defined in the Construction Contract) incorporated into the
Improvements and for stored materials.

         14.      No portion of the materials included within this Draw Request
are stored off the Land except as follows (if any): __________________________.

         15.      Upon disbursement by the Borrower of the funds advanced by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders as requested in this Draw Request, all
obligations for Work (as defined in the Construction Contract) and other costs
heretofore incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Project and which are
due and payable will be fully paid and satisfied.

         16.      The actual cost required to complete all matters of a type
included in any line item in the Budget does not exceed the amount allocated to
that line item in the Budget, except as follows (if any): ____________________.

         17.      All change orders to the Plans have been submitted to the
Administrative Agent and all change orders for which a Construction Loan Advance
is requested hereby have been consented to by the Administrative Agent and
Required Lenders to the extent required under the Loan Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.

         18.      All lien waivers or payment receipts required under the terms
of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents for this Draw Request have
been submitted to the Administrative Agent.

         19.      The construction of the Improvements is progressing in a
satisfactory manner so as to assure completion thereof on or before the
Completion Date in accordance with the Plans, the Loan Agreement and the Loan
Documents.

         20.      As of the date hereof, the Borrower has no claims, causes of
action, demands against the Administrative Agent, demands against the Lenders,
or defenses or offsets to payment of the Construction Loan Advances or any other
amounts due under Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         21.      The Borrower has undertaken all investigation necessary to
make all of the foregoing statements.

         22.      The acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of
this Draw Request will in no way operate as a waiver by the Administrative Agent
or the Lenders of any term, condition, covenant or agreement contained in the
Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or of any right of the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders to enforce any term, condition, covenant or
agreement therein.

         23.      This Draw Request includes Pre-Opening Operating Costs of
$__________ to be reimbursed to the Borrower.

<PAGE>

         All capitalized, undefined terms used herein shall have the meanings
assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Draw Request as
of the date first written above.

                           AFFIANT:

[SEAL]                     HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                           as Borrower

                                    By: San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc., ,
                                        its General Partner

                                    By: ________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

STATE OF  ____________________      )
                                    )
COUNTY OF ____________________      )

         SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME, on this ____ day of _______________,
200__.

                                       _________________________________________
                                       Notary Public:___________________________
                                       Printed Name: ___________________________
                                       My Commission Expires:___________________

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                      FORM OF NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION

<PAGE>

                          NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION

                          Dated as of: November 7, 2002

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This Notice of Account Designation is delivered to you under Section
2.2(c) of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002
(as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP, a North
Carolina limited liability company, (the "Borrower"), the lenders who are or may
become party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

         1.       The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse the
proceeds of all Construction Loan Advances requested by the Borrower to be
disbursed thereto into the following account(s):

                          Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC
                        ABA Routing Number: ___________
                          Account Number: _____________

         2.       This authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or
until a subsequent Notice of Account Designation is provided to the
Administrative Agent.

         3.       Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Account Designation as of the 7th day of November , 2002.

                           HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                           as Borrower

                           By:    SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                  MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                                  By: __________________________________________
                                  Name: ________________________________________
                                  Title: _______________________________________

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                          FORM OF NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT

<PAGE>

                              NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT

                           Dated as of: _____________

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This irrevocable Notice of Prepayment is delivered to you under Section
2.4(a) of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002
(as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, a North Carolina
limited liability company (the "Borrower"), the lenders who are or may become
party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent (the "Administrative Agent").

         1.       The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative
Agent that it shall repay the following [Base Rate Loans] and/or [Eurodollar
Rate Loans]: ____________________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with
Section 2.4(a) of the Loan Agreement.)

         2.       The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Construction
Loan Advances on the following Business Day: ____________________. (Complete
with a Business Day at least three (3) Business Days subsequent to date of this
Notice of Prepayment.)

         3.       Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Prepayment as of the ____ day of __________, ____.

                           HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                           as Borrower

                           By:      SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                    MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                           By: _________________________________________________
                           Name: _______________________________________________
                           Title: ______________________________________________

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT F
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                    FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

                                       2

<PAGE>

                        NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

                           Dated as of: _____________

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This irrevocable Notice of Conversion/Continuation (the "Notice") is
delivered to you under Section 3.2 of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated as of November 7, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among Heart Hospital
of San Antonio, LP, a North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"),
the lenders who are or may become party thereto (the "Lenders") and Bank of
America, N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

         1.       This Notice is submitted for the purpose of: (Check one and
complete applicable information in accordance with the Loan Agreement.)

                  [ ]      Converting all or a portion of a Base Rate Loan into
                           a Eurodollar Rate Loan

                  (a)      The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                           Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

                  (b)      The principal amount of such Construction Loan
                           Advance to be converted is $_______________.

                  (c)      The requested effective date of the conversion of
                           such Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

                  (d)      The requested Interest Period applicable to the
                           converted Construction Loan Advance is
                           _______________.

                  [ ]      Converting a portion of Eurodollar Rate Loan into a
                           Base Rate Loan

                  (a)      The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                           Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

<PAGE>

                  (b)      The last day of the current Interest Period for such
                           Construction Loan Advance is_______________.

                  (c)      The principal amount of such Construction Loan
                           Advance to be converted is $______________.

                  (d)      The requested effective date of the conversion of
                           such Construction Loan Advance is_______________.

                  [ ]      Continuing all or a portion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan
                           as a Eurodollar Rate Loan

                  (a)      The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                           Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

                  (b)      The last day of the current Interest Period for such
                           Construction Loan Advance is_______________.

                  (c)      The principal amount of such Construction Loan
                           Advance to be continued is $______________.

                  (d)      The requested effective date of the continuation of
                           such Construction Loan Advance is_______________.

                  (e)      The requested Interest Period applicable to the
                           continued Construction Loan Advance is
                           _______________.

         2.       The principal amount of all Construction Loan Advances
outstanding as of the date hereof does not exceed the maximum amount permitted
to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement.

         3.       All of the conditions applicable to the conversion or
continuation of the Construction Loan Advance requested herein as set forth in
the Loan Agreement have been satisfied or waived as of the date hereof and will
remain satisfied or waived to the date of such Construction Loan Advance.

         4.       Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

                                       4

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Conversion/Continuation as of the ____ day of __________, ____.

                           HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                           as Borrower

                           By:      SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                    MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                                    By: ____________________________________
                                    Name: __________________________________
                                    Title: _________________________________

                                        5

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT G
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                        FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

<PAGE>

                            ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

         Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated as of November 7, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among Heart Hospital
of San Antonio, LP, a North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"),
the lenders who are or may become party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of
America, N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

         The assignor identified on the signature page hereto (the "Assignor")
and the assignee identified on the signature page hereto (the "Assignee") agree
as follows:

         1.       (a)      Subject to paragraph 11 hereof, effective as of the
         date specified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"), the
         Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, without
         recourse to the Assignor, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases
         and assumes from the Assignor, without recourse to the Assignor, the
         interest described on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Assigned Interest") in
         and to the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement.

                  (b)      From and after the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee
         shall be a party under the Loan Agreement and will have all the rights
         and obligations of a Lender for all purposes under the Loan Agreement
         and the other Loan Documents to the extent of the Assigned Interest and
         be bound by the provisions thereof, and (ii) the Assignor shall
         relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the
         Loan Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Interest. The Assignor
         and/or the Assignee, as agreed by the Assignor and the Assignee, shall
         deliver, in immediately available funds, any applicable assignment fee
         required under Section 12.10(b) of the Agreement.

         2.       On the Effective Date, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor,
in immediately available funds, an amount equal to the purchase price of the
Assigned Interest as agreed upon by the Assignor and the Assignee.

         3.       From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent
shall make all payments under the Loan Agreement and the Notes, if any, in
respect of the Assigned Interest (including all payments of principal, interest
and fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and the Assignee
shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Agreement and the
Notes, if any, for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between
themselves.

         4.       The Assignor represents and warrants to the Assignee that:

                  (a)      the Assignor is the legal and beneficial owner of the
         Assigned Interest, and the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any
         adverse claim;

                  (b)      the Assigned Interest listed on Schedule 1 accurately
         and completely sets forth the outstanding amount of all Construction
         Loan Advances relating to the Assigned Interest as of the Effective
         Date;

<PAGE>

                  (c)      the Assignor has the power and authority and the
         legal right to make, deliver and perform, and has taken all necessary
         action, to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
         Assignment and Acceptance, and any and all other documents delivered by
         it in connection herewith and to fulfill its obligations under, and to
         consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Assignment and
         Acceptance, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and no
         consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect
         of any Governmental Authority, is required in connection herewith or
         therewith; and

                  (d)      this Assignment and Acceptance constitutes the legal,
         valid and binding obligation of the Assignor.

         The Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower, the
Guarantors or any of their Affiliates or the performance by the Borrower, the
Guarantors or any of their Affiliates of their respective obligations under the
Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and assumes no responsibility with
respect to any statements, warranties or representations made under or in
connection with the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or the execution,
legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the
Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document other than as expressly set forth
above.

         5.       The Assignee represents and warrants to the Assignor and the
Administrative Agent that:

                  (a)      the Assignee is an Eligible Assignee;

                  (b)      the Assignee has the full power and authority and the
         legal right to make, deliver and perform, and has taken all necessary
         action, to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this
         Assignment and Acceptance, and any and all other documents delivered by
         it in connection herewith and to fulfill its obligations under, and to
         consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Assignment and
         Acceptance, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and no
         consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect
         of any Governmental Authority, is required in connection herewith or
         therewith;

                  (c)      this Assignment and Acceptance constitutes the legal,
         valid and binding obligation of the Assignee;

                  (d)      under all Applicable Laws no tax will be required to
         be withheld by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower with respect to
         any payments to be made to the Assignee hereunder or under the Loan
         Agreement or any other Loan Document, and unless otherwise indicated in
         the space opposite the Assignee's signature below, no tax forms
         described in Section 3.11(e) of the Loan Agreement are required to be
         delivered by the Assignee; and

<PAGE>

                  (e)      the Assignee has received a copy of the Loan
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with copies of the
         most recent financial statements of the Borrower and the Guarantors
         delivered pursuant thereto, and such other documents and information as
         it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision
         to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance. The Assignee has
         independently and without reliance upon the Assignor or the
         Administrative Agent and based on such information as the Assignee has
         deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter
         into this Assignment and Acceptance. The Assignee will, independently
         and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and
         based upon 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 the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         6.       The Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent
to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and
discretion under the Loan Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to
the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are
incidental thereto.

         7.       The Assignor attaches the Construction Loan Note delivered to
it under the Loan Agreement and the Assignor and the Assignee request that the
Borrower exchange such Construction Loan Note for new Construction Loan Notes
payable to each of the Assignor and the Assignee as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Construction Loan Note                      Principal Amount of
     Payable to the Order of:                    Construction Loan Note:
     -----------------------                     ----------------------
<S>                                              <C>
___________________________________                    $__________

___________________________________                    $__________
</TABLE>

         8.       The Assignor and the Assignee agree to execute and deliver
such other instruments, and take such other action, as either party may
reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Assignment and Acceptance.

         9.       This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns;
provided, however, that the Assignee shall not assign its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the Assignor and any purported
assignment, absent such consent, shall be void.

         10.      This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed by facsimile
signatures with the same force and effect as if manually signed and may be
executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This
Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the North Carolina, without reference to the conflicts or choice of
law principles thereof.

<PAGE>

         11.      The effectiveness of the assignment described herein is
subject to:

         (a)      if such consent is required by the Loan Agreement, receipt by
the Assignor and the Assignee of the consent of the Administrative Agent and/or
the Borrower to the assignment described herein. By delivering a duly executed
and delivered copy of this Assignment and Acceptance to the Administrative
Agent, the Assignor and the Assignee hereby request any such required consent
and request that the Administrative Agent register the Assignee as a Lender
under the Loan Agreement effective as of the Effective Date; and

         (b)      receipt by the Administrative Agent of (or other arrangements
acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect to) any applicable
assignment fee referred to in Section 12.10(b) of the Loan Agreement and any tax
forms required by Section 3.11(e) of the Loan Agreement.

         By signing below, the Administrative Agent agrees to register the
Assignee as a Lender under the Loan Agreement, effective as of the Effective
Date with respect to the Assigned Interest, and will adjust the registered
Commitment Percentage of the Assignor under the Loan Agreement to reflect the
assignment of the Assigned Interest.

         12.      Attached hereto as Schedule 2 is all contact, address, account
and other administrative information relating to the Assignee.

         13.      Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and
Acceptance to be executed as of the date first above written by their respective
duly authorized officers.

                                    ASSIGNOR:

                                    ____________________________________________

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

                                    ASSIGNEE:

[ ]  Tax forms required by
     Section 3.11(e) of the Loan    ____________________________________________
     Agreement included
                                    By:_________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

                           [Signature Pages Continue]

<PAGE>

In accordance with and subject to Section 12.10 of the Loan Agreement, the
undersigned consent to the foregoing assignment as of the Effective Date:

HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
as Borrower

         By:     SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
                 Its General Partner

         By: _______________________________________
         Name: _____________________________________
         Title:_____________________________________

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent

By:_________________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________________
Title:______________________________________________

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                            Assignment and Acceptance

                              THE ASSIGNED INTEREST

EFFECTIVE DATE: ______________________

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       TYPE AND AMOUNT OF OUTSTANDING
ASSIGNED COMMITMENT        OBLIGATIONS ASSIGNED          ASSIGNED PRO RATA SHARE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>                               <C>
 $_______________      [type] $__________________             _____________%
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 2
                                       to
                            Assignment and Acceptance

                             ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

          [Assignee to list names of credit contacts, addresses, phone
          and facsimile numbers, electronic mail addresses and account
          and payment information]

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT H
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                           FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                               GUARANTY AGREEMENT

         THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of November 7, 2002 is made by
MEDCATH CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), and certain
Subsidiaries of the Parent as identified on the signature pages attached hereto
or otherwise joined as a party hereto (such subsidiaries collectively, the
"Subsidiary Guarantors", and each, a "Subsidiary Guarantor", and together with
the Parent, the "Guarantors"), in favor of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national

`banking association, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent") for
the ratable benefit of itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders")
from time to time party to the Loan Agreement (as defined below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

         Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of
even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified,
the "Loan Agreement"), by and among Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP, as
Borrower (the "Borrower"), the Lenders party thereto (the "Lenders") and the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to extend certain credit
facilities to the Borrower as more specifically described in the Loan Agreement.

         The Borrower and the Guarantors, though separate legal entities,
comprise one integrated financial enterprise, and all Construction Loan Advances
under the Loan Agreement to the Borrower will inure, directly or indirectly, to
the benefit of each of the Guarantors.

         In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Agreement
and as a condition precedent thereto, the Lenders have requested that each
Guarantor execute and deliver this Guaranty, and each of the Guarantors has
agreed to do so pursuant to the terms hereof.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, and to induce the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders to enter into and to make available Construction Loan Advances pursuant
to the Loan Agreement, each Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative
Agent for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as
follows:

         SECTION 1.        Definitions and Rules of Construction.

         (a)      Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
in this Guaranty including the preambles and recitals hereof, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement. In the event of a conflict
between capitalized terms defined herein and in the Loan Agreement, this
Guaranty shall control. In addition, the following terms when used in this
Guaranty shall have the meaning assigned to them below:

         "Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Preamble.

<PAGE>

         "Adjusted EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of the following
determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated
EBITDA of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period plus (or minus) (b) to
the extent deducted in determining Net Income (or to the extent added in
determining Net Income), the "minority interest share of earnings of the
consolidated subsidiaries" of the Parent for such period as reflected on the
consolidated statement of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries plus (c)
to the extent deducted in determining Net Income, the "equity in the net losses
of unconsolidated affiliates" attributable to Unconsolidated Entities for such
period as reflected on the consolidated statement of operations of the Parent
and its Subsidiaries minus (d) to the extent added in determining Net Income,
the "equity in the net profits of unconsolidated affiliates" attributable to
Unconsolidated Entities for such period as reflected on the consolidated
statement of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries plus (e)
Unconsolidated EBITDA of each Unconsolidated Entity for such period plus (f)
certain adjustments approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and set
forth on Schedule 1(a)(i) minus (g) to the extent in included in any of the
foregoing clauses (a) through (e), the aggregate amount of EBITDA of the
Developmental Pool for such period. For the purpose hereof, each item referred
to herein which is determined by reference to the consolidated statement of
operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be calculated in the manner
required pursuant to Section 28.

         "Affiliate" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Aggregate Commitment" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Loan Agreement.

         "Applicable Insolvency Laws" means all Applicable Laws governing
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors,
dissolution, insolvency, fraudulent transfers or conveyances or other similar
laws (including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C. Section 547, Section 548,
Section 550 and other "avoidance" provisions of Title 11 of the United States
Code) applicable in any proceeding involving the bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency
or any similar proceeding with respect to any Guarantor or its assets or this
Guaranty.

         "Applicable Law" means, collectively, all international, foreign,
federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations,
ordinances, codes, constitutions and administrative or judicial precedents or
authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or
administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed
duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with,
any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

         "Available Cash" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the
following, without duplication, calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a) the
aggregate amount of all cash and cash equivalents of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries, which such cash or cash equivalents are readily marketable and
available without restriction or limitation for the immediate payment or
repayment of Debt thereof as of such date of determination plus (b) the
aggregate amount of all Unconsolidated Cash of the Unconsolidated Entities as of
such date of determination.

                                        2

<PAGE>

         "Borrower" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Statement of
Purpose.

         "Capital Lease" means any lease of any property by the Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries, as Lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified
and accounted for as a capital lease on a Consolidated balance sheet of Parent
and its Subsidiaries.

         "Cash Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, all Interest Expense paid in cash during such period.

         "Closing Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Collateral" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Commitments" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Completion Date" means, with respect to any Hospital Facility owned by
any Hospital Joint Venture, the date upon which such Hospital Joint Venture has
received (i) the final certificate of occupancy for such Hospital Facility and
(ii) all permits and licenses required under Applicable Law (including the
Medicare Certification and the Medicaid Certification) to operate such Hospital
Facility.

         "Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements
or financial statement items of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, such statements
or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of
consolidation under GAAP.

         "Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to the Parent and its
Subsidiaries at any date of determination, the sum of the following determined
on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) the
amount of assets shown on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries less (b) all liabilities of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. For
purposes of this definition, assets shall include sums due from (i) physicians
or medical practices managed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
health care facilities owned or managed by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (iii) physicians with whom Borrower is affiliated, to the
extent that (x) the repayment of such sums constitutes valid and enforceable
obligations of such Persons and (y) such Persons have not defaulted in the
repayment of such sums.

         "Construction Loan Advances" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Loan Agreement.

         "Corporate Revolver" means the Loan Agreement dated as of July 31,
1998, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time, by and among MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the lenders
referred to therein, as lenders, and Bank of America, N. A., as agent.

         "Debt" means, with respect to any Person at any date and without
duplication, the sum of the following calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a)
all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness

                                        3

<PAGE>

for borrowed money including, but not limited to, obligations evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person, (b)
all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of
any such Person (including, without limitation, all obligations under
non-competition agreements), except trade payables arising in the ordinary
course of business not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days past due, (c)
all obligations of any such Person as lessee under Capital Leases, (d) all Debt
of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset of any such Person, (e) all
Guaranty Obligations of any such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of any such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit,
whether or not drawn, and banker's acceptances issued for the account of any
such Person, (g) all obligations of any such Person to redeem, repurchase,
exchange, defease or otherwise make payments in respect of capital stock or
other securities or partnership interests of such Person, (h) all net payment
obligations incurred by any such Person pursuant to Hedging Agreements and (i)
all outstanding payment obligations of any such Person with respect to 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.

         "Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Developmental Pool" shall mean the collective reference to all
Hospital Joint Ventures which own a Hospital Facility with respect to which (i)
the Completion Date has not yet occurred or (ii) six (6) full fiscal quarters or
less have elapsed since the Completion Date of such Hospital Facility.

         "EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of
the following determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net
Income for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted
in determining Net Income for such period: (i) Interest Expense for such period,
(ii) income and franchise taxes for such period, (iii) amortization and
depreciation for such period, (iv) non-cash charges for such period solely with
respect to the impairment of goodwill in accordance with GAAP, (v) non-cash
impairment charges for such period solely with respect to management contracts
of MedCath Diagnostics LLC and its Subsidiaries and MedCath Cardiology
Consulting & Management, Inc. and its Subsidiaries, and (vi) non-cash impairment
charges for such period solely with respect to loan acquisition costs minus (c)
to the extent added in the determination of Net Income, extraordinary gains for
such period.

         "Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the
Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding six
(6) years been maintained for the employees of the Parent or any current or
former ERISA Affiliate.

         "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, foreign, state,
provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits,
licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental
Authorities, relating to the protection of human health or the environment,
including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation,
handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of
Hazardous Materials.

                                        4

<PAGE>

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to
time.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Parent is
treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

         "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Parent ending on September
30.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent
basis for the Parent and its Subsidiaries or any other applicable Person
throughout the period indicated and (subject to Section 28) consistent with the
prior financial practice of the Parent and its Subsidiaries or any such other
Person.

         "Governmental Approval" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.

         "Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or political
subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

         "Guaranteed Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(b) of this Guaranty.

         "Guarantors" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

         "Guaranty" means this Guaranty Agreement, as amended, restated,
supplemented otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to any Person at any date and
without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person
pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or
other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations
set

                                        5

<PAGE>

forth therein) be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranty
Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing Person
may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Guaranty
Obligation.

         "Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are
or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human
health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental
Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under
any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of
which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other
Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed to constitute a nuisance or a
trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring
properties, (f) which consist of underground or aboveground storage tanks,
whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance, or (g) which
contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived
substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

         "Hedging Agreements" means any agreement with respect to any Interest
Rate Contract, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward foreign exchange
agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency
option agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks
of any Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or
commodity prices, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.

         "CMS" means the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Administration of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services and any successor agency.

         "HHS" means the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
and any successor thereto.

         "Hospital Facility" shall mean any heart hospital and related
facilities or diagnostic facilities owned by a Hospital Joint Venture.

         "Hospital Joint Venture" means any business entity (a) formed for the
purpose of owning, operating or managing a heart hospital and related facilities
or diagnostic facilities, and (b) a portion of the capital stock, limited
liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership interest
of which is owned or beneficially controlled, either directly or indirectly, by
the Parent or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

         "Improvements" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the gross interest expense (including without limitation, interest expense
attributable to Capital Leases and all net

                                        6

<PAGE>

payment obligations pursuant to Hedging Agreements) of such Person, all
determined for such period, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

         "Interest Rate Contract" means any interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate option or any other agreement regarding the hedging of
interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging the interest
rate exposure of any Person and any confirming letter executed pursuant to such
agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

         "Joinder Agreement" means, collectively, each joinder agreement
executed in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself
and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

         "Land" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

         "Lease Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period, all
obligations of such Person for payments under leases of real or personal
property, whether such leases presently exist or are hereafter entered into by
such Person.

         "Lenders" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

         "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect
of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to
own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital
Lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

         "Loan Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Statement of Purpose.

         "Loan Documents" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Material Adverse Effect" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Loan Agreement.

         "Material Contract" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Maturity Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Maximum Available Corporate Revolver Commitment" means the amount of
the unused portion of the aggregate commitment of the lenders under the
Corporate Revolver which is available for borrowing from time to time under the
Corporate Revolver to the extent that (a) no default or event of default shall
have occurred and be continuing under the Corporate Revolver on the date of any
such borrowing and after giving effect thereto and (b) the Parent and its
Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 12(c) on the date of any such
borrowing and after giving effect thereto.

                                        7

<PAGE>

         "Medicaid Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that health care operations are in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicaid Regulations.

         "Medicaid Regulations" means, collectively, (a) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XIX of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the medical assistance program established by Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; (b) all applicable provisions
of all federal rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all Governmental
Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described
in clause (a) above and all federal administrative, reimbursement and other
guidelines of all Governmental Authorities having the force of law promulgated
pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described in clause (a) above;
(c) all state statutes and plans for medical assistance enacted in connection
with the statutes and provisions described in clauses (a) and (b) above; and (c)
all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all
Governmental Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the
statutes described in clause (c) above and all state administrative,
reimbursement and other guidelines of all Governmental Authorities having the
force of law promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes
described in clause (b) above, in each case as may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Medicare Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that the health care operation is in
compliance with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicare
Regulations.

         "Medicare Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the health insurance program for the aged and disabled established by
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; and
(ii) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals, orders and
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines having the force of law of
all Governmental Authorities (including without limitation, HHS, CMS, the Office
of the Inspector General for HHS, or any person succeeding to the functions of
any of the foregoing) promulgated pursuant to or in connection with any of the
foregoing having the force of law, as each may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is
accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make
contributions within the preceding six (6) years.

         "Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, for any period of
determination, the net income (or loss) of the such Person for such period,
determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 10(b) of this Guaranty.

                                        8

<PAGE>

         "Parent" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
agency.

         "Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained for the employees of the
Parent or any ERISA Affiliates or (b) has at any time within the preceding six
(6) years been maintained for the employees of the Parent or any of its current
or former ERISA Affiliates.

         "Permanent Principal Payment" means, with respect to the Debt of any
Person, an actual payment or repayment of the outstanding principal amount of
(a) term Debt (excluding voluntary prepayments thereof), which by its terms does
not permit any payments or repayments of principal to be re-borrowed, or (b)
Debt under a revolving credit facility (or other facility which permits the
re-borrowing of principal payments or repayments) so long as the aggregate
commitment of the lender thereunder to allow any such re-borrowing has been
permanently reduced by an amount equal to such payment or repayment.

         "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or any other form of entity or group thereof.

         "Required Lenders" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

         "Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%)
of the outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of
such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at
the time owned by or the management is otherwise controlled by such Person
(irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or other ownership
interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power
by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified
references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the
Parent.

         "Subsidiary Guarantors" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Preamble.

         "Termination Event" means: (a) except for any such event that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a "Reportable Event"
described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the notice requirement has not been
waived by the PBGC, or (b) except for any withdrawal that could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the withdrawal of the Parent or
any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a
"substantial employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the
termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a
Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, each
under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to
terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any

                                        9

<PAGE>

Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would
constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition
of a Lien pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or (g)
except for any such event or condition that could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition which results in the
reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245
of ERISA, or (h) except for any such event or condition that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition
which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of
ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer
Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA.

         "Total Capitalization" means, at any date of determination, the sum of
(a) Total Debt plus (b) Total Equity, each as of such date and calculated in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Total Debt" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the
following, without duplication, calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a) all Debt
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries less (b) all Available Cash.

         "Total Equity" means, with respect to the Parent, its Subsidiaries and
each Hospital Joint Venture owned thereby, at any date of determination, the
stockholders' equity calculated in accordance with GAAP without duplication.

         "Unconsolidated Cash" means, with respect to each Unconsolidated
Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a) or clause (b),
as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in accordance with
GAAP:

                  (a)      an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt
         of such Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to
         (B) all Debt of such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such
         period times (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash and cash equivalents
         of such Unconsolidated Entity, which such cash or cash equivalents are
         readily marketable and available without restriction or limitation for
         the immediate payment or repayment of Debt thereof as of the last day
         of such period, and

                  (b)      an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total
         amount of issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability
         company interests, partnership interests, or other ownership interests
         of such Unconsolidated Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period times (ii) the
         aggregate amount of all cash and cash equivalents of such
         Unconsolidated Entity, which such cash or cash equivalents are readily
         marketable and available without restriction or limitation for the
         immediate payment or repayment of Debt thereof as of the last day of
         such period.

         "Unconsolidated Cash Interest Expense" means, with respect to each
Unconsolidated Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a)
or clause (b), as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in
accordance with GAAP:

                                       10

<PAGE>

                  (a)      an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt
         of such Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to
         (B) all Debt of such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such
         period times (ii) the amount of Cash Interest Expense of such
         Unconsolidated Entity for such period, and

                  (b)      an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total
         amount of issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability
         company interests, partnership interests, or other ownership interests
         of such Unconsolidated Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period times (ii) the
         amount of Cash Interest Expense of such Unconsolidated Entity for such
         period.

         "Unconsolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to each Unconsolidated
Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a) or clause (b),
as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in accordance with
GAAP:

                  (a)      an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt
         of such Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to
         (B) all Debt of such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such
         period times (ii) the amount of EBITDA of such Unconsolidated Entity
         for such period, and

                  (b)      an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total
         amount of issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability
         company interests, partnership interests, or other ownership interests
         of such Unconsolidated Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period times (ii) the
         amount of EBITDA of such Unconsolidated Entity for such period.

         "Unconsolidated Entity" means any Hospital Joint Venture the financial
information with respect to which is not included in the Consolidated financial
statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant
to Section 10(a)(i) hereof.

         "Unconsolidated Lease Expense" means, with respect to each
Unconsolidated Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a)
or clause (b), as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in
accordance with GAAP:

                  (a)      an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt
         of such Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to
         (B) all Debt of such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such
         period times (ii) the amount of Lease Expense of such Unconsolidated
         Entity for such period, and

                  (b)      an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total
         amount of issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability
         company interests, partnership interests, or other ownership interests
         of such Unconsolidated Entity owned by the Parent or any

                                       11

<PAGE>

         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period times
         (ii) the amount of Lease Expense of such Unconsolidated Entity for such
         period.

         "Unconsolidated Permanent Principal Payments" means, with respect to
each Unconsolidated Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause
(a) or clause (b), as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication,
in accordance with GAAP:

                  (a)      an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt
         of such Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any
         Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to
         (B) all Debt of such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such
         period times (ii) the amount of Permanent Principal Payments of such
         Unconsolidated Entity for such period, and

                  (b)      an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total
         amount of issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability
         company interests, partnership interests, or other ownership interests
         of such Unconsolidated Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
         Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period times (ii) the
         amount of Permanent Principal Payments of such Unconsolidated Entity
         for such period.

         "Wholly-Owned" means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the
shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiary are,
directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Parent and/or one or more of
its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (except for directors' qualifying shares or other
shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a Person other than the
Parent).

         (b)      GENERAL. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in this
Guaranty to a particular article, section, subsection, schedule or exhibit is a
reference to that article, section, subsection, schedule or exhibit of this
Guaranty. Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in
either the singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, and
pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the
masculine, the feminine and the neuter. Any reference herein to "Charlotte time"
shall refer to the applicable time of day in Charlotte, North Carolina.

         (c)      Reference to Agreement. The words "hereof", "herein" and
"hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Guaranty shall refer
to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Guaranty.

         SECTION 2.        Terms of the Guaranty.

                  (a)      Guaranty of Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby,
         jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, unconditionally
         guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of
         itself and the Lenders, and their respective permitted successors,
         endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment (whether at
         stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and performance of all
         Obligations of the Borrower, whether primary or secondary (whether by
         way of endorsement or otherwise), whether now existing or hereafter
         arising, whether or not from time to time reduced or extinguished
         (except by

                                       12

<PAGE>

         payment thereof) or hereafter increased or incurred, whether or not
         recovery may be or hereafter become barred by the statute of
         limitations, whether enforceable or unenforceable as against the
         Borrower, whether or not discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by
         any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or proceeding, whether
         created directly with the Administrative Agent or any Lender or
         acquired by the Administrative Agent or any Lender through assignment,
         endorsement or otherwise, whether matured or unmatured, whether joint
         or several, as and when the same become due and payable (whether at
         maturity or earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory repayment or
         otherwise), in accordance with the terms of any such instruments
         evidencing any such Obligations, including all renewals, extensions or
         modifications thereof.

                  (b)      Additional Guaranty of Performance. Additionally,
         each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors,
         unconditionally guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
         benefit of itself and the Lenders, and their respective permitted
         successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the timely performance
         of all other obligations of Borrower under the Loan Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents, including, without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing, that:

                           (i)      the Improvements will be constructed upon
                  the Land in accordance with this Agreement and the Plans; and

                           (ii)     the Improvements will be completed and ready
                  for occupancy, including delivery of any certificates required
                  by Applicable Law, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
                  Documents, on or before the date required in the Loan
                  Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         In the event the foregoing conditions are not complied with in any
         respect whatsoever, the Guarantors hereby agree to (i) assume all
         responsibility for the completion of the Improvements and, at the
         Guarantors' own cost and expense, to cause the Improvements to be fully
         completed in accordance with the Plans and in accordance with the Loan
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (ii) pay all bills in
         connection with the construction of the Improvements; and (iii)
         indemnify and hold the Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless
         from any and all loss, cost, liability or expense that the
         Administrative Agent or the Lenders may suffer by reason of any such
         event (except with respect to the willful misconduct or the gross
         negligence of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders). The
         Administrative Agent shall accept performance by the Guarantors of the
         Borrower's obligations under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
         Documents, and so long as all of said obligations are being performed
         by the Borrower or the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent will make
         the proceeds of the Construction Loan Advances available under the
         terms of the Loan Agreement. If, after the occurrence of a Default or
         Event of Default, the Required Lenders are not satisfied with the
         progress of construction by the Borrower and/or the Guarantors, the
         Administrative Agent shall, if required by the Required Lenders, and on
         behalf of Lenders, after first

                                       13

<PAGE>

         having given notice to the Guarantors at the address and in the manner
         set forth in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement, complete the
         Improvements either before or after commencement of foreclosure
         proceedings or before or after any other remedy of the Administrative
         Agent or the Lenders against the Borrower or the Guarantors, with such
         changes or modifications in the Plans which the Administrative Agent
         reasonably deems necessary and expend such sums as the Administrative
         Agent, in its discretion, reasonably deems necessary and proper in
         order to so complete the Improvements, and the Guarantors hereby waive
         any right to contest any such reasonably necessary expenditures. The
         amount of any and all expenditures made by the Administrative Agent for
         the foregoing purposes shall be due and payable to the Lenders upon
         demand and accrue interest at a rate two percent (2%) per annum above
         the rate then applicable under the Construction Loan Notes (or that
         would be applicable under the Construction Loan Notes if they were
         still outstanding). Neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor shall be
         liable to the Lenders for the cost of completing the Improvements to
         the extent that the aggregate cost of completing the Improvements
         exceeds the Aggregate Commitment, provided the entire principal of and
         interest on the Construction Loan Advances shall have been paid in
         full. The obligations and liability of the Guarantors under this
         Section 2(b) shall not be limited or restricted by the existence of (or
         any limitation on) the guaranty of payment under Section 2(a). For the
         purposes hereof, all of the Obligations of the Borrower to the
         Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents, including all of the Obligations specified in
         Section 2(a) and this Section 2(b), shall be hereinafter collectively
         referred to as the "Guaranteed Obligations".

                  (c)      Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors. Notwithstanding
         anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above, it is the
         intention of each Guarantor and the Lenders that, in any proceeding
         involving the bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of
         debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar
         proceeding with respect to any Guarantor or its assets, the amount of
         such Guarantor's obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations
         shall be in, but not in excess of, the maximum amount thereof not
         subject to avoidance or recovery by operation of any Applicable
         Insolvency Laws. To that end, but only in the event and to the extent
         that such Guarantor's obligations with respect to the Guaranteed
         Obligations or any payment made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations
         would, but for the operation of the first sentence of this Section
         2(c), be subject to avoidance or recovery in any such proceeding under
         Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount of such Guarantor's obligations
         with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be limited to the
         largest amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not, under
         Applicable Insolvency Laws, render such Guarantor's obligations with
         respect to such Guaranteed Obligations unenforceable or avoidable or
         otherwise subject to recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To the
         extent any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations
         exceeds the limitation of the first sentence of this Section 2(c) and
         is otherwise subject to avoidance and recovery in any such proceeding
         under Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount subject to

                                       14

<PAGE>

         avoidance shall in all events be limited to the amount by which such
         actual payment exceeds such limitation and the Guaranteed Obligations
         as limited by the first sentence of this Section 2(c) shall in all
         events remain in full force and effect and be fully enforceable against
         such Guarantor. The first sentence of this Section 2(c) is intended
         solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder
         against such Guarantor in such proceeding to the maximum extent
         permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and neither such Guarantor, the
         Borrower, any other guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right
         or claim under such sentence that would not otherwise be available
         under Applicable Insolvency Laws in such proceeding.

                  (d)      Mutual Grant of Present Right of Contribution and
         Indemnity. To the extent that the value as of the time of execution of
         this Guaranty of the benefits received by any Guarantor by reason of
         matters stated in the preamble (whether determined under a standard of
         "fair value," "reasonably equivalent value" or any other valuation
         standard under Applicable Law) is less than the sum of the Guaranteed
         Obligations incurred by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and
         the Lenders plus such Guarantor's liability under this Section 2(d),
         then subject only to Section 15 hereof and in addition to all other
         rights and remedies such Guarantor has or may have under Applicable
         Law, each remaining Guarantor respectively agrees that such Guarantor
         has the present right to recover the amount of such excess from the
         remaining Guarantors, which right shall be enforceable jointly and
         severally against the remaining Guarantors to the full extent that the
         Guaranteed Obligations are enforceable against such Guarantor. Without
         limiting the foregoing, in the event any Guarantor is required, by
         reason of this Guaranty, to pay an amount in excess of the value of the
         benefit such Guarantor is deemed to have received by reason of matters
         described in the preamble of this Guaranty, the remaining Guarantors
         jointly and severally agree to pay such Guarantor, upon demand, the
         amount of such excess. Subject only to the provisions of Section 15
         hereof, such Guarantor shall be subrogated to any and all rights of the
         Administrative Agent and the Lenders against the remaining Guarantors
         to the extent of such excess payment.

         SECTION 3.        Nature of Guaranty. Each Guarantor agrees that this
Guaranty is a continuing, unconditional guaranty of payment and performance and
not of collection, and that its obligations under this Guaranty shall be
primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:

                  (a)      the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability
         or any future amendment of, or change in, this Guaranty, the Loan
         Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other agreement, document
         or instrument to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary thereof or any
         Affiliate thereof is or may become a party;

                  (b)      the absence of any action to enforce this Guaranty,
         the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent
         by the

                                       15

<PAGE>

         Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any of the
         provisions of this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan
         Document;

                  (c)      the existence, value or condition of, or failure to
         perfect its Lien against, any security (including, without limitation,
         the Collateral) for or other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or
         any action, or the absence of any action, by the Administrative Agent
         or any Lender in respect of such security or guaranty (including,
         without limitation, the release of any such security or guaranty);

                  (d)      any structural change in, restructuring of or other
         similar change of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

                  (e)      any other action or circumstances which might
         otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
         surety or guarantor;

it being agreed by each Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence in Section
2(c) hereof, its obligations under this Guaranty shall not be discharged until
the final indefeasible payment and performance, in full, of the Guaranteed
Obligations and the termination of the Aggregate Commitment. To the extent
permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor expressly waives all rights it may
now or in the future have under any statute (including, without limitation,
North Carolina General Statutes Section 26-7, et seq. or similar law), or at law
or in equity, or otherwise, to compel the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
proceed in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower or any
other party or against any security (including, without limitation, the
Collateral) for or other guaranty of the payment and performance of the
Guaranteed Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to
proceeding against, such Guarantor. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
each Guarantor further expressly waives and agrees not to assert or take
advantage of any defense based upon the failure of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations
against the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or
any security (including, without limitation, the Collateral) for the payment and
performance of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor agrees that any notice
or directive given at any time to the Administrative Agent or any Lender which
is inconsistent with the waivers in the preceding two sentences shall be null
and void and may be ignored by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and, in
addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation
relating to this Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction
would be at variance with the written terms of this Guaranty, unless the
Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders have specifically agreed otherwise
in writing. The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction
contemplated by the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, but for
this Guaranty and such waivers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders would
decline to enter into the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         SECTION 4.        Demand by the Administrative Agent. In addition to
the terms set forth in Section 3 hereof, and in no manner imposing any
limitation on such terms, if all or any portion of the then outstanding
Guaranteed Obligations under the Loan Agreement are declared

                                       16

<PAGE>

to be immediately due and payable, then the Guarantors shall, upon demand in
writing therefor by the Administrative Agent to the Guarantors, pay all or such
portion of the outstanding Guaranteed Obligations then declared due and payable.
Payment by the Guarantors shall be made to the Administrative Agent, to be
credited and applied upon the Guaranteed Obligations, in immediately available
Dollars to an account designated by the Administrative Agent or at the address
referenced herein for the giving of notice to the Administrative Agent or at any
other address that may be specified in writing from time to time by the
Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 5.        Waivers. In addition to the waivers contained in
Section 3 hereof, each Guarantor, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
waives and agrees that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead or in any
manner whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any appraisal,
valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws, or
exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay,
prevent or otherwise affect the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations
under, or the enforcement by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of, this
Guaranty. Each Guarantor further hereby waives, to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law, diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice (except as
specifically required herein) of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of
the Guaranteed Obligations and waives, to the extent permitted by Applicable
Law, the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in conflict with
the terms of this Guaranty. Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that
its obligations under this Guaranty are not and shall not be subject to any
counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind against the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders or the Borrower whether now existing or which may arise in the
future.

         SECTION 6.        Benefits of Guaranty. The provisions of this Guaranty
are for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their
respective permitted successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing
herein contained shall impair, as between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents. In
the event all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations are transferred,
endorsed or assigned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Person or
Persons as permitted under the Loan Agreement, any reference to the
"Administrative Agent", or the "Lenders" herein shall be deemed to refer equally
to such Person or Persons.

         SECTION 7.        Modification of Loan Documents etc. If the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall at any time or from time to time, with
or without the consent of, or notice to, the Guarantors:

                  (f)      change or extend the manner, place or terms of
         payment of, or renew or alter all or any portion of, the Guaranteed
         Obligations;

                  (g)      take any action under or in respect of the Loan
         Agreement or the other Loan Documents in the exercise of any remedy,
         power or privilege contained therein or available to it at law, in
         equity or otherwise, or waive or refrain from exercising any such
         remedies, powers or privileges;

                                       17

<PAGE>

                  (h)      amend or modify, in any manner whatsoever, the Loan
         Agreement or the other Loan Documents;

                  (i)      extend or waive the time for performance by any
         Guarantor, any other guarantor, the Borrower or any other Person of, or
         compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be
         performed or observed under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan
         Document, or waive such performance or compliance or consent to a
         failure of, or departure from, such performance or compliance;

                  (j)      take and hold security or collateral (including,
         without limitation, the Collateral) for the payment of the Guaranteed
         Obligations or sell, exchange, release, dispose of, or otherwise deal
         with, any property (including, without limitation, the Collateral)
         pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Administrative Agent or
         the Lenders have been granted a Lien, to secure any Debt of any
         Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative
         Agent or the Lenders;

                  (k)      release anyone who may be liable in any manner for
         the payment of any amounts owed by any Guarantor, any other guarantor
         or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

                  (l)      modify or terminate the terms of any intercreditor or
         subordination agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of
         any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower are subordinated to
         the claims of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

                  (m)      apply any sums by whomever paid or however realized
         to any Guaranteed Obligations owing by any Guarantor, any other
         guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in
         such manner as the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall determine
         in its reasonable discretion;

then neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability
to any Guarantor as a result thereof, and no such action shall impair or release
the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

         SECTION 8.        Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that, if any
payment made by the Borrower or any other Person applied to the Obligations is
at any time annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be
fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid or the
proceeds of any collateral are required to be refunded by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender to the Borrower, its estate, trustee, receiver or any other
party, including, without limitation, any Guarantor, under any Applicable Law or
equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, each
Guarantor's liability hereunder (and any Lien securing such liability) shall be
and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been
made, and, if prior thereto, this Guaranty shall have been canceled or
surrendered (and if any Lien or collateral securing such Guarantor's liability
hereunder shall

                                       18

<PAGE>

have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation or surrender),
this Guaranty (and such Lien) shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and
such prior cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge,
impair or otherwise affect the obligations of such Guarantor in respect of the
amount of such payment (or any Lien securing such obligation).

         SECTION 9.        Representations and Warranties.

         (a)      Representations and Warranties. To induce the Lenders to make
the Construction Loan Advances, each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before and after giving effect to
the transactions contemplated under the Loan Agreement:

                  (i)      Ownership. Each Subsidiary and each Hospital Joint
         Venture owned by the Parent, either directly or indirectly, is listed
         on Schedule 9(a)(i) (as updated from time to time pursuant to Section
         11(j)). As of the Closing Date, the capitalization of the Parent, its
         Subsidiaries and each Hospital Joint Venture consists of the number of
         shares or other ownership interests, authorized, issued and
         outstanding, of such classes and series, with or without par value,
         described on Schedule 9(a)(i). All outstanding shares or other
         ownership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued and
         are fully paid and nonassessable, with no personal liability attaching
         to the ownership thereof, and not subject to any preemptive or similar
         rights. The shareholders of the Subsidiaries and the Hospital Joint
         Ventures owned by the Parent, either directly or indirectly, and the
         number of shares or other ownership interests owned by each as of the
         Closing Date are described on Schedule 9(a)(i). As of the Closing Date,
         there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions,
         options, securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature
         whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise
         provide for or permit the issuance of capital stock or other ownership
         interests of the Parent, any Subsidiary, or any Hospital Joint Venture
         except as described on Schedule 9(a)(i).

                  (ii)     Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Guarantor is
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
         the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the power and
         authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now
         being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and
         authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character
         of its properties or the nature of its business requires such
         qualification and authorization, except where the failure to so qualify
         could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
         jurisdictions in which each Guarantor is organized and qualified to do
         business as of the Closing Date are described on Schedule 9(a)(ii) (as
         updated from time to time pursuant to Section 11(j)).

                  (iii)    Authorization of Guaranty and Loan Documents. Each
         Guarantor has the corporate or limited liability company right, power
         and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Guaranty and each of
         the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party and has
         taken all necessary corporate or

                                       19

<PAGE>

         limited liability company action to authorize its execution, delivery
         and performance of, this Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents
         to which such Guarantor is a party.

                  (iv)     Enforceability of Guaranty and Loan Documents. This
         Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents to which each Guarantor
         is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such
         Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by the availability of equitable
         remedies.

                  (v)      Compliance with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery
         and performance of this Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents
         to which each Guarantor is a party will not violate any Applicable Law
         or contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in the
         creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property
         or revenues of such Guarantor.

                  (vi)     Consents and Authorizations. No consent or
         authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any
         arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person
         (including, without limitation, any stockholder or creditor of each
         Guarantor), is required in connection with the execution, delivery,
         performance, validity or enforceability of this Guaranty or any of the
         other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, other than the
         approval of the board of directors of each Guarantor (which approval
         has been obtained prior to the date hereof).

                  (vii)    Litigation. Except for matters set forth on Schedule
         9(a)(vii), no actions, suits or proceedings before any arbitrator or
         Governmental Authority are pending or, to the knowledge of each
         Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or against any of
         its properties with respect to this Guaranty, any other Loan Document
         or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby which could
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (viii)   Title to Properties. Each Guarantor has such title to
         the real property owned by it and a valid leasehold interest in the
         real property leased by it, and has good and marketable title to all of
         its personal property sufficient to carry on its business free of any
         and all Liens of any type whatsoever.

                  (ix)     Solvency. As of the Closing Date (or such later date
         upon which such Guarantor became a party hereto), each Guarantor (A)
         has capital sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and
         all business and transactions in which it engages and is able to pay
         its debts as they mature, (B) owns property having a value, both at
         fair valuation and at present fair saleable value on a going concern
         basis, greater than the amount required to pay its probable liabilities
         (including contingencies) and (C) does not believe that it will incur
         debts or liabilities

                                       20

<PAGE>

         beyond its ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature,
         subject in each case to the first sentence in Section 2(c) hereof.

                  (x)      Financial Statements. The (A) audited Consolidated
         balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of September 30,
         2001 and the related audited statements of income and retained earnings
         and cash flows for the Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
         then ended and (B) unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent
         and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2002 and the related unaudited
         statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the
         fiscal quarter of the Parent and its Subsidiaries then ended, copies of
         which has been furnished to Administrative Agent and the Lenders, are
         complete and correct in all material respects and fairly present on a
         Consolidated basis the assets, liabilities and financial position of
         the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the results of its
         operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.

                  (xi)     No Material Adverse Change. Since September 30, 2001,
         there has been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Guarantor
         or the Guarantors taken as a whole, as applicable, and no event has
         occurred or condition arisen that could reasonably be expected to have
         a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (xii)    Tax Returns and Payments. Each Guarantor has duly
         filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax
         returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made
         adequate provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and
         other material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies
         upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and
         payable, except for taxes (i) that are not yet delinquent or (ii) that
         are being contested in good faith and against which adequate reserves
         are being maintained in accordance with GAAP; such returns accurately
         reflect in all material respects all liability for taxes of such
         Guarantor for the periods covered thereby; there is no ongoing audit or
         examination or, to the knowledge of the such Guarantor, other
         investigation by any Governmental Authority of the tax liability of
         such Guarantor; no Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or
         other claim against such Guarantor with respect to unpaid taxes which
         has not been discharged or resolved; and the charges, accruals and
         reserves on the books of such Guarantor in respect of federal, state,
         local and other taxes for all Fiscal Years and portions thereof since
         the organization of such Guarantor are in the judgment of such
         Guarantor adequate, and such Guarantor does not anticipate any
         additional material taxes or assessments for any of such periods.

                  (xiii)   Environmental Matters.

                           (A)      The properties owned, leased or operated by
                  each Guarantor now or in the past do not contain, and to its
                  knowledge have not previously contained, any Hazardous
                  Materials in amounts or concentrations which (1) constitute or
                  constituted a material violation of applicable Environmental

                                       21

<PAGE>

                  Laws or (2) could give rise to a material liability under
                  applicable Environmental Laws;

                           (B)      Each Guarantor and such properties and all
                  operations conducted in connection therewith are in compliance
                  in all material respects with all applicable Environmental
                  Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about such
                  properties or such operations which could reasonably interfere
                  with the continued operation of such properties or impair the
                  fair saleable value thereof;

                           (C)      No Guarantor has received any notice of
                  violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                  potential liability regarding environmental matters, Hazardous
                  Materials, or compliance with Environmental Laws from (A) any
                  Governmental Authority or (B) to the extent any such
                  violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                  potential liability could reasonably be expected to have a
                  Material Adverse Effect, any other Person, nor does any
                  Guarantor have knowledge or reason to believe that any such
                  notice will be received or is being threatened;

                           (D)      Hazardous Materials have not been
                  transported or disposed of to or from the properties owned,
                  leased or operated by of any Guarantor in violation of, or in
                  a manner or to a location which could give rise to a material
                  liability under, Environmental Laws, nor have any Hazardous
                  Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at,
                  on or under any of such properties in violation of, or in a
                  manner that could give rise to a material liability under, any
                  applicable Environmental Laws;

                           (E)      No judicial proceedings or governmental or
                  administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of any
                  Guarantor, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which
                  such Guarantor is or will be named as a potentially
                  responsible party with respect to such properties or
                  operations conducted in connection therewith, 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 such Guarantor or such properties or such
                  operations; and

                           (F)      There has been no release, or to the best of
                  any Guarantor's knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous
                  Materials at or from properties owned, leased or operated by
                  such Guarantor, now or in the past, in violation of or in
                  amounts or in a manner that could give rise to a material
                  liability under Environmental Laws.

                                       22

<PAGE>

                  (xiv)    ERISA.

                           (A)      The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate is in
                  material compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA
                  and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
                  with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans except for any
                  required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as
                  defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired and
                  except where a failure to so comply could not reasonably be
                  expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Employee
                  Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section
                  401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue
                  Service to be so qualified, and each trust related to such
                  plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of
                  the Code except for such plans that have not yet received
                  determination letters but for which the remedial amendment
                  period for submitting a determination letter has not yet
                  expired. No liability has been incurred by the Parent or any
                  ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or
                  penalties with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any
                  Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that could not
                  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                           (B)      As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has
                  been terminated, nor has any accumulated funding deficiency
                  (as defined in Section 412 of the Code) been incurred (without
                  regard to any waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code),
                  nor has any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue Service
                  been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan,
                  nor has the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate failed to make any
                  contributions or to pay any amounts due and owing as required
                  by Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms
                  of any Pension Plan prior to the due dates of such
                  contributions under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
                  ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure
                  under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect
                  to any Pension Plan;

                           (C)      Except where the failure of any of the
                  following representations to be correct in all material
                  respects could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
                  Adverse Effect, neither the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate
                  has: (1) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction
                  described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the
                  Code, (2) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains
                  outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are
                  no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (3) failed to
                  make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer
                  Plan, or (4) failed to make a required installment or other
                  required payment under Section 412 of the Code;

                           (D)      No Termination Event has occurred or is
                  reasonably expected to occur; and

                                       23

<PAGE>

                           (E) Except where the failure of any of the following
                  representations to be correct in all material respects could
                  not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
                  no proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the
                  ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is
                  existing or, to the best knowledge of the Parent after due
                  inquiry, threatened concerning or involving any (1) employee
                  welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA)
                  currently maintained or contributed to by the Parent or any
                  ERISA Affiliate, (2) Pension Plan or (3) Multiemployer Plan.

                  (xv)     Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written
         information, reports, statements and other papers and data produced by
         or on behalf of the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof and furnished to
         the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this
         Guaranty, or any of the other Loan Documents, were, at the time the
         same were so furnished, complete and correct in all material respects
         to the extent necessary to give the Administrative Agent or any Lender
         complete, true and accurate knowledge of the subject matter based on
         Parent's knowledge thereof (other than projections, budgets or other
         estimates which shall be determined in good faith utilizing reasonable
         assumptions). No document furnished or written statement made to the
         Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the Parent or any Subsidiary
         thereof in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of
         this Guaranty or any of the Loan Documents contains or will contain any
         untrue statement of a fact material to the creditworthiness of the
         Parent or its Subsidiaries or omits or will omit to state a fact
         necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
         misleading to the extent material to the creditworthiness of the Parent
         or its Subsidiaries. The Parent is not aware of any facts which it has
         not disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent having a Material
         Adverse Effect, or insofar as the Parent can now foresee, which could
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b)      Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this Section 9 and all
representations and warranties of the Guarantors contained in any certificate,
or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such
representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto)
shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Guaranty. All
representations and warranties made under this Guaranty shall be made or deemed
to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made
as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived
by the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.

         SECTION 10.       Financial Information and Reports. Until all
Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full and
the Commitments of the Lenders under the Loan Agreement have been terminated,
unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided for in Section 19, the
Parent will furnish, or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders at their respective addresses as set forth on Schedule 1, or

                                       24

<PAGE>

such other office as may be designated by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders from time to time:

         (a)      Financial Statements.

                  (i)      Quarterly and Annual Financial Statements.

                           (A)      As soon as practicable and in any event
                  within fifty-five (55) days after the end of each fiscal
                  quarter, an unaudited Consolidated and consolidating balance
                  sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the close of
                  such fiscal quarter and unaudited Consolidated and
                  consolidating statements of income and expenses and cash flow
                  for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the
                  Fiscal Year then ended, all in reasonable detail and prepared
                  by the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and
                  certified by a Responsible Officer of Parent to present fairly
                  in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent
                  and its Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the
                  results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for
                  the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year end
                  adjustments.

                           (B)      As soon as practicable and in any event
                  within one hundred (100) days after the end of each Fiscal
                  Year of Parent and its Subsidiaries, commencing with Fiscal
                  Year ending September 30, 2002, an audited Consolidated and
                  unaudited consolidating balance sheet of Parent and its
                  Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited
                  Consolidated and unaudited consolidating statements of income
                  and expenses, retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal
                  Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in
                  reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and
                  accompanied by a report thereon prepared by Deloitte & Touche,
                  LLP, or another independent certified public accounting firm
                  of nationally recognized standing which is reasonably
                  acceptable to the Administrative Agent, that such financial
                  statements are not qualified with respect to scope limitations
                  imposed by Parent and its Subsidiaries or with respect to
                  accounting principles followed by Parent and its Subsidiaries
                  not in accordance with GAAP.

                  (ii)     Annual Forecasts. As soon as practicable and in any
         event no later than thirty (30) days after the beginning of each Fiscal
         Year, an annual forecast prepared by management of the Parent, in
         reasonable detail and in the form customarily prepared by management of
         the Parent for its internal use and setting forth an explanation for
         the principal assumptions on which such forecasts were based, of
         balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements with respect
         to the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for each Fiscal
         Year thereafter until the Maturity Date.

                  (iii)    SEC Reports. Promptly after the same become publicly
         available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements
         and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
         or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions
         of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange.

                                       25

<PAGE>

                  (iv)     Other Information. Such other information regarding
         the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent
         and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
         request, in each case in the form regularly prepared by the Parent and
         its Subsidiaries (if applicable).

         (b)      Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 10(a)(i)(A) or 10(a)(i)(B) and at
such other times as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request a
certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of Parent in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto (an "Officer's Compliance Certificate"):

                  (i)      stating that such officer has reviewed such financial
         statements and, to the best of his knowledge, such financial statements
         fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the
         Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results
         of their operations and cash flows for the periods indicated;

                  (ii)     stating that to such officer's knowledge, based on a
         reasonable examination, no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if
         such is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and
         its nature, when it occurred, whether it is continuing and the steps
         being taken by the Parent and its Subsidiaries with respect to such
         Default;

                  (iii)    stating that Parent and its Subsidiaries are in
         compliance with the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 11,
         Section 12 and Section 13 of this Guaranty applicable to Parent and its
         Subsidiaries and, with respect to the covenants set forth in Section
         12, the calculations applicable thereto; and

                  (iv)     setting forth any other information reasonably
         required by the Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this
         Guaranty.

         (c)      ACCOUNTANT'S CERTIFICATE. At each time financial statements
are delivered pursuant to Section 10(a)(i)(B), a certificate of the independent
public accountants certifying such financial statements addressed to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders:

                  (i)      stating that in making the examination necessary for
         the certification of such financial statements, they obtained no
         knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or, if such is not the
         case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and its nature and
         period of existence; and

                  (ii)     including the calculations prepared by such
         accountants required to establish whether or not the Parent and its
         Subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth
         in Section 12 hereof as at the end of each respective period.

                                       26

<PAGE>

         (d)      Other Reports.

                  (i)      Accountants Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof,
         copies of all reports, if any, submitted to the Parent or its Board of
         Directors by its independent public accountants in connection with
         their auditing function, including, without limitation, any management
         report and any management responses thereto.

                  (ii)     Other Reports. Such other information regarding the
         operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent and
         its Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
         reasonably request.

         (e)      Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but in no
event later than ten (10) days after an officer of the Parent obtains knowledge
thereof) telephonic and written notice of:

                  (i)      the commencement of all proceedings and
         investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions
         and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or
         involving the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any of its
         properties, assets or businesses which, individually or in the
         aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
         Effect;

                  (ii)     any violation by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof
         of any Applicable Law or any notice of any violation received by the
         Parent or any Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority
         including, without limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental
         Laws, which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect;

                  (iii)    any labor controversy that has resulted in, or
         threatens to result in, a strike or other work action against the
         Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any contractor or any material
         development in any labor controversy which if adversely determined
         could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (iv)     any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order
         exceeding $1,000,000 that may be assessed against the Parent or any
         Subsidiary thereof (to the extent such attachment, judgment, lien, levy
         or order is not fully covered by insurance and with respect to which
         the applicable insurance carrier has not acknowledged that such
         attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is fully covered by
         insurance);

                  (v)      (A) any Default or Event of Default or (B) any event
         which constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice
         or both would constitute a default or event of default under any
         Material Contract to which the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof is a
         party or by which the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their
         respective properties may be bound which could reasonably be expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (vi)     (A) any unfavorable determination letter from the
         Internal Revenue Service regarding the qualification of an Employee
         Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy
         thereof), (B) all notices received by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate
         of

                                       27

<PAGE>

         the PBGC's intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee
         appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (C) all notices received by
         the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor
         concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant to
         Section 4202 of ERISA and (D) the Parent obtaining knowledge or reason
         to know that the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to
         file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress
         termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA; and

                  (vii)    any event which makes any of the representations set
         forth in Section 9 inaccurate in any respect.

         (f)      Accuracy of Information. All written information, reports,
statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or
its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this
Section 10, or any other provision of this Guaranty or any of the other Loan
Documents, shall be, at the time the same is so furnished, in compliance with
the representations and warranties set forth in Section 9(a)(xv).

         SECTION 11.       Affirmative Covenants. Until all of the Obligations
have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under
the Loan Agreement have been terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the
manner provided for in Section 19, each Guarantor will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to:

         (a)      PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE AND RELATED MATTERS. PRESERVE AND
                  MAINTAIN:

                  (i)      its separate corporate existence, and will not sell,
         lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its business
         or assets; provided that any Subsidiary Guarantor may be merged or
         consolidated with or into, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or
         all or substantially all of its business or assets may be conveyed,
         sold, assigned, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one
         transaction or a series of transactions, to the Parent, any other
         Subsidiary Guarantor or the Borrower; and

                  (ii)     all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges
         necessary to the conduct of its business, and qualify and remain
         qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the failure to
         so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (b)      Compliance with Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in
compliance with all Applicable Laws and maintain in full force and effect all
Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business,
except were the failure to observe or comply could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (c)      Compliance with Agreements. Comply in all respects with each
term, condition and provision of each Material Contract to which it is a party
or by which it is bound and with all other material leases, agreements and other
instruments entered into in the conduct of its business, except (i) where the
failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or (ii) where any such term, condition or provision is contested in good

                                       28

<PAGE>

faith through applicable proceedings and where adequate reserves are maintained
in accordance with GAAP.

         (d)      Maintenance of Properties. Protect and preserve all properties
useful in and material to its business, including copyrights, patents, trade
names, service marks and trademarks material to the conduct of its business;
maintain in good working order and condition, reasonable wear and tear and
casualty excepted, all buildings, items of equipment and other items of tangible
real and personal property material to the conduct of its business; and from
time to time make or cause to be made all renewals, replacements and additions
to such property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

         (e)      ACCOUNTING METHODS AND FINANCIAL RECORDS. Maintain a system of
accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be true and
complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to
permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and in
compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.

         (f)      PAYMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS. Pay and perform all
obligations under this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, and pay or perform
(i) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or
assessed upon it or any of its property, and (ii) all other indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade practices;
provided, that each Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries may contest any item
described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 11(f) in good faith so long as
adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

         (g)      Visits and Inspections. Upon reasonable notice to the Parent
(unless there exists any Default or Event of Default), permit representatives of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender, from time to time, to visit and inspect
its properties and any materials thereon; inspect, audit and make extracts from
its books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management letters
prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal officers,
and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations and business prospects.

         (h)      Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies against such risks and in such amounts as are
customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by
Applicable Law, and on the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter deliver
to the Administrative Agent upon its request a detailed list of the insurance
then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and
rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties
and risks covered thereby.

         (i)      Conduct of Business. Engage only in businesses in
substantially the same fields as the businesses conducted or proposed to be
conducted in accordance with business plans delivered to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date or in lines of business
reasonably related thereto.

                                       29

<PAGE>

         (j) New Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the creation or acquisition of
any Subsidiary by the Parent (other than any Hospital Joint Venture) which is
not a "controlled foreign corporation" under Section 957 of the Code, cause such
Subsidiary to:

                  (i)      execute a Joinder Agreement in substantially the same
         form as Exhibit A attached hereto; and

                  (ii)     deliver to the Administrative Agent, with the Joinder
         Agreement, such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may
         reasonably request, including, certified resolutions and other
         organizational and authorizing documents of such Subsidiary, favorable
         opinions of counsel to such Subsidiary (which shall cover, among other
         things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of
         the Joinder Agreement), all in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent.

For the purposes of this Section 11(j), a Subsidiary shall not be deemed to have
been created or acquired until the earlier of (i) the date upon which such
Subsidiary begins to conduct business operations, (ii) the date upon which such
Subsidiary obtains assets with a fair market value in excess of $10,000.00 or
(iii) the date upon which such Subsidiary is initially capitalized.

         (k)      Transactions with Affiliates. Conduct all transactions
otherwise permitted under this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and
no less favorable to such Guarantor or such Subsidiary than it would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

         (l)      SUBORDINATED WORKING CAPITAL LOAN.

                  (i)      Cause MedCath Incorporated to make working capital
         advances to the Borrower in an amount necessary to ensure that the
         Borrower can meet all of its working capital and other general
         corporate needs (the "Working Capital Advances");

                  (ii)     Immediately upon the request of the Administrative
         Agent or the Required Lenders, cause MedCath Incorporated to make
         additional Working Capital Advances to the Borrower (in addition to any
         Working Capital Advances made to the Borrower pursuant to clause (i)
         above); provided that MedCath Incorporated shall not be required to
         make such Working Capital Advances to the extent that the sum of (A)
         the aggregate amount of such Working Capital Advances plus (B) the
         aggregate amount of Subordinated Working Capital Loans outstanding as
         of any applicable date of determination would exceed $8,000,000; and

                  (iii)    Cause all Working Capital Advances to be subordinated
         pursuant to an Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 12.       Financial Covenants. Until all of the Obligations
have been paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under
the Loan Agreement have been

                                       30

<PAGE>

terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided for in
Section 19, the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not:

                  (a)      Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio. As of the end of any
         fiscal quarter, permit the ratio of:

                           (i)      the sum of (A) Adjusted EBITDA for the
                  period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or
                  immediately prior to such date plus (B) the aggregate amount
                  of Lease Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such
                  period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters plus (C)
                  Unconsolidated Lease Expense of the Unconsolidated Entities
                  for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters minus
                  (D) Lease Expense of the Developmental Pool (to the extent
                  added above) for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                  quarters, to

                           (ii)     the sum of:

                                    (A)      the aggregate amount of Cash
                           Interest Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
                           for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                           quarters plus the aggregate amount of Unconsolidated
                           Cash Interest Expense of the Unconsolidated Entities
                           for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                           quarters minus the aggregate amount of Cash Interest
                           Expense of the Developmental Pool (to the extent
                           added above) for such period of four (4) consecutive
                           fiscal quarters minus the aggregate amount of Cash
                           Interest Expense paid by the Parent, its Subsidiaries
                           and each Unconsolidated Entity to MedCath
                           Incorporated for such period of four (4) consecutive
                           fiscal quarters plus or minus the aggregate amount of
                           certain adjustments related to Cash Interest Expense
                           approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
                           as set forth on Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B); plus

                                    (B)      the aggregate amount of Permanent
                           Principal Payments of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
                           for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                           quarters plus the aggregate amount of Unconsolidated
                           Permanent Principal Payments of the Unconsolidated
                           Entities for such period of four (4) consecutive
                           fiscal quarters minus the aggregate amount of
                           Permanent Principal Payments of the Developmental
                           Pool (to the extent added above) for such period of
                           four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters plus or minus
                           the aggregate amount of certain adjustments related
                           to Permanent Principal Payments approved by the
                           Administrative Agent and the Lenders as set forth on
                           Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B); plus

                                    (C)      the aggregate amount of Lease
                           Expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such
                           period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters plus
                           the aggregate amount of Unconsolidated Lease Expense
                           of the Unconsolidated Entities for such period of
                           four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters minus the
                           aggregate amount of Lease Expense of the

                                       31

<PAGE>

                           Developmental Pool (to the extent added above) for
                           such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters
                           plus or minus the aggregate amount of certain
                           adjustments related to Lease Expense approved by the
                           Administrative Agent and the Lenders as set forth on
                           Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B),

                  to be less than 1.25 to 1.00

                  (b)      Maximum Debt to Capitalization Ratio. As of the end
         of any fiscal quarter, permit the ratio of (i) Total Debt on such date
         to (ii) Total Capitalization on such date to exceed 0.60 to 1.00.

                  (c)      Maximum Leverage Ratio. As of the end of any fiscal
         quarter, permit the ratio of (i) the sum of (A) Total Debt on such date
         less (B) Debt of or attributable to the Developmental Pool (to the
         extent included in the calculation of Total Debt) on such date to (ii)
         Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters
         ending on or immediately prior to such date, to exceed 3.00 to 1.00:

                  (d)      Consolidated Net Worth. As of the Closing Date and as
         of the end of any fiscal quarter thereafter, permit Consolidated Net
         Worth on such date to be less than the sum of (i) $130,000,000 plus
         (ii) fifty percent (50%) of cumulative Net Income of the Parent and its
         Subsidiaries (if positive) after July 27, 2001 plus (iii) an amount
         equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the net cash proceeds received
         by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof from any issuance of equity
         after July 27, 2001.

                  (e)      MINIMUM LIQUID ASSETS. As of the end of any fiscal
         quarter, permit the sum of (i) Available Cash as of such date of
         determination plus (ii) the Maximum Available Corporate Revolver
         Commitment as of such date of determination (in each case to be
         calculated on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance
         with GAAP) to be less than $30,000,000.

         SECTION 13.       Negative Covenants.

         (a)      Negative Covenants. Until all of the Obligations have been
paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under the Loan
Agreement have been terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner
provided for in Section 19, the Guarantors will:

                  (i)      Comply with each and every covenant and agreement set
         forth in Section 5.02 of the Corporate Revolver (as such agreement may
         be amended from time to time) as if such Section 5.02 of the Corporate
         Revolver (including, without limitation, each defined term, article,
         section, exhibit or schedule referenced in or relating to such Section
         5.02 of the Corporate Revolver) was written herein; provided that the
         aggregate amount of Debt permitted under Section 5.02(b)(iii) of the
         Corporate Revolver (including any amendment, restatement, refinancing
         or replacement thereof, the "Corporate Revolver Debt") shall not exceed
         $125,000,000 unless (A) the Obligations, the Guaranteed Obligations and
         all other obligations under the Related Credit Documents (as defined in
         the

                                       32

<PAGE>

         Loan Agreement) shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the
         Corporate Revolver Debt or (B) the Corporate Revolver Debt shall be
         unsecured; and

                  (ii)     Notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
         promptly upon the execution of any amendment, restatement, supplement
         or other modification to the Corporate Revolver.

         (b)      Rules of Construction.

                  (i)      The terms and conditions of the Corporate Revolver
         which are incorporated in this Guaranty by reference shall continue as
         such terms and conditions are set forth in the Corporate Revolver
         irrespective of any termination of the Corporate Revolver. Such terms
         and conditions shall include any amendments, restatements, supplements
         or other modifications which are approved by the Required Lender
         pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii).

                  (ii)     All definitions and other provisions of the Corporate
         Revolver which are incorporated herein by reference shall be construed
         in such a manner so as to give such incorporated terms legal effect and
         meaning hereunder. More specifically, any references to the terms
         defined in both the Corporate Revolver and this Guaranty shall be
         deemed references to such terms as defined herein; provided that any
         references to the "Borrower" and the "Parent" in the Corporate Revolver
         shall be deemed to be references to MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc.
         and MedCath Holdings, Inc. hereunder. For example, references in the
         Corporate Revolver to the "Loan Documents", the "Commitments", the
         "Obligations", the "Administrative Agent" and the "Lenders" shall be
         deemed to be references to the Loan Documents, the Commitments, the
         Obligations, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as defined in
         this Guaranty, in each case to the extent necessary to give any such
         incorporated provisions legal effect and meaning hereunder. In
         addition, any references to defined terms in the Corporate Revolver
         which are similarly defined in this Guaranty shall be deemed references
         to such similar terms as defined herein. For example, references in the
         Corporate Revolver to an "Advance" shall be deemed to be references to
         a "Construction Loan Advance" hereunder, in each case to the extent
         necessary to give any such incorporated provisions legal effect and
         meaning hereunder.

         SECTION 14.       Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Default or Event of Default, with the consent of the Required
Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required
Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, enforce against the Guarantors their
respective obligations and liabilities hereunder and exercise such other rights
and remedies as may be available to the Administrative Agent hereunder, under
the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents or otherwise.

         SECTION 15.       No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or
payments by any of the Guarantors hereunder, or any set-off or application of
funds of any of the Guarantors by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the
receipt of any amounts by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to
any of the Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Guarantors shall be entitled to
be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender

                                       33

<PAGE>

against the Borrower or the other Guarantors or any other guarantor or against
any collateral security (including, without limitation, the Collateral) held by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the
Borrower or any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by such
Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on account of the Guaranteed
Obligations are paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment is terminated. If any
amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at
any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in
full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly
endorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be
applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in
such order as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 16.       Expenses. All costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees, legal expenses and court costs) incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in enforcing or protecting their rights or
remedies hereunder shall be payable by the Guarantors on demand and shall bear
interest (after as well as before judgment) until paid at the interest rate then
applicable to Base Rate Loans under the Loan Agreement and shall be additional
Guaranteed Obligations hereunder.

         SECTION 17.       Notices. All notices and communications hereunder
shall be made in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement; provided
that notices and communications to the Guarantors shall be directed to the
Guarantors at the address of the Parent set forth in Section 12.1 of the Loan
Agreement.

         SECTION 18.       Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their permitted
successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding on each Guarantor and its
successors and assigns; provided that no Guarantor may assign any of its rights
or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders.

         SECTION 19.       Amendments, Waivers and Consents. No term, covenant,
agreement or condition of this Guaranty may be amended or waived, nor may any
consent be given, except in the manner set forth in Section 12.11 of the Loan
Agreement.

         SECTION 20.       Powers Coupled with an Interest. All authorizations
and agencies herein contained with respect to the Collateral are irrevocable and
powers coupled with an interest.

         SECTION 21.       Governing Law. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES
THEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN
ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

                                       34

<PAGE>

against the Borrower or the other Guarantors or any other guarantor or against
any collateral security (including, without limitation, the Collateral) held by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the
Borrower or any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by such
Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on account of the Guaranteed
Obligations are paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment is terminated. If any
amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at
any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in
full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly
endorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be
applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in
such order as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 16.       Expenses. All costs and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees, legal expenses and court costs) incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in enforcing or protecting their rights or
remedies hereunder shall be payable by the Guarantors on demand and shall bear
interest (after as well as before judgment) until paid at the interest rate then
applicable to Base Rate Loans under the Loan Agreement and shall be additional
Guaranteed Obligations hereunder.

         SECTION 17.       Notices. All notices and communications hereunder
shall be made in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement; provided
that notices and communications to the Guarantors shall be directed to the
Guarantors at the address of the Parent set forth in Section 12.1 of the Loan
Agreement.

         SECTION 18.       Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the
benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their permitted
successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding on each Guarantor and its
successors and assigns; provided that no Guarantor may assign any of its rights
or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders.

         SECTION 19.       Amendments, Waivers and Consents. No term, covenant,
agreement or condition of this Guaranty may be amended or waived, nor may any
consent be given, except in the manner set forth in Section 12.11 of the Loan
Agreement.

         SECTION 20.       Powers Coupled with an Interest. All authorizations
and agencies herein contained with respect to the Collateral are irrevocable and
powers coupled with an interest.

         SECTION 21.       Governing Law. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES
THEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN
ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

                                       34

<PAGE>

         SECTION 22.       Jurisdiction and Venue.

         (a)      Jurisdiction. The Guarantors hereby irrevocably consent to the
personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of
any dispute in connection with this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, any
rights or obligations hereunder, or the performance of such rights and
obligations. The Guarantors hereby irrevocably consent to the service of a
summons and complaint and other process in any action, claim or proceeding
brought by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this
Guaranty any the other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder, or
the performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its
property, in the manner specified in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement. Nothing
in this Section 22 shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or
affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to bring any action
or proceeding against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any other
jurisdictions.

         (b)      Venue. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection
it may have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid
jurisdiction in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or the rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder. Each Guarantor irrevocably waives, in
connection with such action, claim or proceeding, any plea or claim that the
action, claim or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

         SECTION 23.       Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY TO THIS
GUARANTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS GUARANTY OR IN ANY WAY
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR
ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO,
IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN
CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT
ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT
TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS GUARANTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL
COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 23 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF
THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY.

         SECTION 24.       Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.

         (a)      Injunctive Relief. Each Guarantor recognizes that, in the
event such Guarantor fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its
obligations or liabilities under this Guaranty, any remedy of law may prove to
be inadequate relief to the Lenders. Therefore, each Guarantor agrees that the
Lenders, at the Lenders' option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent
injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual
damages.

                                       35

<PAGE>

         (b)      Punitive Damages. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not have
a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan
Document and each such Guarantor hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or
exemplary damages that it may now have or which may arise in the future in
connection with any dispute, whether the dispute is resolved by arbitration or
judicially.

         SECTION 25.       Severability. If any provision hereof is invalid
and unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, (a) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in
such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders in order to carry out the intentions of the
parties hereto as nearly as may be possible; and (b) the invalidity or
unenforceability of any provisions hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 26.        Headings. The various headings of this Guaranty are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation
of this Guaranty or any provisions hereof.

         SECTION 27.       Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed by the
parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
agreement.

         SECTION 28.       Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting
calculations, measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to
this Guaranty, including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the
Guarantors to determine compliance with any covenant contained herein, shall,
except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there is an express
written direction by the Administrative Agent to the contrary agreed to by the
Parent, be performed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date.
In the event that changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, or any similar accounting body of comparable standing, or shall
be recommended by the Parent's certified public accountants, to the extent that
such changes would modify such accounting terms or the interpretation or
computation thereof, such changes shall be followed in defining such accounting
terms only from and after the date the Parent and the Required Lenders shall
have amended this Guaranty to the extent necessary to reflect any such changes
in the financial covenants and other terms and conditions of this Guaranty.

                           [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       36

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has executed and delivered
this Guaranty under seal as of the date first above written.

                                    PARENT:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH CORPORATION

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

                                    SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH HOLDINGS, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH INCORPORATED

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

                          [Signature Pages Continue]

<PAGE>

                                    MEDCATH DIAGNOSTICS, LLC

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

                                    HEART RESEARCH CENTERS
                                      INTERNATIONAL, LLC

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH CARDIOLOGY CONSULTING &
                                      MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH MANAGEMENT OF OHIO, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

                          [Signature Pages Continue]

<PAGE>

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    WMS MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    AUSTIN MOB, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH NUCLEAR SERVICES, LLC

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                    MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    SAN ANTONIO HOLDINGS, INC.

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    METUCHEN NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT, LLC

                                    By:___________________________________
                                    Name:_________________________________
                                    Title:________________________________

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 1

                  Addresses of Administrative Agent and Lenders

Bank of America, N.A.
ILI-231-08-30
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60604

Deutsch Bank Trust Company Americas
40 Kingsbridge Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Location: Desk 100 O

Wachovia Bank, National Association
301 South College Street, 6th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

GE Healthcare Financial Services
20225 Watertower Boulevard, Suite 200
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045

The Foothill Group, Inc.
2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 3000 West
Santa Monica, California 90404

JPMorgan Chase Bank
270 Park Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, New York 10017

Fifth Third Bank (Western Ohio)
110 North Main Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402

<PAGE>

                                Schedule 1(a)(i)

                         Adjustments to Adjusted EBITDA

<PAGE>

                                Schedule 9(a)(i)

                 Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification

<PAGE>

                                Schedule 9(a)(ii)

                                 Capitalization

<PAGE>

                               Schedule 9(a)(vii)

                                   Litigation

<PAGE>

                              Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B)

                     Permanent Principal Payment Adjustments

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit A
                                       to
                               Guaranty Agreement

                            FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                                Joinder Agreement

         THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of the ____ day of __________, ____
(the "Agreement"), to the Guaranty Agreement referred to below is entered into
by and among MedCath Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware (the "Parent"), ____________, a corporation organized under the laws of
__________ (the "New Subsidiary Guarantor"), and Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the ratable benefit of
itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") from time to time party to
the Loan Agreement referred to below.

                              Statement of Purpose

         ____________________, a __________ organized under the laws of
__________ (the "Borrower"), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are
parties to that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November
7, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Loan
Agreement). In connection with the Loan Agreement, the Parent and certain
Subsidiaries of the Parent who are or may become party thereto (collectively,
the "Guarantors") entered into that certain Guaranty Agreement dated as of
November 7, 2002 in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of
itself and the Lenders (as supplemented hereby and as further amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Guaranty Agreement").

         The New Subsidiary Guarantor has become a direct or indirect Subsidiary
of the Parent pursuant to [insert description of agreement or transaction
relating to creation of the New Subsidiary Guarantor]. Pursuant to Section 11(j)
of the Guaranty Agreement, the New Subsidiary Guarantor is required to execute
and deliver this joinder agreement.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

         1.01     Guaranty Agreement Supplement.  Pursuant to Section 11(j) of
the Guaranty Agreement, the New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that it is a
Guarantor and a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement as if a
signatory thereof on the Closing Date, and the New Subsidiary Guarantor shall
comply with and be subject to and have the benefit of all of the terms,
conditions, covenants, agreements and obligations set forth therein. The New
Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that each reference to a "Guarantor", the
"Guarantors", a "Subsidiary Guarantor" or the "Subsidiary Guarantors" in the
Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and other Loan Documents shall include
the New Subsidiary Guarantor, and each reference to the "Guaranty Agreement" or
"Guaranty" as used therein shall mean the Guaranty Agreement as supplemented
hereby.

<PAGE>

         2.01     Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective upon
receipt by the Administrative Agent of (a) an originally executed counterpart
hereof, (b) an update of Schedule (a)(i) and Schedule 9(a)(ii) and (c) any other
agreement or document required to be delivered in accordance with Section 11(j)
of the Guaranty Agreement (including, without limitation, any other agreement or
document required to be delivered in connection with any Loan Document) and (c)
all fees and expenses required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section
12.2 of the Loan Agreement.

         3.01     General Provisions.

         (a)      Representations and Warranties of the New Subsidiary
                  Guarantor.

                  (i)      The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby confirms that
each representation and warranty made under the Guaranty Agreement is true and
correct with respect to such New Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date hereof
(except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an
earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of the earlier
date).

                  (ii)     The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges it
has received a copy of the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other
Loan Documents and that it has read and understands the terms thereof.

         (b)      Representations and Warranties of the Parent.

                  (i)      The Parent hereby confirms that that no Default or
Event of Default has occurred or is continuing under the Loan Agreement, the
Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                  (ii)     The Parent hereby represents and warrants that as of
the date hereof there are no claims or offsets against or defenses or
counterclaims to the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the
Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the
other Loan Documents.

         (b)      Limited Effect.  Except as supplemented hereby, the Loan
Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and each other Loan Document shall continue to
be, and shall remain, in full force and effect. This Agreement shall not be
deemed (i) to be a waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of,
any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or any
other Loan Document or (ii) to prejudice any right or rights which the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may now have or may have in the future under
or in connection with the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or any other
Loan Document or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as
the same may be amended or modified from time to time.

         (c)      Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by one or more
of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

<PAGE>

         (d)      Definitions.  All capitalized terms used and not defined
herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Guaranty Agreement.

         (e)      Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED
AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER
FEDERAL LAW.

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned hereby causes this Agreement to be
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                    PARENT:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH CORPORATION

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Title:___________________________________

                                    NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    ____________________________________________

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Title:___________________________________

<PAGE>

                                    ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

                                    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                    Agent

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                    Name:_______________________________________
                                    Title:______________________________________

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit B
                                       to
                               Guaranty Agreement

                    FORM OF OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

<PAGE>

                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

         The undersigned, on behalf of MedCath Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of Delaware (the "Parent"), hereby certifies to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined below, as follows:

         1.       This Certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 10(b)
of the Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002 (as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Guaranty Agreement"),
made by the Parent and certain Subsidiaries of the Parent who are or may become
party thereto (collectively, the "Guarantors"), in favor of Bank of America,
N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the ratable
benefit of itself and the financial institutions (collectively, the "Lenders")
from time to time party to the Loan Agreement referred to therein. Capitalized
terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Guaranty Agreement.

         2.       I have reviewed the financial statements of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries dated as of _______________ and for the _______________ period[s]
then ended and, to the best of my knowledge, such statements fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for
the period[s] indicated.

         3.       I have reviewed the terms of the Guaranty Agreement, the Loan
Agreement, and the other related Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be
made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and
the condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period
covered by the financial statements referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such
review has not disclosed, to my knowledge, the existence during or at the end of
such accounting period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or
an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the existence of any such
condition or event as at the date of this Certificate [except, if such condition
or event existed or exists, describe the nature and period of existence thereof
and what action the Parent and its Subsidiaries have taken, are taking and
propose to take with respect thereto].

         4.       The Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the
financial covenants contained in Section 12 of the Guaranty Agreement as shown
on such Schedule 1 and the Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with
the other covenants and restrictions contained in the Guaranty Agreement.

                           [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         WITNESS the following signature as of the _____ day of _________, ____.

[CORPORATE SEAL]                    MEDCATH CORPORATION

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                       Name:____________________________________
                                       Title:___________________________________

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

      [To be provided by Parent in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT I
                                       to
                                 Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                    FORM OF OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

<PAGE>

                        OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

         The undersigned, on behalf of Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP, a
North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), hereby certifies to
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined below, as follows:

         1.       This Certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 6.2
of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 7, 2002 (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among the Borrower, the lenders who are or may become
party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent (the "Administrative Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein and not
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

         2.       I have reviewed the financial statements of the Borrower dated
as of _______________ and for the _______________ period[s] then ended and such
statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of
the Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and
cash flows for the period[s] indicated.

         3.       I have reviewed the terms of the Loan Agreement, and the
related Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be made under my supervision,
a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and the condition of the
Borrower during the accounting period covered by the financial statements
referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such review has not disclosed the existence
during or at the end of such accounting period of any condition or event that
constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the
existence of any such condition or event as at the date of this Certificate
[except, if such condition or event existed or exists, describe the nature and
period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking
and proposes to take with respect thereto].

         4.       The Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants
contained in Article VIII of the Loan Agreement as shown on such Schedule 1 and
the Borrower is in compliance with the other covenants and restrictions
contained in the Loan Ag reement.

         5.       The Applicable Margin and calculations determining such figure
are set forth on the attached Schedule 2.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         WITNESS  the following signature as of the _____ day of _________,
200__.

                                    HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP, a
                                    as Borrower

                                    By:    SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                           MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                                    By:_________________________________________
                                    Name:____________________________________
                                    Title:___________________________________

                                       2

<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

     [To be provided by Borrower in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule 2
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

    [To be provided by Borrower in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]

                                       2

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT J
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                           FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

         THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of November 7,
2002, by and between HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP, a Texas limited
partnership (the "Grantor"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking
association, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the
ratable benefit of itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") as are,
or may from time to time become, parties to the Loan Agreement (as defined
below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

         Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated
as of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among the Grantor, as Borrower, the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to extend a
certain credit facility to the Grantor as more particularly described therein.

         To induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into the
Loan Agreement, and as a condition to the extension of the credit facility
thereunder, the Lenders require that the Grantor grant a continuing security
interest in and to the "Collateral" (as hereinafter defined) to secure the
payment and performance of the "Obligations" (as hereinafter defined).

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

         SECTION 1.        Grant of Security.

         (a)      The Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative
Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a security interest (the "Security
Interests") in all of the Grantor's right, title and interest in and to the
following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the "Collateral"):

                  (i)      all inventory in all of its forms, wherever located,
         now or hereafter existing, including, but not limited to, all raw
         materials, other materials, supplies, work-in-process and finished
         goods (including all drugs, medical supplies, hospital supplies, books
         and uniforms), all accessions thereto, documents therefor and any
         products made or processed therefrom and all substances, if any,
         commingled therewith or added thereto (any and all such inventory,
         accessions, documents, products and substances, the "Inventory");

                  (ii)     (A) all accounts, contract rights, chattel paper,
         electronic chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts, letter of
         credit rights, general intangibles and other obligations of any kind,
         now or hereafter existing, whether or not arising out of or in
         connection with the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of
         services, including, without

<PAGE>

         limitation, all present or future accounts receivable, all rights to
         payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance,
         for property sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise disposed of
         or to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise disposed of, for
         services rendered or to be rendered, for a policy of insurance issued
         or to be issued, for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred,
         or arising out of the use of a credit card or charge card or
         information contained on or for use with the card, all rights in any
         merchandise or goods which any of the same may represent, all notes
         receivable, health care insurance receivables, book debts, notes,
         bills, drafts, acceptances, choses in action, and all sums of money due
         or to become due thereon and all proceeds thereof and all rights,
         title, security interests and guarantees with respect to each of the
         foregoing, and (B) all rights now or hereafter existing in and to all
         security agreements, leases, and other contracts securing or otherwise
         relating to any such accounts, contract rights, chattel paper,
         electronic chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts, letter of
         credit rights, general intangibles or obligations (any and all such
         accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, electronic chattel paper,
         instruments, deposit accounts, letter of credit rights, general
         intangibles and obligations being the "Receivables," and any and all
         such security agreements, leases and other contracts being the "Related
         Contracts"); provided, however, that the security interest granted
         herein in any accounts or contract rights referred to above is subject
         to any applicable legal restriction on such security interest,
         including under any Medicare Regulations or any Medicaid Regulations;

                  (iii)    all equipment of the Grantor, wherever located, now
         or hereafter existing, including, without limitation, all other
         machinery, furniture, equipment and goods (other than Inventory) and
         all other tangible assets of the Grantor used or bought for use
         primarily in the business of the Grantor, including all accessions,
         additions, attachments, improvements, alterations, modifications,
         substitutions, repairs and replacements thereto and therefor (any and
         all such equipment, machinery, accessions, and additions, the
         "Equipment"); provided, however, that Equipment does not include any
         and all equipment financed solely by an Equipment Lender that does not
         permit the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other
         Lenders, to encumber or obtain a security interest in such financed
         equipment (the "Excluded Equipment"), but does include (A) all
         equipment financed by an Equipment Lender that does not prohibit the
         grant of a security interest in such financed equipment and (B) all
         equipment financed with the proceeds obtained under the Loan Agreement.

                  (iv)     all right, title and interest in all now owned or
         hereafter acquired (A) patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks,
         trade names and similar intangible property and all registrations and
         applications, in respect thereof, (B) licenses and rights in, and the
         right to sue for all past, present and future infringements of, any and
         all such now owned or hereafter acquired patents, copyrights,
         trademarks, service marks, trade names and similar intangible property
         and registrations and applications in respect thereof, (C) all
         inventions and tangible property embodying or incorporating such now
         owned or hereafter acquired patents, copyrights, trademarks, service
         marks, trade names and similar intangible property and registrations
         and applications in respect thereof and (D) all goodwill relating to
         such now owned or hereafter acquired patents, copyrights, trademarks,
         service marks, trade names and similar intangible property and
         registrations and applications in respect thereof (collectively, the
         "Intellectual Property");

<PAGE>

                  (v)      all general intangibles and all investment property,
         whether now existing or hereafter arising and wherever arising,
         including, but not limited to, (A) all partnership, corporate, and
         other interests of the Grantor in and to any Person, (B) all permits,
         licenses, contracts (including all Material Contracts), payment
         intangibles, agreements, software, franchises, instruments, indentures,
         certificates, records, customer lists, customer and supplier contracts,
         firm sales orders, bills of lading (negotiable and non-negotiable) and
         other rights, privileges and goodwill obtained or used in connection
         therewith or any of the Collateral, (C) all rights, title and interest
         of the Grantor (1) in or under the Equity Account and the Project
         Deposit and to any and all funds therein, (2) in and to the Plans, and
         (3) in and to all construction contracts, architectural contracts,
         engineering contracts, drawings, plans, renderings, profiles, studies,
         shop drawings, plats, reports and specifications, building permits,
         sanitary sewer permits, environmental permits and similar items and all
         other documents of any kind relating to the design, construction and
         operation of the Hospital and (D) all tax refunds and other refunds or
         rights to receive payment from U.S. federal, state or local governments
         or foreign governments;

                  (vi)     all construction materials and supplies now or
         hereafter acquired by the Grantor, which are now or hereafter attached
         to or situated in, on or about the Property; and

                  (vii)    all proceeds and products of any and all of the
         foregoing Collateral (including, without limitation, proceeds that
         constitute property of the types described in clauses (i) - (vi) of
         this Section 1(a)) and, to the extent not otherwise included, all (i)
         all collateral security and supporting obligations given by any Person
         with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral, (ii) all payments
         under insurance (whether or not the Administrative Agent is the loss
         payee thereof), or any indemnity, warranty or guaranty, payable by
         reason of loss or damage to or otherwise with respect to any of the
         foregoing Collateral and (iii) all cash.

         (b)      Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Loan Agreement,
terms in Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of North
Carolina (as in effect from time to time, the "Code") are used in this Agreement
as therein defined. In addition, to the extent any amendment, revision or other
modification of the Code after the date hereof results in the renumbering of
specific sections, revision of the order of specific sections or other changes
in the organization of the Code in effect as of the date hereof, all references
herein to specific sections of the Code in effect as of the date hereof shall be
deemed to refer to such new section or sections which correspond to such
original sections.

         SECTION 2.        Security for Obligations.

         (a)      This Agreement secures the payment and performance of all of
the Obligations, including, without limitation, all amounts that constitute part
of the Obligations and would be owed by the Grantor to the Administrative Agent
or the Lenders under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document but for the
fact that due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar
proceeding involving the Grantor such Obligations are unenforceable or not
allowable.

<PAGE>

         (b)      For the purpose of this Agreement, "Obligations" means the
Obligations as defined in the Loan Agreement and any renewals or extensions of
any of the Obligations.

         SECTION 3.        Grantor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, (a) the Grantor shall remain liable under the
contracts and agreements included in the Collateral to the extent set forth
therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same
extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by the
Administrative Agent of any of the rights hereunder shall not release Grantor
from any of its duties or obligations under the contracts and agreements
included in the Collateral and (c) neither the Lenders nor the Administrative
Agent shall have any obligation or liability under the contracts and agreements
included in the Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders be obligated to perform any of the
obligations or duties of Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or
enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.

         SECTION 4.        Representations and Warranties. The Grantor
represents and warrants as follows:

         (a)      All of the Inventory and the Equipment is located at the
places specified on Schedule I hereto. The chief place of business and chief
executive office of the Grantor and the office where the Grantor keeps its
records concerning the Receivables, and the originals of all chattel paper that
evidence Receivables, are located at the places specified on Schedule I hereto.

         (b)      None of the Receivables is evidenced by a promissory note or
other instrument.

         (c)      The Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of the
Collateral free and clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge
or encumbrance except for the security interest created by this Agreement and
except as permitted under the Loan Agreement. No effective financing statement
or other similar document used to perfect and preserve a security interest under
the laws of any jurisdiction (a "Financing Statement") covering all or any part
of the Collateral is on file in any recording office, except such as may have
been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent relating to this Agreement or as
permitted by the Loan Agreement. As of the date hereof, the Grantor has the
trade names set forth on Schedule II hereto.

         (d)      The Grantor has exclusive possession and control of the
Inventory and the Equipment.

         (e)      This Agreement creates a valid, first priority lien on and
Security Interest in the Collateral, enforceable against all third parties and
securing the payment of the Obligations. The financing statements naming the
Grantor as debtor are in appropriate form and when filed in the offices
specified on the Schedules attached hereto, the Security Interests will
constitute valid and perfected Security Interests in the Collateral, prior to
all other Liens and rights of others therein except for Permitted Liens (to the
extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by filing pursuant to
the Code) and all filings and

<PAGE>

other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect such Security
Interests have been duly taken.

         (f)      No consent of any other Person or entity and no authorization,
approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental,
administrative or judicial authority or regulatory body and no payment of any
stamp or similar tax on, or in respect of, this Agreement is necessary or
legally advisable (i) for the grant by the Grantor of the liens and security
interests granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement by the Grantor, (ii) for the perfection or maintenance of the Security
Interest created hereby (including the first priority nature of such Security
Interest) other than the filing of financing statements (and continuation, when
applicable) referred to in clause (e) above and the Loan Agreement, (iii) for
the assignment of any Material Contract or (iv) for the exercise by the Lender
of its rights and remedies hereunder.

         (g)      The execution, delivery and performance by the Grantor of this
Agreement will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise,
violate any material provision of any Applicable Law or any Material Contract
and will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien, other than the
Security Interests granted to the Administrative Agent hereunder, upon or with
respect to any property or revenues of the Grantor.

         (h)      MATERIAL CONTRACTS.

                  (i)      The Grantor has performed all of its material
         obligations under each Material Contract to which it is a party and, to
         the best knowledge of the Grantor, each party to any Material Contract
         is in compliance in all material respects with each such Material
         Contract and there are no material defaults by the Grantor or, to the
         knowledge of the Grantor, by any other party under any such Material
         Contract.

                  (ii)     Each Material Contract is in full force and effect
         and constitutes a legally enforceable obligation of the Grantor party
         thereto, and to the knowledge of the Grantor, each other party thereto,
         subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
         conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal
         debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which affect the
         enforcement of creditors' rights in general and the availability of
         equitable remedies and other similar laws relating to or affecting
         creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether
         considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant
         of good faith and fair dealing.

                  (iii)    No consent or authorization of, filing with or other
         act by or in respect of any Governmental Authority is required in
         connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
         enforceability of any of the Material Contracts by any party thereto
         other than those which have been duly obtained, made or performed, are
         in full force and effect and do not subject the scope of any such
         Material Contract to any material adverse limitation, either specific
         or general in nature.

<PAGE>

                  (iv)     The right, title and interest of the Grantor in, to
         and under the Material Contracts are not subject to any defenses,
         offsets, counterclaims or claims, which such defenses, offsets,
         counterclaims or claims could reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect.

                  (i)      INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

                           (i)      All Intellectual Property owned by the
         Grantor in its own name on the date hereof is listed on Schedule III
         attached hereto.

                           (ii)     On the date hereof, all material
         Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting, unexpired and enforceable,
         has not been abandoned and does not infringe the intellectual property
         rights of any other Person.

                           (iii)    Except as set forth in Schedule III on the
         date hereof, none of the Intellectual Property is the subject of any
         licensing or franchise agreement pursuant to which the Grantor is the
         licensor or franchisor.

                           (iv)     No holding, decision or judgment has been
         rendered by any Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or
         question the validity of, or the Grantor's rights in, any Intellectual
         Property in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                           (v)      No action or proceeding is pending, or, to
         the knowledge of the Grantor, threatened, on the date hereof (i)
         seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any Intellectual
         Property or the Grantor's ownership interest therein, or (ii) which, if
         adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on the value
         of any Intellectual Property.

         SECTION 5.        Further Assurances.

         (a)      The Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of
the Grantor, the Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further
instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or
desirable or reasonably requested by the Lender, in order to perfect and protect
any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the
Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder
with respect to any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
the Grantor will: (i) mark conspicuously each document included in the Inventory
and each chattel paper included in the Receivables and each Related Contract and
each of its records pertaining to the Collateral with a legend, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, indicating that such
document, chattel paper, Related Contract or record is subject to the security
interest granted hereby; (ii) if any Receivable shall be evidenced by a
promissory note or other instrument, deliver and pledge to the Administrative
Agent such note or instrument duly endorsed and accompanied by duly executed
instruments of transfer or assignment, all in form and substance satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent; (iii) if any Inventory or Equipment shall be put into
the possession and control of any Person other than the Grantor, shall cause
such Person to execute and deliver to the Grantor a lien waiver letter in
respect of such Inventory and

<PAGE>

Equipment; and (iv) execute and file such financing statements or continuation
statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may
be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in order to
perfect and preserve the security interest granted or purported to be granted
hereby.

         (b)      In the event that any Collateral is in the possession of a
third party, the Grantor will join with Administrative Agent in the notification
to such third party of Administrative Agent's interest in the Collateral and the
Grantor will assist Administrative Agent in obtaining the written acknowledgment
of such third party that such third party is holding the Collateral for the
benefit of Administrative Agent. Furthermore, the Grantor shall cooperate with
Administrative Agent as necessary to permit Administrative Agent to obtain
control (as such term is now or hereafter defined in the Code) over all
Collateral consisting of deposit accounts, investment property, letter of credit
rights or electronic chattel paper.

         (c)      No Grantor will, except upon thirty (30) days' prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to the Administrative Agent of
all additional executed financing statements and other documents reasonably
requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the validity, perfection and
priority of the security interests provided for herein:

                  (i)      change its jurisdiction of organization or the
         location of its chief executive office; or

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

         (d)      The Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file
one or more financing statements or continuation statements, and amendments
thereto, relating to all or any part of the Collateral without the signature of
Grantor where permitted by law.

         (e)      The Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent from time
to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the
Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as the
Lender may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

         SECTION 6.        Inventory. The Grantor shall keep the Inventory
(other than Inventory sold in the ordinary course of business) at the places
therefor specified on Schedule I or, upon 30 days' prior written notice to the
Administrative Agent, at such other places in a jurisdiction where all action
required by Section 5 shall have been taken with respect to the Inventory.

         SECTION 7.        Equipment.

         (a)      The Grantor shall keep the Equipment at the places specified
on Schedule I, or, upon 30 days' prior written notice to the Administrative
Agent, at such

<PAGE>

other places in a jurisdiction where all action required by Section 5 shall have
been taken with respect to the Equipment.

         (b)      The Grantor shall maintain each item of Equipment in good
working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear and obsolescence
excepted), and in accordance with any manufacturer's manual, and will as quickly
as practicable provide all maintenance, service and repairs necessary for such
purpose and will promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent a statement
respecting any loss or damage to any of the Equipment which may have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 8.        Receivables.

         (a)      The Grantor shall keep its chief place of business and chief
executive office and the office where it keeps its records concerning the
Receivables, and the originals of all chattel paper that evidence Receivables,
at Grantor's address specified in Schedule I hereto or, upon 30 days' prior
written notice to the Administrative Agent, at any other locations in a
jurisdiction where all actions required by Section 5 shall have been taken with
respect to the Receivables. The Grantor will hold and preserve such records and
chattel paper and will permit representatives of the Administrative Agent at any
time during normal business hours upon reasonable notice to inspect and make
abstracts from such records and chattel paper.

         (b)      Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), the
Grantor shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to
become due to the Grantor under the Receivables. In connection with such
collections, the Grantor may take (and, at the Administrative Agent's direction
following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, shall take) such
action as the Grantor or the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or
advisable to enforce collection of the Receivables; provided, however, that the
Administrative Agent shall have the right at any time after the occurrence and
continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, upon written notice to Grantor
of its intention to do so, to notify the account debtors or obligors under any
Receivables of the assignment of such Receivables to the Administrative Agent
and to direct such account debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts
due or to become due to Grantor thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent
and, upon such notification and at the expense of Grantor, to enforce collection
of any such Receivables, and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or
payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as the Grantor might
have done. After receipt by the Grantor of the notice from the Administrative
Agent referred to in the proviso to the preceding sentence, (i) all amounts and
proceeds (including instruments) received by the Grantor in respect of the
Receivables shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Lenders, shall be
segregated from other funds of the Grantor and shall be forthwith paid over to
the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in the same form as so
received (with any necessary endorsement) to be held as cash collateral and
applied as provided by Section 13(b), and (ii) the Grantor shall not adjust,
settle or compromise the amount or payment of any Receivable, release wholly or
partly any account debtor or obligor thereof, or allow any credit or discount
thereon other than in the ordinary course of business. Promptly after request of
the Administrative Agent following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of
Default, the Grantor shall cause all collections

<PAGE>

         other places in a jurisdiction where all action required by Section 5
         shall have been taken with respect to the Equipment.

                  (b)      The Grantor shall maintain each item of Equipment in
         good working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear and
         obsolescence excepted), and in accordance with any manufacturer's
         manual, and will as quickly as practicable provide all maintenance,
         service and repairs necessary for such purpose and will promptly
         furnish to the Administrative Agent a statement respecting any loss or
         damage to any of the Equipment which may have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

         SECTION 8.        Receivables.

                  (a)      The Grantor shall keep its chief place of business
         and chief executive office and the office where it keeps its records
         concerning the Receivables, and the originals of all chattel paper that
         evidence Receivables, at Grantor's address specified in Schedule I
         hereto or, upon 30 days' prior written notice to the Administrative
         Agent, at any other locations in a jurisdiction where all actions
         required by Section 5 shall have been taken with respect to the
         Receivables. The Grantor will hold and preserve such records and
         chattel paper and will permit representatives of the Administrative
         Agent at any time during normal business hours upon reasonable notice
         to inspect and make abstracts from such records and chattel paper.

                  (b)      Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b),
         the Grantor shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts
         due or to become due to the Grantor under the Receivables. In
         connection with such collections, the Grantor may take (and, at the
         Administrative Agent's direction following the occurrence of a Default
         or an Event of Default, shall take) such action as the Grantor or the
         Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to enforce
         collection of the Receivables; provided, however, that the
         Administrative Agent shall have the right at any time after the
         occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, upon
         written notice to Grantor of its intention to do so, to notify the
         account debtors or obligors under any Receivables of the assignment of
         such Receivables to the Administrative Agent and to direct such account
         debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due
         to Grantor thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent and, upon
         such notification and at the expense of Grantor, to enforce collection
         of any such Receivables, and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount
         or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as the
         Grantor might have done. After receipt by the Grantor of the notice
         from the Administrative Agent referred to in the proviso to the
         preceding sentence, (i) all amounts and proceeds (including
         instruments) received by the Grantor in respect of the Receivables
         shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Lenders, shall be
         segregated from other funds of the Grantor and shall be forthwith paid
         over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in the
         same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be held as
         cash collateral and applied as provided by Section 13(b), and (ii) the
         Grantor shall not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of
         any Receivable, release wholly or partly any account debtor or obligor
         thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon other than in the
         ordinary course of business. Promptly after request of the
         Administrative Agent following the occurrence of a Default or an Event
         of Default, the Grantor shall cause all collections

<PAGE>

         of Receivables to be forwarded to such lockboxes as the Lender may
         direct, which lockboxes shall be under the exclusive control and
         dominion of the Administrative Agent.

         SECTION 9.        MATERIAL CONTRACTS.

                  (a)      The Grantor will perform and comply in all material
         respects with all of its obligations under the Material Contracts.

                  (b)      The Grantor will not amend, modify, terminate or
         waive any provision of any Material Contract in any manner which could
         reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the value of such
         Material Contract as Collateral.

                  (c)      The Grantor will exercise promptly and diligently
         each and every material right which it may have under each Material
         Contract (other than any right of termination), unless the failure to
         exercise any such material right could not reasonably be expected to
         have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (d)      The Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent
         a copy of each material demand, notice or document received by it
         relating in any way to any Material Contract that questions the
         validity or enforceability of such Material Contract.

         SECTION 10.       INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

                  (a)      The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will
         (i) continue to use each material trademark applicable to its current
         business in order to maintain such trademark in full force free from
         any claim of abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the
         quality of products and services offered under such trademark, (iii)
         use such trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all
         other notices and legends required by Applicable Laws, (iv) not adopt
         or use any trademark which is confusingly similar or a colorable
         imitation of such trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the
         ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders, shall obtain a perfected
         security interest in such mark pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) not
         (and not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or
         knowingly omit to do any act whereby such trademark may become
         invalidated or impaired in any way.

                  (b)      The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will
         not do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material patent may
         become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public.

                  (c)      The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) (i)
         will employ each material copyright and (ii) will not (and will not
         permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly
         omit to do any act whereby any material portion of the copyrights may
         become invalidated or otherwise impaired. The Grantor will not (either
         itself or through licensees) do any act whereby any material portion of
         the copyrights may fall into the public domain.

<PAGE>

                  (d)      The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will
         not do any act that knowingly uses any material Intellectual Property
         to infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person.

                  (e)      The Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent and
         the Lenders promptly after if it knows, or has reason to know, that any
         application or registration relating to any material Intellectual
         Property may become forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or
         of any adverse determination or development (including, without
         limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or
         development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and
         Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or
         tribunal in any country) regarding the Grantor's ownership of, or the
         validity of, any material Intellectual Property or the Grantor's right
         to register the same or to own and maintain the same.

                  (f)      Whenever the Grantor, either by itself or through any
         agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall file an application for
         the registration of any Intellectual Property with the United States
         Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any
         similar office or agency in any other country or any political
         subdivision thereof, the Grantor shall report such filing to the
         Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after the last day
         of the fiscal quarter in which such filing occurs. Upon request of the
         Administrative Agent, the Grantor shall execute and deliver, and have
         recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as
         the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the
         Administrative Agent's and the Lenders' security interest in any
         Copyright, Patent or Trademark and the goodwill and General Intangibles
         of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

                  (g)      The Grantor will take all reasonable and necessary
         steps, including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the
         United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright
         Office or any similar office or agency in any other country or any
         political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each application
         (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain each
         registration of the material Intellectual Property, including, without
         limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and
         affidavits of incontestability.

                  (h)      In the event that any material Intellectual Property
         is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, the Grantor
         shall (i) take such actions as the Grantor shall reasonably deem
         appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual
         Property and (ii) if such Intellectual Property is of material economic
         value, promptly notify the Administrative Agent after it learns thereof
         and sue for infringement misappropriation or dilution, to seek
         injunctive relief where appropriate and to recover any and all damages
         for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 11.       Insurance. The Grantor shall, at its own expense,
maintain insurance with respect to the Inventory in such amounts, against such
risks, in such form and with such insurers, as is specified in the Loan
Agreement. The Grantor shall, if so requested by the Administrative Agent,
deliver to the Administrative Agent original or duplicate policies of such
insurance and, as often as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, a
report of a reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance. Further,
the Grantor shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, duly execute and
deliver instruments of assignment of such insurance policies to comply with the
requirements of the Loan Agreement and use its best efforts to cause the
insurers to acknowledge notice of such assignment.

         SECTION 12.       Transfers and Other Liens. The Grantor shall not
(i) except as permitted by the Loan Agreement, sell, assign (by operation of law
or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any
of the Collateral or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest,
option or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the
Collateral, except for the security interest under this Agreement and except as
permitted in the Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 13.       Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. The
Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent the Grantor's
attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the Grantor and
in the name of the Grantor or otherwise, from time to time in the Administrative
Agent's discretion after and during the occurrence of a Default or an Event of
Default, to take any action and to execute any instrument that the
Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
of this Agreement (subject to the rights of the Grantor under Section 9),
including, without limitation:

                  (a)      to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover,
         compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due
         and to become due under or in connection with the Collateral,

                  (b)      to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other
         instruments, documents and chattel paper, in connection with subclause
         (a) above, and

                  (c)      to file any claims or take any action or institute
         any proceedings that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or
         desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to
         enforce the rights of the Administrative Agent with respect to any of
         the Collateral.

         SECTION 14.       Administrative Agent May Perform. If the Grantor
fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Administrative Agent may
itself perform, or cause the performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of
the Administrative Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by
Grantor under Section 17(b).

         SECTION 15.       The Administrative Agent's Duties. The powers
conferred on the Administrative Agent hereunder are solely to protect its
interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any
such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and
the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Administrative
Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any
necessary

<PAGE>

steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to
any Collateral. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised
reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its
possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that
which the Administrative Agent accords its own property.

         SECTION 16.       Remedies.  If any Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing:

                  (a)      The Administrative Agent may exercise in respect of
         the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for
         herein or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a
         secured party on default under the Code in effect at that time, and
         also may (i) require the Grantor to, and the Grantor hereby agrees that
         it will at its expense and upon request of the Administrative Agent
         forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the
         Administrative Agent and make it available to the Administrative Agent
         at a place to be designated by the Administrative Agent that is
         reasonably convenient to both parties; (ii) without notice except as
         specified below, sell the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more
         parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Administrative Agent's
         offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and
         upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent may deem commercially
         reasonable; (iii) occupy any premises owned or leased by the Grantor
         where the Collateral or any part thereof is assembled for a reasonable
         period in order to effectuate its rights and remedies hereunder or
         under law, without obligation to the Grantor in respect of such
         occupation; and (iv) exercise any and all rights and remedies of the
         Grantor under or in connection with the Related Contracts or otherwise
         in respect of the Collateral, including, without limitation, any and
         all rights of the Grantor to demand or otherwise require payment of any
         amount under, or performance of any provision of, the Related
         Contracts. The Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall
         be required by law, at least ten days' notice to the Grantor of the
         time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private
         sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The
         Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of
         Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The
         Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time
         to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such
         sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to
         which it was so adjourned.

                  (b)      Any cash held by the Administrative Agent as
         Collateral and all cash proceeds received by the Administrative Agent
         in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon,
         all or any part of the Collateral may, in the discretion of the
         Administrative Agent, be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral
         for, and/or then or at any time thereafter be applied (after payment of
         any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 17)
         in whole or in part by the Administrative Agent against, all or any
         part of the Obligations, in such order and manner as the Administrative
         Agent may elect. Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the
         Administrative Agent and remaining after payment in full of all the
         Obligations shall be paid over to the Grantor or to whomsoever may be
         lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

         SECTION 17.       Indemnity and Expenses.

<PAGE>

                  (a)      The Grantor agrees to indemnify the Administrative
         Agent from and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities
         (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or resulting from
         this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this
         Agreement), except claims, losses or liabilities resulting from the
         Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct as
         determined by a non-appealable final judgment of a court of competent
         jurisdiction.

                  (b)      The Grantor will upon demand pay to the
         Administrative Agent the amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket
         expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and
         of any experts and agents, that the Administrative Agent may incur in
         connection with (i) the administration of this Agreement, (ii) the
         custody, preservation, use or operation of, or the sale of, collection
         from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral in accordance
         with this Agreement, (iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the
         rights of the Administrative Agent hereunder or (iv) the failure by the
         Grantor to perform or observe any of the provisions hereof.

         SECTION 18.       Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by the Grantor
herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing
and signed by the Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
given. No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no
delay in exercising any right hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

         SECTION 19.       Addresses for Notices. All notices and other
communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including
teletransmission communication) and mailed, transmitted or delivered, if to
Grantor, to it at its address specified in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement,
if to the Administrative Agent, to it at the address of the Administrative Agent
specified in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement, or, as to any party, to it at
such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to
each other party complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section. All
such notices and other communications shall, when teletransmitted, telegraphed,
telexed, faxed or cabled, be effective when teletransmitted with receipt
confirmed, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answerback,
confirmed received or delivered to the cable company, respectively, when
delivered, be effective upon delivery, and when mailed, be effective upon being
deposited in the mails, in each case addressed as aforesaid.

         SECTION 20.       Continuing Security Interest; Assignments under Loan
Agreement. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the
Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the indefeasible
payment in full of the Obligations (on or after their maturity) and all other
amounts payable under this Agreement, (ii) be binding upon the Grantor, its
successors and assigns and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
the Administrative Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Upon the
indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations (on or after their maturity) and
all other amounts payable under this Agreement, the security interest granted
hereby shall terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the
Grantor. Upon any such termination the Administrative Agent will, at the
Grantor's expense,

<PAGE>

execute and deliver to the Grantor such documents as the Grantor shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination.

         SECTION 21.       Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which
is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 22.       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be
binding upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION 23.       Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury
Trial.

                  (a)      THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND
         ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
         WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF;
         PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING
         UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

                  (b)      The Grantor hereby irrevocably consents to the
         personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in
         Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in any action, claim or other
         proceeding arising out of any dispute in connection with this
         Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder, or the performance of
         such rights and obligations. The Grantor hereby irrevocably consents to
         the service of a summons and complaint and other process in any action,
         claim or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent in connection
         with this Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder, or the
         performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its
         property, in the manner specified in Section 19. Nothing in this
         Section 23(b) shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent to
         serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or
         affect the right of the Administrative Agent to bring any action or
         proceeding against the Grantor or its properties in the courts of any
         other jurisdictions.

                  (c)      The Grantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection
         it may have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the
         aforesaid jurisdiction in any action, claim or other proceeding arising
         out of or in connection with this Agreement or the rights and
         obligations of the parties hereunder. The Grantor irrevocably waives,
         in connection with such action, claim or proceeding, any plea or claim
         that the action, claim or other proceeding has been brought in an
         inconvenient forum.

                  (d)      EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES
         ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF
         ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR
         RELATED OR

<PAGE>

         INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH
         RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH
         CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN
         CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND
         CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL
         BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS
         AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 23
         WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES
         HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

         SECTION 24.       Waivers, Non-Exclusive Remedies. No failure on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in
exercising and no course of dealing with respect to, any right under the Loan
Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver
thereof or hereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right under the Loan Agreement, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise
thereof, and the exercise of any rights in this Agreement, the Loan Agreement
and the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other
remedies provided by law. This Agreement is a Loan Document executed pursuant to
the Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 25.       Headings.  The various  headings of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and neither limit nor amplify the provisions
of this Agreement.

         SECTION 26.       Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event
there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and the Loan
Agreement, the terms of the Loan Agreement shall control; provided, that any
provision herein which imposes additional burdens on the Grantor or further
restricts the rights of the Grantor or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders
additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with the
Loan Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.

         SECTION 27.       Limitation of Liability. No party to this Agreement,
nor any Affiliate thereof shall have any liability with respect to, any other
party hereto or Affiliate thereof and each party hereby waives, releases and
agrees not to sue upon, any claim for any special, indirect, punitive, exemplary
or consequential damages suffered by such party in connection with, arising out
of, or in any way related to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the
transactions contemplated herein or therein, or any act, omission or event
occurring in connection herewith or therewith.

         SECTION 28.       Terms.  All terms used,  but not defined,  herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                    GRANTOR:

<PAGE>

                                       HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP

                                       By: SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                           MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                                           By: _________________________________
                                           Name: _______________________________
                                           Title: ______________________________

                                       ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

                                       BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                         Agent

                                       By: _____________________________________
                                           Name:  ______________________________
                                           Title: ______________________________

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

                              Location of Inventory
                and Chief Place of Business and Executive Office
                                   of Grantor

Chief Place of Business and Executive Office:

Inventory will be located at:

Equipment will be located at:

Evidence of Receivables will be located at:

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE II

                                   Trade Names

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE III

                              Intellectual Property

                                       22

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT K
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT

<PAGE>
                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         THIS PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of November
7, 2002, by and among SAN ANTONIO HOLDINGS, INC., an Arizona corporation
("SAH"), SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a North Carolina corporation
("SAMI", individually, a "Pledgor" and collectively with SAH, the "Pledgors"),
HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP, a Texas limited partnership (the "Borrower")
and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, as administrative
agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the ratable benefit of itself and the
financial institutions (the "Lenders") as are, or may from time to time become,
parties to the Loan Agreement (as defined below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan
Agreement dated as of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among the
Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to
extend a certain credit facility to the Borrower as more particularly described
therein.

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement,
the Pledgors guaranteed the Obligations of the Borrower under the Loan
Agreement.

         WHEREAS, SAMI is a general partner of the Borrower and owns a
one-percent (1%) interest in the Borrower and SAH is a limited partner of the
Borrower and owns a fifty-percent (50%) interest in the Borrower. Therefore, the
Pledgors and the Borrower are related financial enterprises and all loans to the
Borrower will inure directly or indirectly to benefit the Pledgors.

         WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Agreement and as a condition precedent to the extensions of credit thereunder,
the Lenders have requested, and the Pledgors have agreed to execute and deliver,
this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to execute the Loan Agreement and accept
the security contemplated hereby and the Lenders to make extensions of credit
under the Loan Agreement, each Pledgor hereby agrees with the Administrative
Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders as follows:

         SECTION 1.        Defined Terms.

                  (a)      Unless otherwise defined herein, terms which are
         defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein (including the preamble
         and statement of purpose) are so used as so defined, and the following
         terms shall have the following meanings:

<PAGE>

                  "Agreement" means this Pledge and Security Agreement, as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.

                  "Certificate of Partnership" means the certificate of domestic
         limited partnership of the Borrower, as amended, restated, supplemented
         or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Code" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
         State of North Carolina from time to time; provided that if by reason
         of mandatory provisions of law, the perfection or the effect of
         perfection or non-perfection of the security interests in any
         Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a
         jurisdiction other than North Carolina, "Code" means the Uniform
         Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of
         the provisions hereof relating to such perfection or effect of
         perfection or non-perfection.

                  "Collateral" means all of the Partnership Interests,
         including, without limitation, all books and records relating thereto,
         and all Proceeds therefrom.

                  "Guaranty Agreement" means the Guaranty Agreement dated as of
         the date hereof executed by MedCath Corporation and certain
         Subsidiaries thereof in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
         Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders.

                  "Obligations" means each Pledgor's Guaranteed Obligations as
         defined in the Guaranty Agreement.

                  "Partnership Agreement" means the limited partnership
         agreement of the Borrower, as amended, restated, supplemented or
         otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Perfection Certificate" means a certificate dated as of even
         date herewith, setting forth the corporate or other name, chief
         executive office or principal place of business in each state and other
         current locations of each Pledgor and the Borrower and such other
         information as the Administrative Agent deems pertinent to the
         perfection of security interests, completed and supplemented with the
         schedules and attachments contemplated thereby to the satisfaction of
         the Administrative Agent, and duly certified by the chief executive or
         chief financial officer of each Pledgor and the Borrower so authorized
         to act.

                  "Partnership Interests" means the collective reference to the
         following (a) all partnership interests (including, without limitation,
         all general partnership interests) owned by each Pledgor in the
         Borrower and all rights relating thereto, including, without
         limitation, each Pledgor's capital account, each Pledgor's interest as
         a partner in the net cash flow, net profit and net loss, and items of
         income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Borrower, each
         Pledgor's interest in all distributions made or to be made by the
         Borrower to such Pledgor and all of the

<PAGE>

         other economic rights, titles and interests of each Pledgor as a
         partner of the Borrower (the foregoing, collectively, the "Partner
         Interests"), (b) all management rights and interest of each Pledgor in
         the Borrower and all rights relating thereto, including, without
         limitation, any and all rights to request additional capital
         contributions from any partner of the Borrower and any and all rights
         to restrict or limit distributions to partners or set reserves with
         respect assets of the Borrower available for distribution to partners
         of the Borrower and all of the other economic rights, titles and
         interests of each Pledgor as a partner of the Borrower (the foregoing,
         the "Management Interests"), and (c) any and all indemnification rights
         and voting rights arising on account of or relating to the Partner
         Interests or Management Interests, in the case of each of clause (a),
         (b) and (c), whether set forth in the Partnership Agreement, by
         separate agreement or otherwise.

                  "Permitted Liens" means Liens permitted pursuant to Section
         9.2 of the Loan Agreement.

                  "Proceeds" means all "proceeds" as such term is defined in
         Section 9-102 of the Code.

                  (b)      To the extent any amendment, revision or other
         modification of the Code after the date hereof results in the
         renumbering of specific sections, revision of the order of specific
         sections or other changes in the organization of the Code in effect as
         of the date hereof, all references herein to specific sections of the
         Code in effect as of the date hereof shall be deemed to refer to such
         new section or sections which correspond to such original sections.

         SECTION 2.        Pledge and Grant of Security Interest. Each Pledgor
hereby grants, pledges and collaterally assigns to the Administrative Agent, for
the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a first
priority security interest in all of such Pledgor's right, title and interest in
the Collateral, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and
performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) of the Obligations; provided that such pledge shall be effective only
to the extent that such pledge is not inconsistent with the Corporate Revolver
(as defined in the Loan Agreement).

         SECTION 3.        Pledgor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, (a) each Pledgor shall remain liable to perform all of
its duties and obligations as a partner of the Borrower to the same extent as if
this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any Pledgor
from any of its duties or obligations as a partner of the Borrower, and (c)
neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation or
liability as a partner of the Borrower by reason of this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.        Representations and Warranties. To induce the
Administrative Agent and Lenders to execute the Loan Agreement and to accept the
security contemplated hereby and the Lenders to make extensions of credit under
the Loan Agreement, each Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that:

<PAGE>

                  (a)      Such Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of,
         and has good and marketable title to, the Collateral, free of any and
         all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any other Person,
         except the Lien created by this Agreement.

                  (b)      Schedule I accurately reflects such Pledgor's
         Partnership Interest in the Borrower and the Partnership Interest
         pledged by such Pledgor constitutes all of the outstanding ownership
         interests of such Pledgor in the Borrower.

                  (c)      Upon the filing of properly completed financing or
         other statements in (i) with respect to SAH, the offices of the
         Secretary of State of Arizona, and (ii) with respect to SAMI, the
         offices of the Secretary of State of North Carolina, the Lien on the
         Collateral granted pursuant to this Agreement will constitute a valid,
         perfected first priority Lien on the Collateral, enforceable as such
         against all creditors of such Pledgor.

                  (d)      None of the Partnership Interests are represented by
         certificates.

                  (e)      None of the Partnership Interests are a medium for
         investment which by their terms expressly provide that they are a
         security governed by Article 8 of the Code.

                  (f)      The "jurisdiction" of the Borrower for purposes of
         Section 8-110(d) of the Code is the jurisdiction of formation of the
         Borrower, as set forth in the Perfection Certificate.

         SECTION 5.        Certain Covenants. Each Pledgor covenants and agrees
with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Administrative
Agent and Lenders, that from and after the date of this Agreement until the
Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated:

                  (a)      Such Pledgor shall maintain the security interest
         created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest having at
         least the priority described in Section 4(c) and shall defend such
         security interest against the claims and demands of all Persons
         whomsoever.

                  (b)      Such Pledgor will not without thirty (30) days prior
         written notice to the Administrative Agent (i) change its name,
         identity, jurisdiction of incorporation, or corporate structure, or
         (ii) permit the Borrower to change its name, identity, jurisdiction of
         incorporation, corporate structure, or its "jurisdiction" for purposes
         of Section 8-110(d) of the Code, in any such case so as to make any
         financing or other statement filed as provided herein become seriously
         misleading.

                  (c)      Such Pledgor will not (i) sell, assign (by operation
         of law or otherwise) or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral,
         except as permitted by the Loan Agreement, or (ii) create or suffer to
         exist any Lien or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to
         any of the Collateral to secure indebtedness of any Person or entity.

<PAGE>

                  (d)      Upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent,
         such Pledgor will, and will cause the Borrower to, execute such
         financing statements, notices of lien, notices of assignment and
         continuations or amendments to any of the foregoing, and other
         documents (and pay the costs of filing or recording the same in all
         public offices deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent) and do
         such other acts and things, including, without limitation, taking any
         actions necessary to enable the Administrative Agent to obtain
         "control" (within the meaning of the applicable Code) with respect to
         the Partnership Interests, all as the Administrative Agent may from
         time to time reasonably request to establish and maintain a valid
         perfected pledge and security interest in the Collateral. Each of the
         Pledgors and the Borrower hereby constitutes and appoints the
         Administrative Agent (and any of its officers) as its attorney-in-fact
         with full power and authority, exercisable after and during the
         occurrence of an Event of Default, to execute and deliver all documents
         necessary to perfect and keep perfected the security interests created
         hereby. This power of attorney hereby granted is a special power of
         attorney coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable by each of
         the Pledgors and the Borrower.

                  (e)      SAMI agrees that as general partner of the Borrower
         it will abide by, perform and discharge each and every material
         obligation, covenant and agreement to be abided by, performed or
         discharged by the general partner under the terms of the Certificate of
         Partnership and the Partnership Agreement, at no cost or expense to the
         Administrative Agent and the Lenders. SAH agrees that as a limited
         partner of the Borrower it will abide by, perform and discharge each
         and every material obligation, covenant and agreement to be abided by,
         performed or discharged by a limited partner under the terms of the
         Certificate of Partnership and the Partnership Agreement, at no cost or
         expense to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

                  (f)      If such Pledgor shall, as a result of its ownership
         of the Collateral, become entitled to receive or shall receive any
         certificate, option or rights, whether in addition to, in substitution
         of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for any of the Collateral, or
         otherwise in respect thereof, such Pledgor shall accept the same as the
         agent of the Administrative Agent, hold the same in trust for the
         Administrative Agent and deliver the same forthwith to the
         Administrative Agent in the exact form received, duly endorsed by such
         Pledgor to the Administrative Agent, if required, to be held by the
         Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional
         collateral security for the Obligations. In addition, any sums paid
         upon or in respect of any Collateral upon the liquidation or
         dissolution of the Borrower shall be paid over to the Administrative
         Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral security for
         the Obligations, and upon the recapitalization or reclassification of
         the Borrower, any new securities issued in connection with or in
         exchange for any Collateral shall be delivered to the Administrative
         Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral security for
         the Obligations. If any sums of money or property so paid or
         distributed in respect of any Collateral shall be received by any
         Pledgor, such Pledgor shall, until such money or property is paid or
         delivered to the Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in
         trust for the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of such
         Pledgor, as additional collateral security for the Obligations.

<PAGE>

                  (g)      At any time and from time to time, upon the
         reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent, and at the sole
         expense of such Pledgor, such Pledgor and the Borrower will promptly
         and duly execute and deliver such further instruments and documents and
         take such further actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
         request for the purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits
         of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted. If any
         amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall
         be or become evidenced by any promissory note, other instrument or
         chattel paper, such note, instrument or chattel paper shall be
         immediately delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly endorsed in a
         manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held as
         Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

                  (h)      Such Pledgor agrees to pay, and to save the
         Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from, any and all
         liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any
         and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be payable or
         determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in
         connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION 6.        Distributions; Voting Rights.

         (a)      Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to such Pledgor
of the Administrative Agent's intent to exercise its rights pursuant to Section
7 below, such Pledgor shall be permitted to receive all cash distributions paid
in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement in respect of the Collateral
and to exercise all voting and other rights with respect to the Collateral;
provided, that no vote shall be cast or right exercised or other action taken
which would (i) constitute a Default or an Event of Default or (ii) in the
Administrative Agent's reasonable judgment, impair the value of the Collateral.

         (b)      Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent,
no Pledgor will (i) vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, the
Borrower to issue any stock, other equity securities of any nature or to issue
any other securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase or
exchange for any stock, or other equity securities of any nature of the
Borrower, except for additional equity interests that (A) will be subject to the
security interest granted herein in favor of the Administrative Agent, the
certificates of which, if any, will be promptly delivered to the Administrative
Agent, (B) are contemplated to be issued by the Partnership Agreement (as in
effect on the date hereof) or (C) do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
aggregate amount of equity securities of the Borrower as of the date hereof
(provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing exceptions, the Pledgors,
collectively, must own greater than fifty percent (50%) of the equity securities
of the Borrower at all times) or (ii) enter into any agreement or undertaking
restricting the right or ability of such Pledgor or the Administrative Agent to
sell, assign or transfer any of the Partnership Interests or Proceeds thereof.
Each Pledgor will defend the right, title and interest of the Administrative
Agent in and to any Collateral against the claims and demands of all Persons
whomsoever.

         SECTION 7.        Rights of the Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

         (a)      With respect to each Pledgor, if an Event of Default shall
occur and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall give ten (10)
Business Days prior written notice of its intent to exercise such rights to such
Pledgor, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all
cash distributions paid in respect of the Collateral and make application
thereof to the Obligations in the order set forth in the Loan Agreement, and the
Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise all voting,
management and other rights pertaining to such Collateral (to the extent
permitted under Applicable Law), all without liability except to account for
property actually received by it, but the Administrative Agent shall have no
duty to such Pledgor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and shall
not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

         (b)      The rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
hereunder shall not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right or remedy against the Borrower,
the Guarantors or against any other Person which may be or become liable in
respect of all or any part of the Obligations or against any collateral security
therefor, guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. Neither
the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be liable for any failure to
demand, collect or realize upon all or any part of the Collateral or for any
delay in doing so, nor shall the Administrative Agent be under any obligation to
sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Pledgor or
any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the
Collateral or any part thereof.

         (c)      Pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Code and any
other applicable law, each of the Pledgors and the Borrower authorizes the
Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing or
recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the
signature of such Pledgor or the Borrower in such form and in such offices as
the Administrative Agent determines appropriate to perfect the security
interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. A photographic or
other reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing
statement or other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or
recording in any jurisdiction.

         SECTION 8.        Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent
may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent
shall, exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders, all rights and remedies
granted in this Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing,
evidencing or relating to the Obligations, and in addition thereto, all rights
and remedies of a secured party under the Code. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing with regard to the scope of the Administrative Agent's
remedies, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other
demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any
notice required by Section 7 hereof or any Applicable Law) to or upon any
Pledgor, the Borrower or any other Person (all and each of which demands,
defenses, advertisements and notices (except any notice required by Section 7
hereof or any Applicable Law) are hereby waived), may in such circumstances
forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any
part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, assign, give option or options to
purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof
(or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or
private sale or sales, in the over-the-counter market, at any exchange, broker's
board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere

<PAGE>

in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent or any Lender
shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent
permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or
any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption of
any Pledgor, which right or equity is hereby waived or released. The
Administrative Agent shall apply any Proceeds from time to time held by it in a
collateral account to be held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
itself and the other Lenders; and the net proceeds of any such collection,
recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale, after deducting all
reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in respect thereof or
incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way
relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements of counsel thereto, to the payment in whole or in part of the
Obligations, in the order set forth in the Loan Agreement, and only after such
application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other
amount required by any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section
9-610 and Section 9-615 of the Code, need the Administrative Agent account for
the surplus, if any, to any Pledgor. To the extent permitted by applicable law,
each Pledgor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the
Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them in good
faith of any rights hereunder. Notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of
Collateral shall be given in writing to each Pledgor and deemed reasonable and
proper if given at least ten (10) Business Days before such sale or other
disposition. Each Pledgor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds
of any sale or other disposition of Collateral are insufficient to pay the
Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such deficiency.

         SECTION 9.        Private Sales.

         (a)      Each Pledgor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be
unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Collateral, by reason of
certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more
private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged
to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account
for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each
Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices
and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and,
notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be
deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative
Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral for
the period of time necessary to permit the Borrower thereof to register such
securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state
securities laws, even if the Borrower would agree to do so.

         (b)      Each Pledgor further agrees to use commercially reasonable
efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts as may be reasonably
necessary to make such sale or sales of all or any portion of the Collateral
pursuant to this Section 9 valid and binding and in compliance with any and all
other Applicable Laws.

         SECTION 10.       No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or
payments made by any Pledgor hereunder, or any setoff or application of funds of
any Pledgor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the receipt of any
amounts by the Administrative Agent or any Lender

<PAGE>

with respect to any of the Collateral, no Pledgor shall be entitled to be
subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
against the Borrower or the other Guarantors or against any other collateral
security held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the
Obligations, nor shall any Pledgor seek any reimbursement from the Borrower or
the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by any Pledgor in connection
with the Collateral, or amounts realized by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender in connection with the Collateral, until all amounts owing to the
Administrative Agent and Lenders on account of the Obligations are paid in full
and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Pledgor
on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Obligations
shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Pledgor in
trust for the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of such Pledgor,
and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Pledgor, be turned over to the
Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Pledgor (duly indorsed
by such Pledgor to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be applied against
the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as set forth in the
Loan Agreement.

         SECTION 11.       Amendments, etc. With Respect to the Obligations.

         (a)      Each Pledgor shall remain obligated hereunder, and the
Collateral shall remain subject to the Lien granted hereby, notwithstanding
that, without any reservation of rights against any Pledgor, and without notice
to or further assent by any Pledgor, any demand for payment of any of the
Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by
the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and any of the Obligations continued,
and the Obligations, or the liability of the Borrower or any other Person upon
or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or
right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in
part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived,
surrendered, or released by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Loan
Agreement, the Notes, any other Loan Documents and any other documents executed
and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or
terminated, in whole or part, as the Lenders (or the Required Lenders, as the
case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any guarantee, right of
offset or other collateral security at any time held by the Administrative Agent
or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived,
surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall
have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any other Lien at any
time held by it as security for the Obligations or any property subject thereto.
Each Pledgor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or
accrual of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender upon this Agreement; the Obligations, and any
of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or
incurred in reliance upon this Agreement; and all dealings between any Pledgor,
on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other,
shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in
reliance upon this Agreement. Each Pledgor waives diligence, presentment,
protest, demand for payment and notice (except as required by the Loan
Agreement) of default or nonpayment to or upon such Pledgor with respect to the
Obligations.

         (b)      Each Pledgor waives and agrees not to assert any rights or
privileges which it may acquire under Sections 9-210, 9-607, 9-608, 9-610,
9-615, 9-620, 9-621, 9-623, 9-624, 9-625 or 9-627 of the Code. Each Pledgor
shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other
disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations and the

<PAGE>

fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender to collect such deficiency.

         SECTION 12.       Limitation on Duties Regarding Collateral. The
Administrative Agent's sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and
physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207
of the Code or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the
Administrative Agent deals with similar securities and property for its own
account. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for failure
to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in
doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any
Collateral upon the request of any Pledgor or otherwise.

         SECTION 13.       Coupled with an Interest. All powers of attorney and
other authorizations granted to the Administrative Agent and any Persons
designated by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provisions of this
Agreement with respect to the Collateral shall be deemed coupled with an
interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain
unpaid or unsatisfied or the Loan Agreement has not been terminated.

         SECTION 14.       Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which
is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.

         SECTION 15.       Section  Headings.  Titles and captions of Sections
and subsections in this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit
nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 16.       No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written
instrument pursuant to Section 17 hereof) be deemed to have waived any right or
remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or in any breach of any of
the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in
exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or
partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege. A waiver by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right or
remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any
right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender would otherwise
have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are
cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any
other rights or remedies provided by law.

         SECTION 17.       Waivers and Amendments; Successors and Assigns. None
of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by each of the
Pledgors and Administrative Agent; provided that (a) any provision of this
Agreement may be waived by the Administrative Agent in a letter or agreement
executed by the Administrative Agent or by telex or facsimile transmission from
the Administrative Agent and (b) any consent or waiver by the Administrative
Agent to any

<PAGE>

amendment, supplement or modification hereto shall be subject to approval
thereof by each of the Lenders or Required Lenders, as applicable, in accordance
with Section 12.11 of the Loan Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the successors and assigns of the Pledgors and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and
assigns.

         SECTION 18.       Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue and Waiver of
Jury Trial.

         (a)      THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

         (b)      Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably consents to the personal
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of any
dispute in connection with this Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder,
or the performance of such rights and obligations. Each Pledgor hereby
irrevocably consents to the service of a summons and complaint and other process
in any action, claim or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent in
connection with this Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder, or the
performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its property,
in the manner specified in Section 19. Nothing in this Section 18(b) shall
affect the right of the Administrative Agent to serve legal process in any other
manner permitted by Applicable Law or affect the right of the Administrative
Agent to bring any action or proceeding against any Pledgor or its properties in
the courts of any other jurisdictions.

         (c)      Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives any objection it may
have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid jurisdiction
in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement or the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder. Each
Pledgor irrevocably waives, in connection with such action, claim or proceeding,
any plea or claim that the action, claim or other proceeding has been brought in
an inconvenient forum.

         (d)      EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER
ANY THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE
DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR
THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER
ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY
HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF
ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO
THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 18
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO
THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

<PAGE>

         SECTION 19.       Notices.  All  notices  and  communications
hereunder shall be given to the addresses and otherwise in accordance with
Section 17 of the Guaranty Agreement.

         SECTION 20.       Set-Off. Each Pledgor hereby irrevocably authorizes
the Administrative Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time
pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Loan Agreement, without notice to such Pledgor,
any such notice being expressly waived by such Pledgor, to set-off and
appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,
provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or
claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or the account of such
Pledgor, or any part thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such
Lender may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of
the such Pledgor to the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder and claims
of every nature and description of the Administrative Agent or such Lender
against such Pledgor, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Loan
Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or
such Lender may elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has
made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and
claims may be contingent or unmatured. The Administrative Agent and each Lender
shall notify the such Pledgor promptly of any such set-off and the application
made by the Administrative Agent or such Lender of the proceeds thereof;
provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of
such set-off and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each
Lender under this Section 20 are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the
Administrative Agent or such Lender may have.

         SECTION 21.       Authority of Administrative Agent. Each Pledgor
acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent
under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Administrative
Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option,
voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or
resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, be governed by the Loan Agreement and by such other
agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but,
as between the Administrative Agent and any Pledgor, the Administrative Agent
shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as Administrative Agent for itself
and the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting,
and neither any Pledgor nor the Borrower shall be under any obligation, or
entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

         SECTION 22.       Control Agreement; Acknowledgment by Borrower.

         (a)      Each Pledgor hereby authorizes and instructs the Borrower to
comply, and the Borrower hereby agrees to so comply, with any instruction
received from the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement with respect to the Collateral, without any consent or further
instructions from any Pledgor or any other Person, and each Pledgor agrees that
the Borrower shall be fully protected in so complying. The Borrower agrees that
its agreement set forth in the preceding sentence shall be sufficient to create
in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, "control"
of the Partnership Interests within the meaning of such

<PAGE>

term under Section 8-106(c) of the Code. (Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to mean or imply that the
Partnership Interests constitute "securities" within the meaning of such term
under Section 8-102(a)(15) of the Code or otherwise to limit or modify the
application of Section 8-103(c) of the Code. Rather, the Administrative Agent
has requested that this provision be included in this Agreement solely out of an
abundance of caution in the event the Partnership Interests are, nevertheless,
deemed to constitute "securities" under the Code.)

         (b)      The Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement
and agrees to be bound thereby and to comply with the terms hereof insofar as
such terms are applicable to it. The Borrower agrees to notify the
Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of the events
described in Section 5(c) of this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees that
the terms of Section 9 of this Agreement shall apply to it with respect to all
actions that may be required of it under or pursuant to or arising out of
Section 9 of this Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed under seal and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                       PLEDGORS:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                       SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                       MANAGEMENT, INC., as Pledgor

                                       By: _____________________________________
                                           Name:    ____________________________
                                           Title:   ____________________________

                                       SAN ANTONIO HOLDINGS, INC.,
                                       as Pledgor

                                       By: _____________________________________
                                           Name:    ____________________________
                                           Title:   ____________________________

                                       BORROWER:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                       HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP,
                                       as Borrower

                                       By: SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
                                           MANAGEMENT, INC., its General Partner

                                           By: _________________________________
                                           Name:    ____________________________
                                           Title:   ____________________________

                                       ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

                                       BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
                                        Agent

                                       By: _____________________________________
                                           Name:    ____________________________
                                           Title:   ____________________________

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I
                                    To Pledge
                                    Agreement

                      DESCRIPTION OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

ISSUER:

HEART HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO, LP

<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                        <C>
                                State of                   Percentage
Pledgor:                        Organization               Ownership
--------                        ------------               ----------
SAN ANTONIO HOSPITAL
MANAGEMENT, INC.                North Carolina             1% (general
                                                           partnership interest)

SAN ANTONIO                     Arizona
HOLDINGS, INC.                                             50% (limited
                                                           partnership interest)
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT L
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

On file with Administrative Agent

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT M
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                                     BUDGET

On file with Administrative Agent

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT N
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                          dated as of November 7, 2002
                                  by and among
                       Heart Hospital of San Antonio, LP,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                              STORAGE OF MATERIALS

None.

<PAGE>

                                 Schedule 1.1(a)

                             Lenders and Commitments
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             LENDER                       COMMITMENT              COMMITMENT
                                          PERCENTAGE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                    <C>
Bank of America, N.A.
IL1-231-08-30
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255           18.569484%             $5,867,956.63
Attention:  Kristine Hyde
Telephone No.:   (312) 828-1657
Telecopy No.:    (877) 206-8412

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
40 Kingsbridge Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Attention: Robert Telesca
Location: Desk 100 O                      18.569483%             $5,867,956.63
Telephone No.:    (732) 981-6005
Telecopy No.:     (732) 981-5783

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wachovia Bank, National Association
301 S. College Street, 6th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
Attention:  Michael Monte                 14.485863%             $4,577,532.71
Telephone No.:   (704) 383-1114
Telecopy No.:    (704) 383-0545

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GE Healthcare Financial Services
20225 Watertower Boulevard, Suite 200
Brookfield, WI  53045
Attention:  Dev Lobo                      20.796316%             $6,571,635.86
Telephone No.:   262-798-4620
Telecopy No.:    262-798-4560

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Foothill Group, Inc.
2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 3000 West
Santa Monica, California  90404
Attention:  Ed Stearns                    11.142972%             $3,521,179.15
Telephone No.:   310-453-7376
Telecopy No.:    310-453-7470

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>                    <C>
JPMorgan Chase Bank
270 Park Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, NY  10017
Attention:  Dawn Lee Lum                  12.257269%             $3,873,297.00
Telephone No.:   212-270-2472
Telecopy No.:    212-270-3279

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fifth Third Bank (Western Ohio)
110 N. Main Street
Dayton, Ohio  45402                       4.178614%              $1,320,442.02
Attention:  Brian Bergmann
Telephone No.:   937-229-8302
Telecopy No.:    937-227-6454
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                TOTAL:          100%             $  31,600,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                 Schedule 1.1(b)

                                   Guarantors

MedCath Corporation (DE)

MedCath Holdings, Inc. (DE)

MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc. (DE)

MedCath Incorporated (NC)

         MedCath Diagnostics, LLC (NC)
                  Heart Research Centers International, LLC (NC)
                  MedCath Nuclear Services, LLC (NC)

         MedCath Cardiology Consulting & Management, Inc. (AZ)
                  MedCath Management of Ohio, Inc. (OH)
                  WMS Management, Inc. (OH)

         Austin MOB, Inc. (NC)

         Metuchen Nuclear Management, LLC (NC)

         San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc. (NC)

         San Antonio Holdings, Inc. (NC)

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(c)

                            RELATED CREDIT DOCUMENTS

1.       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "DTO Loan
         Agreement") by and among Heart Hospital of DTO, LLC, as Borrower, the
         Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of
         America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

2.       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Little Rock
         Loan Agreement") by and among MedCath of Little Rock, L.L.C., as
         Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders,
         and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

3.       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "BK Loan
         Agreement") by and among Heart Hospital of BK, L.L.C., as Borrower, the
         Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of
         America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

4.       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 21, 2001 (as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Harlingen
         Loan Agreement") by and among Harlingen Medical Center, Limited
         Partnership, as Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become party
         thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
         Agent.

5.       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 24, 2002 (as
         amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Louisiana
         Loan Agreement") by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, as
         Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders,
         and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(d)

                           RELATED GUARANTY AGREEMENTS

1.       Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
         supplemented or otherwise modified, the "DTO Guaranty Agreement") made
         by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or may
         become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
         Administrative Agent for the retable benefit of itself and the Lenders
         from time to time party to the DTO Loan Agreement.

2.       Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
         supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Little Rock Guaranty
         Agreement") made by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries
         thereof who are or may become party thereto in favor of Bank of
         America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of
         itself and the Lenders from time to time party to the Little Rock Loan
         Agreement.

3.       Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
         supplemented or otherwise modified, the "BK Guaranty Agreement") made
         by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or may
         become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
         Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders
         from time to time party to the BK Loan Agreement.

4.       Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 21, 2001 (as amended, restated,
         supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Harlingen Guaranty Agreement")
         made by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or
         may become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
         Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders
         from time to time party to the Harlingen Loan Agreement.

5.       Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 24, 2002 (as amended, restated,
         supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Louisiana Guaranty Agreement")
         made by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or
         may become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
         Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders
         from time to time party to the Louisiana Loan Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(b)

                                 CAPITALIZATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               OWNER                                 PERCENTAGE INTEREST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>
Management Company                                       General - 1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S.A.H.H. Hospital Management, LLC                        General - 1%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Antonio Holdings, Inc.                              Limited - 50%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S.A.H.H. Investment Group, Ltd.                         Limited - 48%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(l)

                               MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Borrower:

-        Limited Partnership Agreement of the Borrower, as amended from time to
         time.

-        Management Services Agreement, dated September 30, 2001, between
         Borrower and San Antonio Hospital Management, Inc., as may be amended
         from time to time.

-        Agreement for Architectural Services dated January 21, 2002, between
         Odell Associates Inc., as may be amended from time to time.

-        Standard Form Agreement dated March 4, 2002, between Borrower and
         Faulkner Construction Inc., and converted by letter agreement dated
         September 23, 2002, as may be amended from time to time.

-        Loans noted with an asterisk (*) on Schedule 5.1(s).

Guarantors:

         Debt Obligations:

-        Commitment Agreement.

-        Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998, among MedCath Intermediate
         Holdings, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.), as
         Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery
         Securities, LLC, as Arranger and Syndication Agent, and the Lenders
         named from time to time in the principal amount of $100,000,000.

-        Loan dated December 10, 1997 from MetLife Capital to MedCath
         Incorporated in the principal amount of $7,000,000.

         General Guaranty Obligations:

-        Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998, among the
         Guarantors named therein, Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank,
         N.A.), as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, NationsBanc
         Montgomery in the principal amount of $100,000,000.

-        Guaranty provisions in the Loan Agreement dated as of June 29, 2000,
         among Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Heart Hospital of
         South Dakota, LLC, the Lenders named therein, and the Guarantors named
         therein in the principal amount of $32,618,000.

-        Related Guaranty Agreements as set forth on Schedule 1.1(d).

<PAGE>

         MedCath Incorporated Guaranty Obligations

-        Guaranty dated October 10, 1998, by MedCath, Inc. in favor of Health
         Care Property Investors in the principal amount of $35,100,000.

-        Guaranty dated March 2, 2000, by the Guarantors named therein to Heller
         Financial Leasing, Inc. in the principal amount of $24,660,333

-        Guaranty dated October 1, 1999, by the Guarantors named therein in
         favor of HealthCare Property Investors, Inc. in the principal amount of
         $25,500,000

-        Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 18, 1996 by MedCath Incorporated in
         favor of Capstone Capital Corporation in the principal amount of
         $17,800,000.

-        Loan dated June 1, 1996, from Prime Leasing to MedCath of Little Rock,
         L.L.C. in the principal amount of $16,000,000.

-        Loan dated March 1, 1998, from US Bancorp to MedCath of Tucson, L.L.C.
         in the principal amount of $11,961,000

-        Loan dated March 31, 1998 from DVI Financial Services to Arizona Heart
         Hospital, LLC in the principal amount of $12,292,386.

-        Loan dated December 1, 1998 from DVI Financial Services to Heart
         Hospital of Austin, LLC in the principal amount of $18,000,000.

-        Loan dated October 1, 1998 from GE Medical Systems to Heart Hospital of
         BK, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $5,000,000.

-        Loan dated October 1, 1998, from GE Medical Systems to Heart Hospital
         of BK, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $10,000,000.

-        Loan dated August 1, 1999 from DVI Financial Services to Heart Hospital
         of New Mexico, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $17,500,000.

-        Loan dated October 1, 1998 from Siemans Credit Corp. to Heart Hospital
         of DTO, LLC in the principal amount of $17,000,000.

-        Loan dated March 21, 2001, from Siemans to Heart Hospital of South
         Dakota, LLC in the principal amount of $16,000,000.

-        Loan from GE Leases to MedCath Diagnostics, LLC

-        Loan from First Citizens to Wilmington Diagnostics

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(s)

                          DEBT AND GUARANTY OBLIGATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           BORROWER                        LENDER                 DATE                 AMOUNT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                      <C>                    <C>
Heart Hospital of San Antonio,      MedCath Incorporated     November ____, 2002    Face amount of
LP                                                                                  $9,000,000 may
                                                                                    advance up to
                                                                                    $12,000,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(t)

                                   LITIGATION

1.       While the following litigation is not anticipated to have a Material
         Adverse Effect on the Borrower or its operations, Borrower desires that
         Lender be aware that Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio, Ltd.
         ("MHS") in San Antonio that is using the name "Heart Hospital of South
         Texas" has filed suit on August 28, 2002 against the Borrower in the
         U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio
         Division (Cause No. SA02CA0838EP) claiming that Borrower's use of the
         name "Heart Hospital of San Antonio" is confusingly similar to MHS's
         name and asking that the Court require the Borrower to change the name
         of its hospital.

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 9.8

                     PERMITTED TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Loan shown on Schedule 5.1(s).