<PAGE>

                               CREDIT AGREEMENT                     EXHIBIT 10.1

                                  Dated as of

                               October __, 2001

                                 By and Among

                     PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

                                as the Borrower

                                      and

                    THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO

                           as the Lenders hereunder

                        PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                 as the Agent

                                      and

                           PNC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

                             as the Sole Arranger
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

<TABLE>
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                                                                                                          Page
                                                                                                          ----
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................1

     1.1 Defined Terms.......................................................................................1
     1.2 Accounting Principles..............................................................................17
     1.3 Other Definitional Conventions and Rules of Construction...........................................18

ARTICLE II. THE LOANS.......................................................................................18

     2.1A Revolving Credit Loans............................................................................18
          ----------------------
          2.1Aa General Revolving Loans; Distribution Loans.................................................18
                -----------------
          2.1Ab Revolving Credit Commitment of Each Lender..................................................18
          2.1Ac Revolving Credit Notes......................................................................18
          2.1Ad Revolving Credit Loan Request...............................................................19
          2.1Ae Making Revolving Credit Loans...............................................................19
     2.1B Term Loans........................................................................................20
          2.1Ba Term Loans..................................................................................20
          2.1Bb Term Commitment of Each Lender..............................................................20
          2.1Bc Term Notes..................................................................................20
          2.1Be Making the Term Loans.......................................................................20
     2.2 Interest Rates, Interest Payment and Certain Provisions Relating to Interest and Fees..............20
          2.2a Payments of Interest.........................................................................20
          2.2b Interest Rate Options........................................................................21
          2.2c Interest Periods; Limitations on Elections...................................................21
          2.2d Election, Conversion or Renewal of Interest Rate Options.....................................22
          2.2e Notification of Election of an Interest Rate Option..........................................22
          2.2f Interest After Default.......................................................................23
     2.3 Yield-Protection, Capital Adequacy and Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Euro-Rate..............23
          2.3a Yield Protection.............................................................................23
               ----------------
          2.3b Capital Adequacy.............................................................................24
          2.3c Euro-Rate Unascertainable....................................................................25
          2.3d Illegality...................................................................................25
     2.4 Fees...............................................................................................25
          2.4a Closing Fee..................................................................................25
               -----------
          2.4b Commitment Fee...............................................................................26
                          ---
          2.4c Agent's Fee..................................................................................26
          2.4d Letter of Credit Fee and Fronting Fee........................................................26
     2.5 Calculation of Interest and Certain Fees...........................................................26
     2.6 Letter of Credit Sub-Facility......................................................................26
         -----------------------------
         2.6a Issuance of Letters of Credit................................................................26
              -----------------------------

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          <S>                                                                                              <C>
          2.6b Letter of Credit Fees........................................................................27
               ---------------------
          2.6c Letter of Credit Fees Upon Default...........................................................27
               ----------------------------------
          2.6d Disbursements, Reimbursement.................................................................27
               ----------------------------
          2.6e Repayment of Participation Advances..........................................................28
               -----------------------------------
          2.6f Documentation................................................................................29
               -------------
          2.6g Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests.....................................................29
               ----------------------------------------
          2.6h Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations........................................29
               -----------------------------------------------------
          2.6i Indemnity....................................................................................30
               ---------
          2.6j Liability for Acts and Omissions.............................................................31
               --------------------------------
          2.6k Uniform Customs..............................................................................31
     2.7 Substitution or Replacement of a Lender............................................................31
     2.8 Loan Repayment and Prepayment......................................................................32
          2.8a Voluntary Prepayments........................................................................32
          2.8b Scheduled Repayment..........................................................................33
     2.9 Additional Payments by the Borrower................................................................33
     2.10 Changes of Commitments............................................................................33
          ----------------------
          2.10a Voluntary Reduction of Availability.........................................................33
          2.10b Increasing the Revolving Credit Commitments.................................................33
     2.11 Loan Account......................................................................................34
     2.12 Payment from Accounts Maintained by Borrower......................................................34
     2.13 Time, Place and Manner of Payments................................................................34
          ----------------------------------
     2.14 Certain Security..................................................................................35
     2.15 Guaranty..........................................................................................35

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................................................................36

     3.1 Existence..........................................................................................36
     3.2 Capitalization; Ownership..........................................................................36
     3.3 Subsidiaries and Other Investments.................................................................36
         ----------------------------------
     3.4 Corporate Authority................................................................................36
     3.5 Enforceability.....................................................................................36
     3.6 No Restrictions, No Default........................................................................37
     3.7 Financial Matters..................................................................................37
          3.7a Financial Statements.........................................................................37
               --------------------
          3.7b Pro Forma Financials.........................................................................37
               --------------------
     3.8 Absence of Litigation..............................................................................38
     3.9 Tax Returns and Payments...........................................................................38
     3.10 Pension Plans.....................................................................................38
     3.11 Fiscal Year.......................................................................................38
          -----------
     3.12 Condition of and Title to Assets..................................................................38
          --------------------------------
     3.13 Insurance.........................................................................................39
          ---------
     3.14 Labor and Employment Matters......................................................................39
          ----------------------------
     3.15 Compliance with Applicable Laws...................................................................39
     3.16 Environmental Matters.............................................................................39
     3.17 Governmental Approval.............................................................................39
     3.18 Regulations T, U and X............................................................................40
</TABLE>
                                     -ii-
<PAGE>

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     <S>                                                                                                   <C>
     3.19 Investment Company Act............................................................................40
     3.20 Public Utility Holding Company Act................................................................40
     3.21 Senior Debt Status................................................................................40
     3.22 Intellectual Property.............................................................................40
     3.23 Leases............................................................................................40
     3.24 Solvency..........................................................................................40
     3.25 Tax Treatment.....................................................................................41
     3.26 Collateral........................................................................................41
     3.27 Disclosure........................................................................................41

ARTICLE IV. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS...........................................................................41

     4.1 Use of Proceeds....................................................................................41
     4.2 Furnishing Information.............................................................................41
     4.3 Visitation.........................................................................................44
     4.4 Preservation of Existence; Qualification...........................................................44
     4.5 Compliance with Laws and Contracts.................................................................44
     4.6 Payment of Taxes and Other Liabilities.............................................................44
     4.7 Insurance..........................................................................................45
     4.8 Maintenance of Properties..........................................................................45
     4.9 Plans and Benefit Arrangement......................................................................45
     4.10 Senior Debt Status................................................................................45
     4.11 Leases; Material Contracts........................................................................45
     4.12 Clean-Down Period.................................................................................46
     4.13 Environmental Indemnification.....................................................................46

ARTICLE V. NEGATIVE COVENANTS...............................................................................46

     5.1 Dividends, Etc.....................................................................................46
     5.2 Encumbrances.......................................................................................47
     5.3 Financial Covenants................................................................................47
          5.3a Leverage Ratio...............................................................................47
          5.3b Interest Coverage Ratio......................................................................47
          5.3c Calculation of Consolidated EBITDA...........................................................47
     5.4 Acquisitions.......................................................................................48
     5.5 Indebtedness.......................................................................................48
     5.6 Loans, Acquisitions and Investments................................................................48
     5.7 Sales of Assets....................................................................................49
     5.8 Merger.............................................................................................49
     5.9 Regulation T, U and X Compliance...................................................................49
     5.10 ERISA.............................................................................................49
     5.11 No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions......................................................50
     5.12 Negative Pledges..................................................................................50
     5.13 Changes in Organizational Documents...............................................................50
     5.14 Change in Nature of Business......................................................................50
</TABLE>
                                     -iii-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO DISBURSEMENTS AND ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT.........................51


     <S>                                                                                                 <C>
     6.1 All Disbursements..................................................................................51
          6.1a No Default...................................................................................51
          6.1b Representations Correct......................................................................51
          6.1c No Material Adverse Change...................................................................51
               --------------------------
          6.1d Loan Request/Application.....................................................................51
               ------------------------
     6.2 Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowings.........................................................51

ARTICLE VII. DEFAULTS.......................................................................................53

     7.1 Payment Default....................................................................................53
     7.2 Nonpayment of Other Indebtedness...................................................................54
         --------------------------------
     7.3 Insolvency.........................................................................................54
          7.3a Involuntary Proceedings......................................................................54
          7.3b Voluntary Proceedings........................................................................54
     7.4 Termination of Existence...........................................................................54
     7.5 Failure to Comply with Loan Documents..............................................................54
          7.5a Failure to Comply with Article V Covenants and Certain Article IV Covenants..................54
          7.5c Failure to Comply with Other Covenants and Loan Documents....................................55
     7.6 Misrepresentation..................................................................................55
     7.7 Adverse Judgments, Etc.............................................................................55
     7.8 Invalidity or Unenforceability.....................................................................55
     7.9 ERISA..............................................................................................55
     7.10 Change in Control.................................................................................55
          -----------------
     7.11 Collateral........................................................................................55
     7.12 Consequences of an Event of Default...............................................................56
     7.13 Remedies Upon Default.............................................................................56
     7.14 Cash Collateral...................................................................................56

ARTICLE VIII. AGREEMENT AMONG LENDERS.......................................................................57

     8.1 Appointment and Grant of Authority.................................................................57
     8.2 Delegation of Duties...............................................................................57
     8.3 Reliance by Agent on Lenders for Funding...........................................................57
     8.4 Non-Reliance on Agent..............................................................................58
     8.5 Responsibility of Agent and Other Matters..........................................................58
          8.5a Ministerial Nature of Duties.................................................................58
          8.5b Limitation of Liability......................................................................58
          8.5c Reliance.....................................................................................59
     8.6 Actions in Discretion of Agent; Instructions from the Lenders......................................59
     8.7 Indemnification....................................................................................59
     8.8 Agent's Rights as a Lender.........................................................................60
         --------------------------
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                                     -vi-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     <S>                                                                                                   <C>
     8.9 Payment to Lenders.................................................................................60
     8.10 Pro Rata Sharing..................................................................................60
     8.11 Successor Agent...................................................................................60
          8.11a Resignation of Agent........................................................................60
          8.11b Rights of the Former Agent..................................................................61
     8.12. Notice of Default................................................................................61
           -----------------
     8.13. Notices..........................................................................................61
           -------
     8.14. Holders of Notes.................................................................................61
           ----------------
     8.15. Calculations.....................................................................................61
           ------------
     8.16. Beneficiaries....................................................................................61
           -------------

ARTICLE IX. PROVISIONS......................................................................................62

     9.1 Amendments and Waivers.............................................................................62
     9.2 Expenses...........................................................................................63
     9.3 Notices............................................................................................63
         -------
          9.3a Notice to the Borrower.......................................................................64
          9.3b Notice to the Agent..........................................................................65
          9.3c Notice to the Lenders........................................................................65
     9.4 Tax Withholding....................................................................................65
     9.5 Successors and Assigns.............................................................................66
     9.6 Assignments and Participations.....................................................................66
          9.6a Assignments..................................................................................66
          9.6b Assignment Register..........................................................................68
          9.6c Participations...............................................................................68
          9.6d Provisions for Special Purpose Funding Vehicles..............................................68
               -----------------------------------------------
     9.7 Severability.......................................................................................69
     9.8 Survival...........................................................................................69
     9.9 Governing Law......................................................................................69
     9.10 Non-Business Days.................................................................................69
     9.11 Integration.......................................................................................69
          -----------
     9.12 Headings, etc.....................................................................................69
     9.13 Set-Off...........................................................................................70
     9.14 Consent to Forum..................................................................................70
          ----------------
     9.15 Waiver of Jury Trial..............................................................................70
     9.16 Indemnity.........................................................................................70
     9.17 Counterparts......................................................................................71
     9.18 Limitation on Recourse to General Partner.........................................................71
     9.19 Confidentiality...................................................................................71
          ---------------
</TABLE>
                                     - v -
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF EXHIBITS
                                -----------------

Name of Exhibit
---------------

Exhibit A         -        Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit B         -        Form of Term Note

Exhibit C         -        Form of Revolving Credit Loan Request

Exhibit D         -        Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E         -        Form of Guaranty Agreement

Exhibit F         -        Form of Opinion of Counsel

Exhibit G         -        Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit H         -        Form of Pledge Agreement


Schedules
---------

3.3      Subsidiaries

3.8      Litigation

3.10     Plans

3.14     Labor and Employment Matters

3.16     Environmental Matters

3.23     Existing Leases

5.2      Existing Encumbrances

5.5      Existing Indebtedness

                                     -vi -
<PAGE>

                               CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October __, 2001, by and among PENN
VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (as further
defined below, the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed on the
signature pages hereto, and each other financial institution which, from time to
time, becomes a party hereto in accordance with Subsection 9.6a (individually, a
"Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders") and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a
national banking association, as Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, and as
further defined below, the "Agent").

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to obtain a Commitment (as defined below)
from each of the Lenders pursuant to which (i) Revolving Credit Loans, in a
maximum aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed
$50,000,000, will be made to the Borrower from time to time prior to the
Termination Date (as defined below) and (ii) a Term Loan in the initial
principal amount of $20,000,000, will be made to the Borrower on the Closing
Date (as defined below); and

     WHEREAS, each Lender is willing, on the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth, to extend such Commitment and make such Loans to the
Borrower.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual promises contained herein and
other valuable consideration and with the intent to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS.

1.1     Defined Terms. As used herein the following terms shall have the meaning
        -------------
specified unless the context otherwise requires:

        "Adjusted Euro-Rate" has the meaning set forth in item (ii) of
Subsection 2.2b.

        "Agent" shall mean PNC Bank, National Association in its capacity as
Agent or its successor appointed pursuant to Section 8.11 hereof and as the
issuer of Letters of Credit.

        "Agent's Fees" means those certain fees for the sole account of the
Agent set forth in the Agent's Letter.

        "Agent's Letter" has the meaning set forth in Subsection 2.4c.
<PAGE>

     "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement together with the exhibits and
schedules hereto and all extensions, renewals, amendments, modifications,
substitutions and replacements hereto and hereof.

     "Applicable Euro-Rate Margin" means (i) for each Euro-Rate Portion of
Secured Loans, a rate per annum equal to one-half of one percent (.50%), and
(ii) for each Euro-Rate Portion of all other Loans, a rate per annum equal to
the following annualized rates (stated in terms of basis points) (x) for the
period from the Closing Date to and including December 31, 2001, one hundred
twenty-five (125) basis points, and (y) thereafter the percentage expressed in
basis points per annum determined from time to time based upon the ratio of the
Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness as at the end of each Fiscal Quarter
to the Borrower's Consolidated EBITDA for the four most recently completed
Fiscal Quarters treated as a single accounting period set forth under the
relevant column heading below, all as determined by the Borrower's financial
statements and Compliance Certificate for the preceding Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal
Year delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 4.2 below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
             RATIO OF CONSOLIDATED TOTAL
         INDEBTEDNESS TO CONSOLIDATED EBITDA                           APPLICABLE EURO-RATE MARGIN
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>                 <C>
                                                   LEVEL I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00                                           125 Basis Points
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   LEVEL II
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.25 to 1.00 but less than or                                   150 Basis Points
equal to 1.75 to 1.00
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   LEVEL III
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.75 to 1.00                                                    175 Basis Points
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Adjustments to the Applicable Euro-Rate Margin resulting from changes in the
ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA
shall be made without notice to the Borrower. Such adjustments will be effective
on the date on which the Borrower's financial statements and Compliance
Certificate are due to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.2;
provided, however, that if the Borrower has failed to deliver such financial
--------  ------
statements and Compliance Certificate on or before the date such delivery is
due, then the ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to
Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed, solely for the purposes of this definition,
to be greater than 1.75 to 1.00 until such time as they are actually delivered.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the denominator used in the calculation of the
ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA
(i) for the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2001, shall be the Consolidated
EBITDA of the Borrower for such Fiscal Quarter multiplied by four (4), (ii) for
the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2002, shall be the Consolidated EBITDA of
the Borrower for the two (2) Fiscal Quarters ended on such date multiplied by
two (2), and (iii) for the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2002, shall be the
Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower for the three (3) Fiscal Quarters ended on
such date multiplied by four-thirds (4/3).

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     "Assignment and Assumption Agreement" means an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement in the form of Exhibit "G" hereto.
                         ----------

     "Authorized Officer" means the President, any Vice President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the
respective Loan Party or general partner if such Loan Party is a partnership or
managing member if such Loan Party is a limited liability company. The Agent and
the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the incumbency certificates delivered
pursuant to Section 6.2 for the initial designation of each Authorized Officer.
Additions or deletions to the list of Authorized Officers may be made by the
respective Loan Party at any time by delivering to the Agent for redelivery to
each Lender a revised incumbency certificate.

     "Bank Indebtedness" shall mean (i) the Loans then outstanding, together
with all increases or refinancings thereof, (ii) the aggregate stated amount of
Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder, (iii) the aggregate amount of
unreimbursed draws on Letters of Credit issued hereunder, (iv) all interest,
fees and any other amounts due hereunder or under any of the other Loan
Documents, including by reason of advances by the Lenders, made to, or for the
account of, the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
and (v) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lenders and the
Agent (including but not limited to fees and expenses of counsel).

     "Base Rate" means, for any day, the higher of (i) the sum of (A) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus (B) fifty (50) basis points
                                          ----
(.50%) per annum and (ii) the Prime Rate, as of such day.

     "Base Rate Option" means the interest rate option described in item (i) of
Subsection 2.2b.

     "Base Rate Portion" means a Loan or a portion thereof which bears, or is to
bear, interest at the Base Rate.

     "Borrower" shall mean Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership and its successors and permitted assigns.

     "Borrowing Date" means the date on which any Disbursements are to be made
hereunder.

     "Business Day" means, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal
holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to be closed for
business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or New York, New York and, if the
applicable Business Day relates to any Disbursement to which the Euro-Rate
Option applies, such day must also be a day on which dealings are carried on in
the London interbank market.

     "Capital Adequacy Event" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection
2.3b.

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>

     "Capital Compensation Amount" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection
2.3b.

     "Cash Collateral Account" shall have the meaning given it in Section 7.14.

     "Change in Control" shall mean (i) such time as the General Partner ceases
to own directly all of the general partner interests of the Borrower; or (ii)
such time as Penn Virginia Corporation and/or one or more of its directly or
indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiaries ceases to own 100% of the membership units
of the General Partner.

     "Closing" means the execution and delivery of this Agreement which
execution and delivery shall occur at the offices of Tucker Arensberg, P.C. in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 10:00 A.M. (eastern time) on _______, 2001, or such
other date and time as is mutually agreeable to the parties hereto.

     "Closing Date" means the day on which the Closing occurs.

     "Closing Fee" means the fee described in Subsection 2.4a.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation thereto, together with all regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

     "Collateral" means all "Collateral" referred to in the Pledge Agreement and
all other property that is or is intended to be subject to any Encumbrance in
favor of the Agent for the benefit of any Lender that has a Term Commitment.

     "Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the aggregate of its Revolving
Credit Commitment and Term Commitment, and "Commitments" shall mean the
aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Loan Commitments of all
of the Lenders.

     "Commitment Fee" means the fee described in Subsection 2.4b.

     "Commitment Fee Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the following
annualized rates (stated in terms of basis points) (i) for the period from the
Closing Date to and including December 31, 2001, forty (40) basis points, and
(ii) thereafter the percentage expressed in basis points per annum determined
from time to time based upon the ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total
Indebtedness as at the end of each Fiscal Quarter to the Borrower's Consolidated
EBITDA for the four most recently completed Fiscal Quarters treated as a single
accounting period set forth under the relevant column heading below, all as
determined by the Borrower's financial statements and Compliance Certificate for
the preceding Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year delivered to the Agent pursuant to
Section 4.2 below:

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
             RATIO OF CONSOLIDATED TOTAL                                   COMMITMENT FEE RATE
         INDEBTEDNESS TO CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
<S>                                                     <C>                <C>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         LEVEL I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00                                           40 Basis Points
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         LEVEL II
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.25 to 1.00 but less than or equal to                          45 Basis Points
1.75 to 1.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         LEVEL III
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater than 1.75 to 1.00                                                    50 Basis Points
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Adjustments to the Commitment Fee Rate resulting from changes in the ratio of
the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA shall be
made without notice to the Borrower. Such adjustments will be effective on the
date on which the Borrower's financial statements and Compliance Certificate are
due to be delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.2; provided, however,
                                                            --------  -------
that if the Borrower has failed to deliver such financial statements and
Compliance Certificate on or before the date such delivery is due, then the
ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA
shall be deemed, solely for the purposes of this definition, to be greater than
1.75 to 1.00 until such time as they are actually delivered. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the denominator used in the calculation of the ratio of the
Borrower's Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA (i) for the
Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2001, shall be the Consolidated EBITDA of the
Borrower for such Fiscal Quarter multiplied by four (4), (ii) for the Fiscal
Quarter ending March 31, 2002, shall be the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower
for the two (2) Fiscal Quarters ended on such date multiplied by two (2), and
(iii) for the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2002, shall be the Consolidated
EBITDA of the Borrower for the three (3) Fiscal Quarters ended on such date
multiplied by four-thirds (4/3).

     "Commitment Percentage" means, as to each Lender, the percentage of the
Revolving Credit Commitment and the Term Commitment set forth opposite such
Lender's name on the signature pages hereto as such amount may change from time
to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

     "Compliance Certificate" means a Compliance Certificate substantially in
the form of Exhibit "D".
            -----------

     "Consolidated" means the consolidation of the accounts of any two or more
Persons in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated EBITDA" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net Income
for such period, (x) excluding therefrom (A) any extraordinary items of gain or
loss (including without limitation those items created by mandated changes in
accounting treatment) and (B) any gain or loss of any other Person accounted for
on the equity method, except to the extent of cash distributions received during
the relevant period (y) plus the aggregate amounts deducted in determining
Consolidated Net Income for such period in respect of (i) Consolidated Interest

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

Expense, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depletion and depreciation expense and (iv)
amortization expense.

     "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for the relevant period, on a
Consolidated basis, the sum of all interest due and payable by the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries with regard to Indebtedness for such period.

     "Consolidated Net Income" means the net income (or deficit) of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, for the period in question, after deducting
all operating expenses, provisions for all taxes and reserves (including
reserves for all deferred income taxes) and all other proper deductions, all
determined on a Consolidated basis

     "Consolidated Total Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a Consolidated basis.

     "Contamination" means the uncontained presence of Hazardous Substances at
any real property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, whether
owned or leased, which may require clean-up or remediation under any applicable
Environmental Law.

     "Disbursement" means each advance of funds by a Lender hereunder of a Loan.

     "Distribution Loan" has the meaning given it in Subsection 2.1Aa.

     "Dollars" or "$" means the legal tender of the United States of America.

     "Drawing Date" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection 2.6d(B).

     "Encumbrance" means any encumbrance, mortgage, lien, charge, pledge,
security interest, priority payment, conditional sales agreement right, or other
title retention agreement right (including any right under a lease which, in
accordance with GAAP, would be treated as a capitalized item) in, upon or
against any asset of any Person.

     "Environmental Claim" means any claim, suit, notice, order, demand or other
written communication made by any Person with respect to the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of their respective properties, whether owned
or leased, that: (i) asserts a violation of an applicable Environmental Law;
(ii) asserts a liability under an applicable Environmental Law; (iii) orders
investigation, corrective action, remediation or other legally enforceable
response under an applicable Environmental Law; (iv) demands information under
an applicable Environmental Law; (v) alleges personal injury or property damage
resulting from exposure to or the presence of Hazardous Substances; or (vi)
alleges that there is or may be Contamination.

     "Environmental Law(s)" means any and all statutes, laws, regulations,
ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, licenses, agreements,
authorizations or other governmental restrictions of any federal, state or local
governmental authority relating to the

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

environment or the release of any Hazardous Substances into the environment,
whether now in existence or hereafter enacted, agreed to, adopted, issued or
otherwise becoming effective.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, together
with the regulations thereunder, as now in effect and as hereafter from time to
time amended or any successor statute.

     "ERISA Affiliate" means, as of any date, any member of a controlled group
of corporations of which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a member, which, in
any event together with the Borrower are treated as of such date as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Code.

     "Euro-Rate" means, with respect to portions of the Loans to which the
Euro-Rate Option applies for any Interest Period, the interest rate per annum
determined by the Agent by dividing (the resulting quotient rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1% per annum) (i) the rate of interest
determined by the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures (which
determination shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) to be the average of
the London interbank offered rates for U.S. Dollars quoted by the British
Bankers' Association as set forth on Dow Jones Markets Service (formerly known
as Telerate) display page 3750 (or appropriate successor or, if British Bankers'
Association or its successor ceases to provide such quotes, a comparable
replacement determined by the Agent), two (2) Business Days prior to the first
day of such Interest Period for an amount comparable to such Loan and having a
Borrowing Date and a maturity comparable to such Interest Period by (ii) a
number equal to 1.00 minus the Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage. The Euro-Rate may
also be expressed by the following formula:

                            Average of London interbank offered rates on
                            Dow Jones Markets Service display page 3750
          Euro-Rate =       as quoted by BBA or appropriate successor
                            -------------------------------------------------
                            1.00 - Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage

     "Euro-Rate Option" means the interest rate option described in item (ii) of
Subsection 2.2b.

     "Euro-Rate Portion" means a Loan, or portion thereof, which bears, or is to
bear, interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate.

     "Euro-Rate Reserve Percentage" means, as of any day, the maximum effective
percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of
1%), as determined in good faith by the Agent (which determination shall be
conclusive), which is in effect on such day as prescribed by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the
reserve requirements (including, without limitation, supplemental, marginal and
emergency reserve requirements) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities").

          "Event of Default" has the meaning given it in Article VII.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

     "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum
(based on a year of 360 days and the actual days elapsed and rounded upward to
the nearest 1/100th of 1%) announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or
any successor) on such day as being the weighted average of the rates on
overnight federal funds transactions arranged by federal funds brokers on the
previous trading day, as computed and announced by Federal Reserve Bank New York
(or any successor) in substantially the same manner as such Federal Reserve Bank
computes and announces the weighted average it refers to as the "Federal Funds
Effective Rate" as of the date of this Agreement; provided, if such Federal
                                                  --------
Reserve Bank (or its successor) does not announce such rate on any day, the
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" for such day shall be the Federal Funds Effective
Rate for the last day for which such rate was announced.

     "Fees" means collectively the Agent's Fee, the Closing Fee, the Fronting
Fee, the Letter of Credit Fee and the Commitment Fee.

     "Fiscal Quarter" means the three month fiscal period of the Borrower
beginning on each October 1, January 1, April 1 and July 1 and ending on the
succeeding December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30.

     "Fiscal Year" means each fiscal period of the Borrower beginning January 1
and ending on the next succeeding December 31.

     "Fronting Fee" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection 2.6b.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as are in effect from
time to time, subject to the provision of Section 1.2, which shall include, but
not be limited to, the official interpretations thereof as defined by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, its predecessors and its successors, and
applied on a consistent basis both as to classification of items and amounts.

     "General Partner" means Penn Virginia GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company and the sole general partner of the Borrower.

     "General Revolving Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan not designated by
the Borrower as a Distribution Loan.

     "Governmental Acts" has the meaning given it in Subsection 2.6i.

     "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States or the
government of any state or locality therein, any political subdivision or any
governmental, quasi-governmental, judicial, public or statutory instrumentality,
authority, body or entity, or other regulatory bureau, authority, body or entity
of the United States or any state or locality therein, including the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any central bank of
any other country or any comparable authority.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

     "Governmental Rule" means any law, statute, rule, regulation, ordinance,
order, judgment, guideline or decision of any Governmental Authority.

     "Granting Lender" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6d.

     "Guarantor" means each Subsidiary of the Borrower in existence on the
Closing Date and each Person which becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower after
the Closing Date.

     "Guaranty" or "Guarantee" means any obligation, direct or indirect, by
which a Person undertakes to guaranty, assume or remain liable for the payment
or performance of another Person's obligations, including but not limited to (i)
endorsements of negotiable instruments, (ii) discounts with recourse, (iii)
agreements to pay or perform upon a second Person's failure to pay or perform,
(iv) remaining liable on obligations assumed by a second Person, (v) agreements
to maintain the capital, working capital solvency or general financial condition
of a second Person and (vi) agreements for the purchase or other acquisition of
products, materials, supplies or services, if in any case payment therefor is to
be made regardless of the non-delivery of such products, materials or supplies
or the non-furnishing of such services.

     "Guaranty Agreement" means any guaranty agreement executed by a Guarantor
in favor of the Agent and the Lenders and in the form of Exhibit "E" hereto,
                                                         ----------
together with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions and
replacements thereof or thereto.

     "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities of
such Person under interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements
and interest rate collar agreements, and all other agreements or arrangements
designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or
currency exchange rates.

     "Hazardous Substances" means any (i) hazardous, toxic or polluting
substances or wastes as defined by any Environmental Law or (ii) petroleum
products.

     "Hydrocarbon Interests" means all rights, titles and interests in and to
oil and gas leases, oil, gas and mineral leases, other Hydrocarbon leases,
mineral interests, mineral servitudes, overriding royalty interests, royalty
interests, net profits interests, production payment interests, and other
similar interests.

     "Hydrocarbons" means, collectively, oil, gas, casinghead gas, drip
gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate and all other liquid or
gaseous hydrocarbons and related minerals and all products therefrom, in each
case whether in a natural or a processed state.

     "Indebtedness" as applied to any Person means, without duplication, all
liabilities of such Person for borrowed money (other than trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business), direct or contingent, whether
evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, book entry or otherwise, and all
obligations and liabilities in the nature of a capitalized lease obligation,
deferred purchase price arrangement, title retention device, letter of credit
obligation, Hedging Obligation, reimbursement agreement, or Guaranty, however
evidenced.
                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     "Interest Period" means, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.2c, any
individual period of one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months selected by
the Borrower commencing on the Borrowing Date, conversion date or renewal date
of a Euro-Rate Portion to which such period shall apply.

     "Lease" means any lease, mineral lease, mining agreement or other agreement
to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party and pursuant to which one
Person transfers or grants to another Person the right to extract, mine or
otherwise remove coal.

     "Lender" has the meaning given in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "Letter of Credit" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection 2.6a.

     "Letter of Credit Borrowing" shall mean an extension of credit resulting
from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which shall not have been reimbursed
on the date when made and shall not have been converted into a Revolving Credit
Loan under Subsection 2.6d(B).

     "Letter of Credit Fee" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection 2.6b.

     "Letters of Credit Outstanding" shall mean at any time the sum of (i) the
aggregate undrawn face amount of outstanding Letters of Credit and (ii) the
aggregate amount of all unpaid and outstanding Reimbursement Obligations.

     "Loan Account" means the loan account maintained by the Agent as more fully
described in Section 2.11.

     "Loan Documents" means collectively this Agreement, the Notes, each
Guaranty Agreement, each Letter of Credit and any application relating thereto,
the Pledge Agreement, and any other documents executed and delivered in
connection herewith.

     "Loan Party" means the Borrower and each Guarantor.

     "Loans" means collectively Revolving Credit Loans, Term Loans or a
reference to either the Revolving Credit Loans or the Term Loans as the context
requires.

     "Margin Stock" is defined herein as defined in Regulation U.

     "Material Adverse Change" shall mean any set of circumstances or events
which (a) has or could reasonably be expected to have any material adverse
effect upon the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, (b) is or could reasonably be expected to be material and
adverse to the business, properties, assets, financial condition or results of
operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (c) impairs
materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to duly and punctually pay
their Indebtedness, or (d) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to
impair materially the ability of the Agent or any of

                                     -10-
<PAGE>

the Lenders to enforce their legal remedies pursuant to this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.

     "Material Contract" means any individual Lease or, collectively, group of
Leases, from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to a single operator or
affiliated group of operators which either (i) accounted for fifteen percent
(15%) or more of the gross revenues from royalties of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the previous Fiscal Year, or (ii) is projected to account for
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the gross revenues from royalties of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the current Fiscal Year, as shown on the
projections delivered to the Agent by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.2(x)
below.

     "Maturity Date" means ___________________, 2004.

     "MLP Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of the
Borrower, as amended, restated, or replaced from time to time to the extent
permitted under the Loan Documents.

     "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

     "Notes" shall mean collectively the Revolving Credit Notes and the Term
Notes; and the term "Note" shall mean any of the Notes.

     "Option" means any one or both of the Base Rate Option or the Euro-Rate
Option.

     "Participant" means any financial institution or other Person to which a
Lender sells a Participation in its Loan in accordance with Subsection 9.6c.

     "Participation" means the sale by a Lender to any Participant of an
undivided interest in all or any part of such Lender's Loan.

     "Participation Advance" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such
Lender's payment in respect of its participation in a Letter of Credit Borrowing
according to its Ratable Share pursuant to Subsection 2.6d.

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

     "Penn Virginia Coal Business" shall have the meaning given to such term in
____________.

     "Permitted Acquisition" shall have the meaning given it in Section 5.4.

     "Permitted Assets" means (i) property substantially of the type owned by,
and commonly used in the lines of business engaged by, Penn Virginia
Corporation, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries on the date hereof,
(ii) Hydrocarbon Interests, (iii) Hydrocarbon transmission pipelines, wells,
meters, and pumps, (iv) any rights, titles and interests in and to any

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

natural resources, including without limitation timber, (v) wetlands credits,
and (vi) any and all Property, real or personal, held for use or useful in
connection with the operating, working or development of any of such the
foregoing and including any and all wells, buildings, structures, plants, pumps,
field gathering systems, tanks and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings,
machinery and parts, engines, boilers, meters, apparatus, equipment, appliances,
tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, casing, tubing and rods, surface
leases, rights-of-way, easements and servitudes.

        "Property" means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether
real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

        "Permitted Encumbrance" shall mean, as to any Person, any of the
following:

          (i)    Encumbrances for taxes, assessments, governmental charges or
     levies on any of such Person's properties, which taxes, assessments,
     governmental charges or levies are at the time not due and payable or if
     they can thereafter be paid without penalty or are being contested in good
     faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to
     which the affected Person has created adequate reserves;

          (ii)   Pledges or deposits to secure payment of workers' compensation
     obligations, unemployment insurance, deposits or indemnities to secure
     public or statutory obligations or for similar purposes;

          (iii)  Encumbrances arising out of judgments or awards against such
     Person not giving rise to an Event of Default;

          (iv)   Mechanics', carriers', workmen's, repairmen's, operator's,
     vendor's, warehousemen's, supplier's, worker's, materialmen's, construction
     or other similar Encumbrances arising by operation of law and incurred in
     the ordinary course of such Person's business, so long as the obligation
     secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by
     appropriate actions or proceedings diligently conducted;

          (v)    Security interests in favor of lessors of personal property,
     which property is the subject of a true lease between such lessor and such
     Person;

          (vi)   Encumbrances securing Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date
     without enlargement or extension of the Indebtedness secured thereby or the
     assets encumbered thereby (any such Encumbrance securing Indebtedness on
     the Closing Date is listed on Schedule 5.2);
                                   ------------

          (vii) Easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, leases or subleases to
     others or other similar Encumbrances created in the ordinary course of
     business which Encumbrances do not interfere in any material respect with
     the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries;

          (viii) Encumbrances arising solely by virtue of any statutory or
     common law provision relating to banker's liens, rights of set-off or
     similar rights and remedies

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

     and burdening only deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a
     creditor depository institution, provided that (a) no such deposit account
                                      --------
     is a dedicated cash collateral account or is subject to restrictions
     against access by the depositor in excess of those set forth by regulations
     promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and
     (b) no such deposit account is intended by the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries to provide collateral to the depository institution;

          (ix)   Encumbrances (other than to secure the payment of borrowed
     money or the deferred purchase price of property or services), easements,
     restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or
     reservations in any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the
     purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission lines, transportation lines,
     distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or
     timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or common use of real
     estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment and defects,
     irregularities, zoning restrictions and deficiencies in title of any
     property that in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of such
     property for the purposes of which such property is held by the Borrower or
     any Subsidiary or materially impair the value of such property subject
     thereto; and

          (x)    Encumbrances securing (i) the performance (not more than 60
     days delinquent) of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money),
     leases, statutory obligations, (ii) contingent obligations on surety and
     appeal bonds, and (iii) other obligations of a like nature (so long as the
     performance of such obligations is not more than 60 days delinquent); in
     each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided all such
     Encumbrances in the aggregate does not or could not (even if enforced)
     reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.

        "Permitted Investments" shall mean the following:

        (i)   Direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency
or instrumentality thereof or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States of America maturing in twelve (12) months or less from the
date of acquisition;

        (ii)  Commercial paper maturing in 180 days or less rated not lower than
A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Moody's on the date of acquisition; and

        (iii) Dollar denominated demand deposits, time deposits or certificates
of deposit maturing within one year in domestic commercial banks of recognized
standing having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 and whose
commercial paper or other short-term unsecured debt obligations are rated A-1 or
the equivalent or better by S&P or P-1 or the equivalent or better by Moody's on
the date of acquisition.

        "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, joint
venture, banking association, unincorporated organization or any other entity or
enterprise or government or department or agency thereof.

        "Plan" means an employee pension benefit plan (other than a
multiemployer plan) which is maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
for employees of the Borrower or

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

any ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the
minimum funding standards under Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the
Code.

     "Pledge Agreement" means the pledge agreement executed by the Borrower in
favor of the Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) and in the form of Exhibit
                                                                       -------
"H" hereto, together with all extensions, renewals, amendments, substitutions,
---
and replacements thereof or thereto.

     "Portion" means either the Base Rate Portion, the Euro-Rate Portion, or
both of the foregoing, as the case may be.

     "Potential Default" means an event which, with the passage of time or the
giving of notice or both, shall be an Event of Default.

     "Prime Rate" means the interest rate per annum announced from time to time
by the PNC Bank, National Association as its prime rate, which rate may not be
the lowest rate of interest then being charged by the PNC Bank, National
Association to its commercial borrowers.

     "Purchasing Lender" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6a.

     "Qualifying Securities" means readily marketable direct obligations of the
Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or
obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the
Government of the United States to the extent owned by the Borrower free and
clear of all Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances created under the Pledge
Agreement) and having a remaining maturity not greater than [twelve (12)] months
and which have been pledged to, and are under the control of, the Agent pursuant
to, and in accordance with the terms of, the Pledge Agreement as Collateral for
the Term Loans.

     "Quarterly Distributions" means the distributions by the Borrower of
Available Cash (as defined in the MLP Agreement).

     "Ratable Share" means the proportion that a Lender's Commitment bears to
the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders.

     "Register" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6b.

     "Regulation D" means Regulation D promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 204 et seq.) as such regulation is
now in effect and as may hereafter be amended.

     "Regulation T" means Regulation T promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 220 et seq.) as such regulation is
now in effect and as may hereafter be amended.

     "Regulation U" means Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 221 et seq.) as such regulation is
now in effect and as may hereafter be amended.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

     "Regulation X" means Regulation X promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System (12 C.F.R. Part 224 et seq.) as such regulation is
now in effect and as may hereafter be amended.

     "Reimbursement Obligation" shall have the meaning given it in Subsection
2.6d(B).

     "Reportable Event" means any one or more event, defined in Section 4043(b)
of ERISA and in 29 C.F.R. Part 2615, other than an event for which the
requirement for the thirty (30) day notice to the PBGC is waived.

     "Required Lenders" means as of a particular date (i) prior to the
termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Lenders whose Commitment
Percentages aggregate at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
aggregate Commitment Percentages of all the Lenders and (ii) after the
termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, sixty-six and two-thirds
percent (66 2/3%) of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans and
the Letter of Credit Obligations, both at the particular time outstanding.

     "Restricted Payment" shall have the meaning given it in Section 5.1.

     "Revolving Credit Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the obligation of
such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans available to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.1A in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount captioned
"Revolving Credit Commitment" set opposite such Lender's name on the signature
pages hereto and thereafter on Schedule 1 of any relevant Assignment and
Assumption Agreement (as the same may be reduced at any time or from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.10) and, as to all Lenders, the obligation of the
Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans available to the Borrower in an aggregate
amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitments of all of the Lenders.

     "Revolving Credit Loan" means a Disbursement by a Lender to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.1A.

     "Revolving Credit Loan Request" shall have the meaning given it in
Subsection 2.1Ad.

     "Revolving Credit Notes" means any one or all of the several promissory
notes of the Borrower evidencing Indebtedness of the Borrower under the
Revolving Credit Commitments which notes are substantially in the form of
Exhibit "A" to the Agreement, together with all extensions, renewals,
-----------
amendments, modifications, substitutions and replacements thereto and thereof.

     "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Rating Group, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc.
and its successors.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

     "Secured Loans" means Term Loans that are secured by Qualifying Securities.
For the purposes of this definition, the amount of Term Loans constituting
Secured Loans on any day shall be equal to the aggregate mark-to-market value of
the Qualifying Securities held by the Agent as Collateral on such day which
value shall be marked-to-market by the Agent from time to time but no less
frequently than monthly.

     "Secured Obligations" has the meaning given to such term in the Pledge
Agreement.

     "Solvent" shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that
on such date (i) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than
the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent
liabilities, of such Person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets
of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and
matured, (iii) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts
and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they
mature in the normal course of business, (iv) such Person does not intend to,
and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such
Person's ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (v) such
Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage
in business or a transaction, for which such Person's property would constitute
unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing
practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or proposes to engage.
In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended
that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the
facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can
reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

     "SPC" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6d.

     "Subsidiary" of any Person at any time shall mean (i) any corporation or
trust of which more than 50% (by number of shares or number of votes) of the
outstanding capital stock or shares of beneficial interest normally entitled to
vote for the election of one or more directors or trustees (regardless of any
contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting rights) is at such
time owned directly or indirectly by such Person or one or more of such Person's
Subsidiaries, (ii) any partnership of which such Person is a general partner or
of which more than 50% of the partnership interests is at the time directly or
indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries, or
(iii) any limited liability company of which such Person is a member or of which
more than 50% of the limited liability company interests is at the time directly
or indirectly owned by such Person or one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to
"Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of a Borrower.

     "Term Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender
to make a Term Loan available to the Borrower on the Closing Date pursuant to
Section 2.1B an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount captioned
"Term Commitment" set opposite such Lender's name on the signature pages hereto
and thereafter on Schedule 1 of any relevant Assignment and Assumption Agreement
and, as to all Lenders, the obligation of the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

Lenders to make the Term Loans available to the Borrower on the Closing Date in
an aggregate amount equal to the Term Commitments of all of the Lenders.

     "Term Loan" shall mean a Disbursement by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant
to Section 2.1B.

     "Term Note" means any one or all of the several promissory notes of the
Borrower evidencing Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Term Commitments
which notes are substantially in the form of Exhibit "B" to the Agreement,
                                             -----------
together with all extensions, renewals, amendments, modifications, substitutions
and replacements thereto and thereof.

     "Termination Date" means __________, 2004.

     "Termination Proceedings" means any action taken by the PBGC under ERISA to
terminate any plan.

     "Transaction" means, collectively, (i) the formations, mergers,
contributions and other transfers of interests in certain corporations, limited
liability companies and/or partnerships, (ii) the conveyances of assets and
properties, (iii) the sale to the public of common units in the Borrower, (iv)
the disposition of the proceeds of such sale, and (v) those certain other
actions to take place on or about ____________, 2001 as contemplated and
described in the Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-_____, as amended.

     "Transfer Effective Date" has the meaning given it in each respective
Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

     "Transferor Lender" has the meaning given it in Subsection 9.6a.

1.2  Accounting Principles. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
     ---------------------
computations and determinations as to accounting or financial matters and all
financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be made
and prepared in accordance with GAAP (including principles of consolidation
where appropriate), and all accounting or financial terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to such terms by GAAP; provided, however, that all accounting
                                         --------  -------
terms used in Section 5.3 (and all defined terms used in the definition of any
accounting term used in Section 5.3) shall have the meaning given to such terms
(and defined terms) under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof applied on a
basis consistent with those used in preparing the financial statements referred
to in Subsection 3.7a. In the event of any change after the date hereof in GAAP,
and if such change would result in the inability to determine compliance with
the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.3 based upon the Borrower's
regularly prepared financial statements by reason of the preceding sentence,
then the parties hereto agree to endeavor, in good faith, to agree upon an
amendment to this Agreement that would adjust such financial covenants in a
manner that would not affect the substance thereof, but would allow compliance
therewith to be determined in accordance with the Borrower's financial
statements at that time.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

1.3       Other Definitional Conventions and Rules of Construction. (i) The
          --------------------------------------------------------
words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used
in this Agreement shall, unless otherwise expressly specified, refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and
Article, Section and Subsection references are to this Agreement unless
otherwise expressly specified.

          (ii)  All terms defined in this Agreement in the singular shall have
     comparable meanings when used in plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise
     specified.

          (iii) The word "or" as used herein shall mean and connote nonexclusive
     alternatives, unless expressly stated or the context clearly requires
     otherwise.

ARTICLE II. THE LOANS

2.1A      Revolving Credit Loans
          ----------------------

2.1Aa     General Revolving Loans; Distribution Loans. Subject to the terms and
          -------------------------------------------
conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set
forth, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the
Borrower at any time from time to time on or after the date hereof to, but not
including, the Termination Date, provided that the aggregate principal amount of
each Lender's Revolving Credit Loans outstanding hereunder to the Borrower shall
not exceed at any one time an amount equal to such Lender's Commitment
Percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments minus such Lender's
                                                         -----
Ratable Share of the Letters of Credit Outstanding. Within such limits of time
and amount and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower
may borrow, repay and reborrow pursuant to this Subsection 2.1Aa. The aggregate
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments on the Closing Date is $50,000,000.
General Revolving Loans shall be available to the Borrower solely for the
purposes set forth in Section 4.1(i). Revolving Credit Loans in an amount not to
exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding shall be
available for the purposes set forth in Section 4.1(ii) (each such Loan, a
"Distribution Loan"), subject to the requirements of Section 4.12 hereof.

2.1Ab     Revolving Credit Commitment of Each Lender. The obligations of each
          ------------------------------------------
Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder are several. The failure of any
Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans hereunder shall not affect the obligations
of the Borrower, or any other Lender, to any other party nor shall the Borrower,
or any other Lender, be liable for the failure of such Lender to make Revolving
Credit Loans hereunder. The Lenders shall have no obligation to make Revolving
Credit Loans hereunder on or after the Termination Date.

2.1Ac     Revolving Credit Notes. The obligation of the Borrower to repay, on or
          ----------------------
before the Termination Date, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all
Revolving Credit Loans shall be evidenced by the several Revolving Credit Notes,
each substantially in the form of Exhibit "A" hereto, drawn by the Borrower to
                                  -----------
the order of a Lender in the maximum amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment. The principal amount actually due and owing to a Lender at any time
with respect to its Revolving Credit Commitment shall be the then aggregate

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender as
shown on the Loan Account established and maintained by the Agent in accordance
with Section 2.11. Each Revolving Credit Note shall be dated the date hereof and
shall be delivered to the Lenders on such date.

2.1Ad     Revolving Credit Loan Request. Except as otherwise provided herein,
          -----------------------------
the Borrower may from time to time prior to the Termination Date request the
Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower by the delivery to the
Agent, not later than 11:00 A.M. (eastern time) (i) three (3) Business Days
prior to the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving
Credit Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies; and (ii) on the Business Day
of the proposed Borrowing Date with respect to the making of Revolving Credit
Loans to which the Base Rate Option applies of a duly completed request therefor
substantially in the form of Exhibit "C" hereto or a request by telephone
                             -----------
immediately confirmed in writing by letter or facsimile in such form (each, a
"Revolving Credit Loan Request"), it being understood that the Agent may rely on
the authority of any person making such a telephonic request without the
necessity of receipt of such written confirmation. Each Revolving Credit Loan
Request shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the proposed Borrowing Date;
(ii) whether the Revolving Credit Loan is a General Revolving Loan or a
Distribution Loan; (iii) the aggregate amount of the proposed Revolving Credit
Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date, which amount, as to Base Rate Portions
of Revolving Credit Loans, shall be in integral multiples of $100,000 and not
less than $300,000, and, as to Euro-Rate Portions of Revolving Credit Loans,
shall be in integral multiples of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000; (iv)
whether the Euro-Rate Option or the Base Rate Option shall apply to the proposed
Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such Borrowing Date; and (v) in the case of
Revolving Credit Loans to which the Euro-Rate Option applies, an appropriate
Interest Period for each Euro-Rate Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans to be
made on such Borrowing Date.

2.1Ae     Making Revolving Credit Loans. The Agent shall, promptly after receipt
          -----------------------------
by it of a Revolving Credit Loan Request pursuant to Subsection 2.1Ad (but not
later than noon (eastern time) on the Borrowing Date for same day funding and
2:00 P.M. (eastern time) on the second Business Day preceding any Borrowing Date
for which any Portion of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such Borrowing
Date bears interest at the Euro-Rate Option), notify the Lenders of its receipt
of such Revolving Credit Loan Request specifying: (i) the proposed Borrowing
Date and the time and method of disbursement of such Revolving Credit Loan; (ii)
the amount and type of such Revolving Credit Loan and the applicable Euro-Rate
Portions and Interest Periods (if any); and (iii) the apportionment among the
Lenders of the Revolving Credit Loans as determined by the Agent in accordance
with Subsection 2.1b hereof. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of
each Revolving Credit Loan to the Agent such that the Agent is able to, and the
Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have made funds available to it for such
purpose, fund such Revolving Credit Loan to the Borrower in Dollars and
immediately available funds at the principal office of the Agent in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania prior to 2:00 P.M. (eastern time) on the Borrowing Date, provided
that if any Lender fails to remit such funds to the Agent in a timely manner, or
any Lender fails to advise the Agent of its intention not to fund, then the
Agent may elect in its sole discretion to fund with its own funds the Revolving
Credit Loan of such Lender on the Borrowing Date, subject to the provisions of
Section 8.3 below.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

2.1B      Term Loans
          ----------

2.1Ba     Term Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying
          ----------
upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, each Lender severally
agrees to make a single Disbursement of a Term Loan to the Borrower on the
Closing Date in such principal amount as the Borrower shall request up to, but
not exceeding, such Lender's Term Commitment. The aggregate amount of the Term
Commitments on the Closing Date is $20,000,000. Amounts borrowed under this
Section 2.1B and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. The Term Loans shall
be available to the Borrower solely for the purposes set forth in Section
4.1(iv).

2.1Bb     Term Commitment of Each Lender. The obligations of each Lender to make
          ------------------------------
a Term Loan hereunder are several. The failure of any Lender to make a Term Loan
hereunder shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower, or any other Lender,
to any other party nor shall the Borrower, or any other Lender, be liable for
the failure of such Lender to make a Term Loan hereunder. The Lenders shall have
no obligation to make Term Loans hereunder after the Closing Date.

2.1Bc     Term Notes. The obligation of the Borrower to repay, on or before the
          ----------
Maturity Date, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term Loans shall be
evidenced by the several Term Notes, each substantially in the form of Exhibit
                                                                       -------
"B" hereto, drawn by the Borrower to the order of a Lender in the maximum amount
---
of such Lender's Term Commitment. The principal amount actually due and owing to
a Lender at any time with respect to its Term Commitment shall be the then
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan made by such Lender as shown
on the Loan Account established and maintained by the Agent in accordance with
Section 2.11. Each Term Note shall be dated the date hereof and shall be
delivered to the Lenders on such date.

2.1Bd     Making the Term Loans. Each Lender shall remit the principal amount of
          ---------------------
its Term Loan to the Agent by 1:00 p.m. (eastern time) on the Closing Date such
that the Agent is able to, and the Agent shall, to the extent the Lenders have
made funds available to it for such purpose, fund such Term Loans to the
Borrower or to the Borrower's account in Dollars and immediately available funds
at the principal office of the Agent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by 3:00 p.m.
(eastern time) on the Closing Date, provided that if any Lender fails to remit
such funds to the Agent in a timely manner, or any Lender fails to advise the
Agent of its intention not to fund, then the Agent may elect in its sole
discretion to fund with its own funds the Loan of such Lender on the Borrowing
Date, subject to the provisions of Section 8.3 below. The Term Loans shall
initially bear interest at the Base Rate Option.

2.2       Interest Rates, Interest Payment and Certain Provisions Relating to
          -------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest and Fees.
------------------

2.2a      Payments of Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the principal
          --------------------
amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding hereunder, from the date
thereof until payment in full, at the rates of interest determined pursuant to
this Section 2.2. The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on the unpaid
principal balance of the Loans in arrears: (i) with respect to each Base Rate
Portion, at the Base Rate on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter during the term

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

thereof; (ii) with respect to each Euro-Rate Portion, at the Adjusted Euro-Rate
on the last day of each Interest Period as provided for in Subsection 2.3c
(provided, however, if the Interest Period chosen for a Euro-Rate Portion
exceeds three (3) months, interest on that Euro-Rate Portion shall be due and
payable on the day which is (A) three months after the first day of such
Interest Period and (B) the last day of such Interest Period); and (iii) with
respect to all such Portions, at the applicable interest rate (A) when due, at
maturity, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and (B) after maturity, on
demand until paid in full.

2.2b      Interest Rate Options. The unpaid principal amount of the Loans shall
          ---------------------
bear interest, for each day until due, at one or more rates of interest selected
by the Borrower from among the Options set forth below; it being understood
that, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower may select
different Options to apply simultaneously to different Portions of the Loans and
may select different Interest Periods to apply simultaneously to different
Portions of the Euro-Rate Portions of the Loans.

          (i)  Base Rate Option: A rate of interest per annum (computed upon the
               ----------------
     basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and the actual
     number of days elapsed) equal to the Base Rate. The rate of interest per
     annum under the Base Rate Option shall be adjusted automatically, from time
     to time, upon each change in the Base Rate.

          (ii) Euro-Rate Option: A rate of interest per annum (computed on the
               ----------------
     basis of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed) equal to
     the sum of (A) the Euro-Rate plus (B) the Applicable Euro-Rate Margin from
                                  ----
     time to time in effect (the "Adjusted Euro-Rate"). The Adjusted Euro-Rate
     for each Euro-Rate Portion then outstanding shall be adjusted
     automatically, from time to time, effective upon each change in the
     Applicable Euro-Rate Margin resulting from an increase or decrease in the
     Borrower's ratio of Consolidated Total Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA.

2.2c      Interest Periods; Limitations on Elections. At any time when the
          ------------------------------------------
Borrower shall select, convert to or renew at the Euro-Rate Option with respect
to all or any Portion of the outstanding Loans, it shall fix one or more
Interest Periods during which such Option(s) shall apply. All of the foregoing,
however, is subject to the following:

          (i)  any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
     not a Business Day shall be extended to the next Business Day unless such
     Business Day falls in the succeeding calendar month in which case such
     Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; and

          (ii) any Interest Period which begins on the last day of a calendar
     month or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in
     the subsequent calendar month during which such Interest Period is to end
     shall end on the last Business Day of such subsequent month.

     In addition, elections by the Borrower of the Euro-Rate Option shall be
subject to the following further limitations:

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

          (i)   The Euro-Rate Portions for each Interest Period shall be in
     integral multiples of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000;

          (ii)  (x) If an Interest Period is elected with regard to amounts
     outstanding under the Revolving Credit Commitments and such Interest Period
     would end after the Termination Date, such Interest Period shall end on the
     Termination Date, and (y) if an Interest Period is elected with regard the
     amounts outstanding under the Term Commitments and such Interest Period
     would end after the Maturity Date, such Interest Period shall end on the
     Maturity Date; and

          (iii) At no time may there be more than six (6) Interest Periods in
     effect relating to Loans; provided, however if a Base Rate Portion is
     outstanding there shall be not more than five (5) Interest Periods in
     effect relating to Loans.

2.2d      Election, Conversion or Renewal of Interest Rate Options. Elections of
          --------------------------------------------------------
or conversions to the Base Rate Option shall continue in effect until converted
to the Euro-Rate Option as hereinafter provided. Elections of, conversions to or
renewals of the Euro-Rate Option shall expire as to each Euro-Rate Portion at
the expiration of the applicable Interest Period.

          At any time, with respect to any Base Rate Portion, or at the
expiration of the applicable Interest Period, with respect to any Euro-Rate
Portion, the Borrower (subject to Subsection 2.2c) may cause all or any part of
the principal amount of such Portion to be converted to and/or (in the case of a
Euro-Rate Portion) to be renewed under the Euro-Rate Option by notice to each of
the Lenders as hereinafter provided. Such notice (i) shall be irrevocable; (ii)
shall be given not later than 11:00 A.M. (eastern time) in the case of a
conversion to or renewal of, either in whole or in part, the Euro-Rate Option on
the third Business Day prior to the proposed effective date for the conversion
or renewal; and (iii) shall set forth:

          (A) the effective date of such conversion or renewal, which shall be a
     Business Day;

          (B) the new Interest Period(s) selected; and

          (C) with respect to each such Interest Period, the aggregate principal
     amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion.

          At the expiration of each Interest Period, any part (including the
whole) of the principal amount of the corresponding Euro-Rate Portion as to
which no notice of conversion or renewal has been received as provided above,
shall automatically be converted to the Base Rate Option.

2.2e      Notification of Election of an Interest Rate Option. Any communication
          ---------------------------------------------------
under Subsection 2.1Ad, 2.2b or 2.2d may be oral or written and if oral, it
shall be followed immediately by written confirmation of such Option election
executed by an Authorized Officer.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

2.2f      Interest After Default. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
          ----------------------
and during the continuance of such Event of Default, or after the principal
amount of all or any part of the Base Rate Portions of the Loans shall have
become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise and whether or not
judgment has been entered against the Borrower thereon, all Base Rate Portions
shall bear interest at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200) basis
points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Base Rate
Option, such interest rate to change automatically from time to time, effective
as of the effective date of each change in the Base Rate. Upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default, and during the continuance of such Event of Default, or
after the principal amount of all or any part of the Euro-Rate Portions of the
Loans shall have become due and payable, whether by acceleration or otherwise
and whether or not judgment has been entered against the Borrower thereon, all
such Euro-Rate Portions shall bear interest (i) until the end of the then
current Interest Period, at a rate per annum which shall be two hundred (200)
basis points (2%) per annum above the rate otherwise in effect under the Euro-
Rate Option, and (ii) at the end of the then current Interest Period, and
thereafter at the sum of (A) the Base Rate plus (B) two hundred (200) basis
                                           ----
points (2%) per annum.

2.3       Yield-Protection, Capital Adequacy and Miscellaneous Provisions
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
Relating to Euro-Rate.
---------------------

2.3a      Yield Protection. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section
          ----------------
2.3:

          (i)  With respect to any Lender, if any Governmental Rule, or if any
     change therein on or after the date hereof, or in the interpretation
     thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration
     thereof, shall:

               (A) subject such Lender to any tax, levy, impost, charge, fee,
     duty, deduction or withholding of any kind with respect to payments of
     principal or interest or other amounts due hereunder (other than any tax
     imposed or based upon the income, gross receipts or capital or franchise
     taxes of such Lender and payable to any Governmental Authority in the
     United States of America or any state thereof and other than taxes due by a
     failure of such Lender to comply with Section 9.4); or

               (B) change the basis of taxation of such Lender with respect to
     payments of principal or interest or other amounts due hereunder (other
     than any change which affects, and only to the extent that it affects, the
     taxation by the United States or any state thereof of the total net income
     of such Lender); or

               (C) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special
     deposit or similar requirements against assets held by such Lender
     applicable to its Commitment or Loans made hereunder (other than such
     requirements which are included in the determination of the applicable rate
     of interest hereunder); or

               (D) impose upon such Lender any other obligation or condition
     with respect to this Agreement,

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

     and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the
     affected Lender, reduce the income receivable by the affected Lender,
     reduce the rate of return on the affected Lender's capital, or impose any
     expenses upon the affected Lender, all with respect to any of the Loans (or
     any portion thereof) by an amount which the affected Lender reasonably
     deems material, and if the affected Lender is then demanding similar
     compensation for such occurrences from other borrowers who are similarly
     situated and who have a similar relationship with the affected Lender and
     from which the affected Lender has the right to demand such compensation,
     then and in any such case:

               (1) the affected Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower of the
          happening of such event;

               (2) the Borrower shall pay to the affected Lender, on demand,
          such amount as will compensate the affected Lender for such reduction
          in its rate of return; and

               (3) the Borrower may pay the affected portion of the affected
          Lender's Loans in full without the payment of any additional amount,
          including prepayment penalties, other than amounts payable on account
          of the affected Lender's out-of-pocket losses (including funding loss,
          if any, as provided in Section 2.9) which are not otherwise provided
          for in subparagraph (2) immediately above.

          (ii) A certificate as to the increased cost or reduced amount as a
     result of any event mentioned in this Subsection 2.3a shall be promptly
     submitted by the affected Lender to the Borrower in accordance with the
     provisions hereof. Such certificate shall be prima facie evidence as to the
     amount of such increased cost or reduced amount.

2.3b      Capital Adequacy. If, after the date hereof, (i) any adoption of or
          ----------------
any change in or in the interpretation of any Governmental Rule, or (ii)
compliance with any Governmental Rule of any Governmental Authority exercising
control over banks or financial institutions generally or any court of competent
jurisdiction, requires that the Commitment (including, without limitation,
obligations in respect of any Loans) hereunder be treated as an asset or
otherwise be included for purposes of calculating the appropriate amount of
capital to be maintained by any Lender or any corporation controlling any Lender
(a "Capital Adequacy Event"), the result of which is to reduce the rate of
return on a Lender's capital as a consequence of its Commitment to a level below
that which the affected Lender could have achieved but for such Capital Adequacy
Event, taking into consideration the Lender's policies with respect to capital
adequacy, by an amount which the affected Lender reasonably deems to be
material, the affected Lender shall promptly deliver to the Borrower a statement
of the amount necessary to compensate the affected Lender or the reduction in
the rate of return on its capital attributable to its Commitment (the "Capital
Compensation Amount"). The affected Lender shall determine the Capital
Compensation Amount in good faith, using reasonable attribution and averaging
methods. Each affected Lender shall from time to time notify the Borrower of the
amount so determined. Each such notification shall be prima facie evidence of
the amount of the Capital Compensation Amount set forth therein, and such
Capital Compensation Amount shall be due

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

and payable by the Borrower to the affected Lender thirty (30) days after such
notice is given. As soon as practicable after any Capital Adequacy Event, the
affected Lender shall submit to the Borrower estimates of the Capital
Compensation Amounts that would be payable as a function of the affected
Lender's Commitment hereunder.

2.3c      Euro-Rate Unascertainable. If, on any date on which the Adjusted Euro-
          -------------------------
Rate would otherwise be set, the Agent reasonably shall have determined (which
determination shall be final and conclusive) that by reason of circumstances
affecting the interbank Eurodollar market, adequate and reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Euro-Rate, the Agent shall give prompt notice of such
determination to the Borrower and the Lenders and, until the Agent notifies the
Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such
determination no longer exist, the right of the Borrower to borrow under,
convert to or renew the Euro-Rate Option shall be suspended with respect to any
period for which the Euro-Rate is not ascertainable, and with respect to any
such period, any notice of borrowing under, conversion to or renewal of the
Euro-Rate Option which was to become effective during the period of such
suspension shall be treated as a request to borrow under, convert to or renew at
the Base Rate Option with respect to the principal amount therein specified.

2.3d      Illegality. If a Lender shall determine in good faith (which
          ----------
determination shall be final and conclusive) that compliance by such Lender with
any applicable law, treaty or other Governmental Rule (whether or not having the
force of law), or the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority, has made it unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain the Loans
under the Euro-Rate Option (including but not limited to acquiring Eurodollar
liabilities to fund such Loans), such Lender shall give notice of such
determination to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless and until the affected
Lender shall have given notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer apply:

          (i)  with respect to any Interest Periods thereafter commencing,
     interest on the Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate (whichever
     one or more have been determined by the affected Lender to be unlawful)
     shall, unless the Borrower shall have selected a different Option which is
     then available, be computed and payable under the Base Rate Option; and

          (ii) on such date, if any, as shall be required by law, any Loans
     bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate then outstanding shall be
     automatically converted to the Base Rate Option, and the Borrower shall pay
     to the affected Lender the accrued and unpaid interest on such Loans to
     (but not including) the date of such conversion at the applicable interest
     rate or rates in effect for such Loans prior to such conversion.

2.4       Fees.
          ----

2.4a      Closing Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lenders, on or before
          -----------
the Closing Date, a Closing Fee, in such amounts as agreed upon between the
Borrower and each Lender.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

2.4b      Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent on behalf of
          --------------
the Lenders, on a pro rata basis, beginning on December 31, 2001, and continuing
quarterly in arrears thereafter on the last day of each March, June, September
and December during the term hereof to and including the Termination Date, a
Commitment Fee calculated at a rate per annum equal to the Commitment Fee Rate
on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment for the
quarter then ending; provided, however, the first payment under this Subsection
                     --------
2.4b shall be only for the actual number of days elapsed between the Closing
Date and December 31, 2001, and the last payment under this Subsection 2.4b
shall be only for the actual number of days elapsed between the last quarterly
payment date and the Termination Date. If there is any change in the Commitment
Fee Rate during the quarter, the Commitment Fee shall be calculated with respect
to each period that the Commitment Fee Rate was in effect during such quarter.

2.4c      Agent's Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for its own
          -----------
account the non-refundable Agent's Fees for the Agent's services hereunder under
the terms of that certain letter (the "Agent's Letter") between the Borrower and
Agent dated July 2, 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time.

2.4d      Letter of Credit Fee and Fronting Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the
          -------------------------------------
Agent, from time to time, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Letter of Credit
Fee as set forth in Subsection 2.6b. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, from
time to time, for its sole account, the Fronting Fee as set forth in Subsection
2.6b.

2.5       Calculation of Interest and Certain Fees. The calculation of the
          ----------------------------------------
amount of interest due and owing to each Lender shall be made by the Agent and
shall be evidenced by the Agent posting the amount of interest due under such
Lender's Loans to the Loan Account established pursuant to Section 2.11. The
Commitment Fee shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and actual
number of days elapsed. The calculation of the amount of the Commitment Fee due
and owing to each Lender shall be made by the Agent and shall be evidenced by
posting such amount due under the Loan Account established pursuant to Section
2.11.

2.6       Letter of Credit Sub-Facility.
          -----------------------------

2.6a      Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may request the issuance
          -----------------------------
of a letter of credit (each a "Letter of Credit") by delivering to the Agent a
completed application and agreement for letters of credit in such form as the
Agent may specify from time to time by no later than 10:00 A.M., Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania time, at least five (5) business Days, or such shorter period as
may be agreed to by the Agent, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Each
Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof and in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set
forth in this Section 2.6, the Agent will issue a Letter of Credit provided that
each Letter of Credit shall (A) have a maximum maturity of one year from the
date of issuance, and (B) in no event expire later than ten (10) Business Days
prior to the Termination Date and providing that in no event shall the aggregate
amount of Letters of Credit Outstanding exceed, at any one time, $2,000,000. The
amount of Letters of Credit Outstanding at any time shall reduce the maximum
amount otherwise available

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

for Revolving Credit Loans under the Revolving Credit Commitments. No Letters of
Credit may be issued hereunder to the extent that such issuance would cause the
sum of (i) the Letters of Credit Outstanding plus (ii) the aggregate amount of
                                             ----
Revolving Credit Loans outstanding to exceed the aggregate amount of Revolving
Credit Commitments then in effect.

2.6b      Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the
          ---------------------
ratable account of the Lenders a fee (the "Letter of Credit Fee") equal to the
Applicable Euro-Rate Margin for Loans other than Secured Loans (computed on the
basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed), which fees shall be
computed on the daily average amount of the Letters of Credit Outstanding and
shall be payable quarterly in arrears commencing with the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December following issuance of each Letter of
Credit. The Borrower shall also pay to the Agent for the Agent's sole account
(i) one-eighth of one percent (.125%) per annum of the amount of any Letters of
Credit Outstanding (the "Fronting Fee") quarterly in arrears, and (ii) as
incurred the Agent's then current customary fees and administrative expenses
payable with respect to the Letters of Credit as the Agent may generally charge
or incur from time to time in connection with the issuance, maintenance,
modification (if any), assignment or transfer (if any), negotiation, and
administration of Letters of Credit.

2.6c      Letter of Credit Fees Upon Default. (A) Upon the occurrence of an
          ----------------------------------
Event of Default, and during the continuance of such Event of Default, or (B)
upon the acceleration of the Bank Indebtedness for any reason hereunder, the
Letter of Credit Fee shall be automatically increased by two percent (2%) in
excess of the applicable Letter of Credit Fee then in effect.

2.6d      Disbursements, Reimbursement.
          ----------------------------

          (A) Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each
Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to,
purchase from the Agent a participation in such Letter of Credit and each
drawing thereunder in an amount equal to such Lender's Ratable Share of the
maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and the amount
of such drawing, respectively.

          (B) In the event of any request for a drawing under a Letter of Credit
by the beneficiary or transferee thereof, the Agent will promptly notify the
Borrower of the amount of such drawing and the date such payment shall be made.
The Borrower shall reimburse (such obligation to reimburse the Agent shall
sometimes be referred to as a "Reimbursement Obligation") the Agent for any
amount paid by the Agent under any Letter of Credit (each such date of a payment
by the Agent under a Letter of Credit, a "Drawing Date") in an amount equal to
the amount so paid by the Agent. Such Reimbursement Obligation shall be paid
prior to 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time, on the Drawing Date. In the
event the Borrower fails to reimburse the Agent for the full amount of any
drawing under any Letter of Credit by 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time,
on the Drawing Date, the Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof, and the
Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that Revolving Credit Loans be made
by the Lenders under the Base Rate Option to be disbursed on the Drawing Date
under such Letter of Credit, subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of
the Commitments (without giving effect to outstanding Letters of Credit) and
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 other than any notice
requirements. Any notice given by the Agent pursuant to this

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

Subsection 2.6d(B) may be oral if immediately confirmed in writing; provided
                                                                    --------
that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the
conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

          (C) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Subsection 2.6d(B)
make available to the Agent an amount in immediately available funds equal to
its Ratable Share of the amount of the drawing, whereupon the participating
Lenders shall (subject to Subsection 2.6d(D)) each be deemed to have made a
Revolving Credit Loan under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in that amount.
If any Lender so notified fails to make available to the Agent for the account
of the Agent the amount of such Lender's Ratable Share of such amount by no
later than 2:00 P.M., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time on the Drawing Date, then
interest shall accrue on such Lender's obligation to make such payment, from the
Drawing Date to the date on which such Lender makes such payment (i) at a rate
per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate during the first three days
following the Drawing Date and (ii) at a rate per annum equal to the rate
applicable to Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option on and after the
fourth day following the Drawing Date. The Agent will promptly give notice of
the occurrence of the Drawing Date to each Lender, but failure of the Agent to
give any such notice on the Drawing Date or in sufficient time to enable any
Lender to effect such payment on such date shall not relieve such Lender from
its obligation under this Subsection 2.6d(C).

          (D) With respect to any unreimbursed drawing that is not converted
into Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option to the Borrower in whole
or in part as contemplated by Subsection 2.6d(B), because of the Borrower's
failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 other than any notice
requirements or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
incurred from the Agent a Letter of Credit Borrowing in the amount of such
drawing. Such Letter of Credit Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand
(together with interest) and shall bear interest at the rate per annum
applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans under the Base Rate Option as adjusted
to reflect the default rate provisions set forth in Subsection 2.2f. Each
Lender's payment to the Agent pursuant to Subsection 2.6d(C) shall be deemed to
be a payment in respect of its participation in such Letter of Credit Borrowing
and shall constitute a Participation Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of
its participation obligation under this Subsection 2.6d. The provisions of this
Subsection (D) are solely for the benefit of the Agent, as issuer of the Letters
of Credit, and shall not be deemed to excuse, waive or consent to an Event of
Default under Section 7.1 arising from an unreimbursed drawing giving rise to a
Participation Advance.

2.6e      Repayment of Participation Advances.
          -----------------------------------

          (A) Upon (and only upon) receipt by the Agent for its account of
immediately available funds from the Borrower (i) in reimbursement of any
payment made by the Agent under the Letter of Credit with respect to which any
Lender has made a Participation Advance to the Agent, or (ii) in payment of
interest on such a payment made by the Agent under such a Letter of Credit, the
Agent will pay to each Lender, in the same funds as those received by the Agent,
the amount of such Bank's Ratable Share of such funds, except the Agent shall
retain the amount of the Ratable Share of such funds of any Lender that did not
make a Participation Advance in respect of such payment by Agent.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

          (B) If the Agent is required at any time to return to the Borrower, or
to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian, or any official in any proceeding
described in Section 7.3, any portion of the payments made by the Borrower to
the Agent pursuant to Subsection 2.6d(B) in reimbursement of a payment made
under the Letter of Credit or interest or fee thereon, each Lender shall, on
demand of the Agent, forthwith return to the Agent the amount of its Ratable
Share of any amounts so returned by the Agent plus interest thereon from the
date such demand is made to the date such amounts are returned by such Lender to
the Agent, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in
effect from time to time.

2.6f      Documentation. The Borrower agrees to be bound by the terms of the
          -------------
Agent's application and agreement for letters of credit and the Agent's written
regulations and customary practices relating to letters of credit, though such
interpretation may be different from the Borrower's own. In the event of a
conflict between such application or agreement and this Agreement, this
Agreement shall govern. It is understood and agreed that, except in the case of
gross negligence or willful misconduct, the Agent shall not be liable for any
error and/or mistakes, whether of omission or commission, in following the
Borrower's instructions or those contained in the Letters of Credit or any
modifications, amendments or supplements thereto.

2.6g      Determinations to Honor Drawing Requests. In determining whether to
          ----------------------------------------
honor any request for drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary
thereof, the Agent shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and
certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been
delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such
Letter of Credit.

2.6h      Nature of Participation and Reimbursement Obligations. Each Lender's
          -----------------------------------------------------
obligation in accordance with this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans
or Participation Advances, as contemplated by Subsection 2.6d, as a result of a
drawing under a Letter of Credit, and the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse the Agent upon a draw under a Letter of Credit, shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Section 2.6 under all circumstances, including the
following circumstances:

          (i)   any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right
     which such Lender may have against the Agent, the Borrower or any other
     Person for any reason whatsoever;

          (ii)   the failure of the Borrower or any other Person to comply, in
     connection with a Letter of Credit Borrowing, with the conditions set forth
     in Sections 2.1A, 2.2 or 6.1 or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement
     for the making of a Revolving Credit Loan, it being acknowledged that such
     conditions are not required for the making of a Letter of Credit Borrowing
     and the obligation of the Lenders to make Participation Advances under
     Subsection 2.6d; provided, however the aggregate amount thereof shall in no
     event exceed the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments;

          (iii)  any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

          (iv)   the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right
     which the Borrower or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary
     or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such
     transferee may be acting), the Agent or any Lender or any other Person or,
     whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
     herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction
     between the Borrower and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was
     procured);

          (v)    any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented
     under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or
     insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or
     inaccurate in any respect even if the Agent has been notified thereof;

          (vi)   payment by the Agent under any Letter of Credit against
     presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does
     not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

          (vii)  any adverse change in the business, operations, properties,
     assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower;

          (viii) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any
     party thereto;

          (ix)   the occurrence or continuance of any proceeding described in
     Section 7.3 with respect to the Borrower;

          (x)    the fact that an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
     continuing;

          (xi)   the fact that the Termination Date shall have passed or this
     Agreement or the Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder shall have been
     terminated; and

          (xii)  any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not
     similar to any of the foregoing.

2.6i      Indemnity. In addition to amounts payable as provided in Section 9.16,
          ---------
the Borrower hereby agrees to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the
Agent from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages,
losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and
disbursements of counsel and allocated costs of internal counsel) which the
Agent may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (i)
the issuance of any Letter of Credit, other than as a result of (A) gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent as determined by a final judgment
of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) subject to the following clause
(ii), the wrongful dishonor by the Agent of a proper demand for payment made
under any Letter of Credit, or (ii) the failure of the Agent to honor a drawing
under any such Letter of Credit as a result of any act or omission, whether
rightful or

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto Governmental Authority
(all such acts or omissions herein called "Governmental Acts").

2.6j Liability for Acts and Omissions. As between the Borrower and the Agent,
     --------------------------------
the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omission of, or misuse of the
Letters of Credit by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Agent shall not be
responsible for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or
legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the
application for an issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in
fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate,
fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument
transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of
Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in
part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) the
failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit, or any other party to
which such Letter of Credit may be transferred, to comply fully with any
conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit so long as the
documents presented in connection with such draw appear on their face to
substantially comply with the terms and conditions of the relevant Letter of
Credit; (iv) any claim of the Borrower against any beneficiary of any such
Letter of Credit, or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, or any dispute
between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any
such transferee; (v) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission
or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise,
whether or not they be in cipher; (vi) errors in interpretation of technical
terms; (vii) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document
required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the
proceeds thereof; (viii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such
Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or
(ix) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Agent,
including any Governmental Acts, and none of the above shall affect or impair,
or prevent the vesting of, any of the Agent's rights or powers hereunder.
Nothing in the preceding sentence shall relieve the Agent from liability for the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with actions or
omissions described in such clauses (i) through (viii) of such sentence.

2.6k Uniform Customs. Except and to the extent inconsistent with the specific
     ---------------
provisions hereof, this Agreement, each Letter of Credit hereunder and all
transactions in connection therewith shall be interpreted, construed and
enforced according to: (i) the "Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits" (1993 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500
or the "International Standby Practices 1998", International Chamber of Commerce
Publication No. 590, as applicable, and in each case subsequent revisions
thereof, which shall supersede inconsistent provisions of applicable law to the
extent not prohibited by applicable law and (ii) the laws of the jurisdiction in
which the office of the Agent is located for purposes of issuing Letters of
Credit hereunder including, without limitation, the Uniform Commercial Code, and
excluding conflict of laws rules.

2.7 Substitution or Replacement of a Lender. The Borrower shall have the right
    ---------------------------------------
(provided that at such time, no Event of Default and no Potential Default has
occurred and is continuing), in its sole discretion, to either:

                                     -31-
<PAGE>

          (i)   repay, (A) at any time if either no Loans are outstanding or if
     Loans bearing interest under the Base Rate Option are the only Loans
     outstanding, (B) subject to Section 2.9, upon three (3) days prior notice
     if the Loans outstanding include Loans bearing interest under the Euro-Rate
     Option, the outstanding Loans of any Lender in whole, together with
     interest thereon and any other amount due such Lender pursuant to the terms
     of this Agreement, and to terminate the Commitment of such Lender; or

          (ii)  seek a substitute lending institution or institutions (which may
     be one or more of the other Lenders) to purchase the Notes and assume the
     Loans, the Commitment and the other obligations of such Lender under this
     Agreement,

if any of the following conditions occur with respect to such Lender:

          (i)   such Lender shall have delivered a notice or certificate
     pursuant to Subsection 2.3a or 2.3b;

          (ii)  the obligation of such Lender to make or renew Loans which bear
     or are to bear interest under the Euro-Rate Option has been suspended
     pursuant to Subsection 2.3d; or

          (iii) such Lender shall have defaulted under Section 9.4 or failed to
     fund a Disbursement.

          Provided, any proposed substitute lending institution, which is not a
          --------
Lender prior to the Borrower's selection thereof, must be acceptable to the
Agent, whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and
provided, further that all of the provisions of Section 9.6 (with respect to any
--------  -------
Lender) and Section 8.11 (if the affected Lender is the Agent) must be complied
with.

2.8  Loan Repayment and Prepayment.
     -----------------------------

2.8a Voluntary Prepayments. Each repayment of the Loans shall be in the minimum
     ---------------------
amount of [$1,000,000], in the aggregate, or an integral multiple of $100,000
thereof, or such lesser amount as is actually outstanding thereunder. The
Borrower, upon (i) oral or written notice to Agent by 11:00 A.M. (eastern time)
on the day of the proposed repayment, in the case of Loans bearing interest at
the Base Rate or (ii) three (3) Business Days' prior oral or written notice to
the Agent, in the case of Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate,
followed immediately thereafter by the Borrower's written confirmation to the
Agent of any oral notice, may repay the outstanding amount of the Loans in whole
or in part with accrued interest, fees and other amounts then due and payable on
the amount repaid to the date of such repayment, subject to the payment of any
additional amounts under Section 2.9 below. The Borrower may prepay any Portion
of the Loans without premium or penalty subject to Section 2.9. The Borrower
shall notify the Agent whether any such repayment of Revolving Credit Loans
applies to General Revolving Loans or Distribution Loans. If no such notice is
given, such repayment shall be deemed to be first a repayment of Distribution
                                            -----
Loans, and second a repayment of General Revolving Loans.
           ------
                                     -32-
<PAGE>

      Any repayment of the Revolving Credit Loans shall increase, by the amount
of that repayment, the unborrowed balance of the Revolving Credit Commitments;
it being contemplated that the Borrower may repay and reborrow from time-to-time
under the Revolving Credit Commitments until the Termination Date.

2.8b  Scheduled Repayment. All Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on the
      -------------------
Termination Date shall become due and payable in full on such date. All Term
Loans outstanding on the Maturity Date shall become due and payable in full on
such date.

2.9   Additional Payments by the Borrower. If (i) the Borrower shall fail to
      -----------------------------------
make any payment due hereunder on the due date thereof, (ii) the Borrower shall
make a payment, prepayment or conversion of any Euro-Rate Portion of the Loans
on a day other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period, or (iii) the
Borrower shall fail on the date specified therefor to consummate any borrowing,
conversion or renewal after giving a request for a Disbursement or notice of
conversion or renewal, and, as a result of any such action or inaction, a Lender
reasonably incurs any losses and expenses which it would not have incurred but
for such action or inaction, the Borrower shall pay such additional amounts as
will compensate the affected Lender for such losses and expenses, including the
cost of reemployment of any funds prepaid at rates lower than the cost to the
affected Lender of such funds. Such losses and expenses, which the affected
Lender shall exercise reasonable efforts to minimize, shall be specified in
writing (setting forth, in reasonable detail, the basis of calculation) to the
Borrower by the affected Lender, which writing shall be prima facie evidence of
the amounts set forth therein, and such amounts shall be payable within thirty
(30) days of demand therefor.

2.10  Changes of Commitments.
      ----------------------

2.10a Voluntary Reduction of Availability. At any time and from time to time
      -----------------------------------
upon no less than five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the Agent, the
Borrower may terminate, in whole or in part, without penalty, the then unused
portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments, thereby causing a corresponding
abatement of the Commitment Fee; provided, however, that the Borrower may not
                                 --------  -------
terminate an unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments such that the
aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments are reduced below the Letters of Credit
Outstanding. Each such reduction shall be in a minimum principal amount of
$1,000,000 or in integral multiples thereof. Notice of termination once given
shall be irrevocable and the portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments so
terminated shall not be available for borrowing once such notice has been given
under the terms hereof. The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of its
Ratable Share of such terminated unused portion and the date of each such
termination.

2.10b Increasing the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Borrower shall have the
      -------------------------------------------
right, with the prior written consent of the Lenders, to cause from time to time
an increase in the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders by
adding to this Agreement one or more additional Lenders or by allowing one or
more Lenders to increase their respective Revolving Credit Commitments;
provided, however, (i) no Potential Default or Event of Default shall have
--------  -------
occurred hereunder which is continuing, (ii) no Lender's Revolving Credit

                                     -33-
<PAGE>

Commitment shall be increased without such Lender's consent, (iii) such new or
existing Lender acquiring such increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment shall
be required to purchase from each other existing Lender (in accordance with
Section 9.6 below) a portion of each such Lender's Term Loan in such amount as
shall be necessary such that each Lender's pro rata share of the outstanding
Term Loans after giving effect to the increase in the aggregate Revolving Credit
Commitments shall be in proportion to such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the
new Revolving Credit Commitment, and (iv) on the effective date of any such
increase, there shall be no Loans bearing interest at the Adjusted Euro-Rate
outstanding hereunder. In the event of any such increase in the aggregate
Revolving Credit Commitments and in the Revolving Credit Commitment of any
Lender effected pursuant to the terms of this Subsection 2.10b, new Notes shall,
to the extent necessary, be executed and delivered by the Borrower in exchange
for the surrender of the existing Notes, as the case may be, substantially in
the manner provided in Section 9.6.

2.11  Loan Account. The Agent shall open and maintain on its books a Loan
      ------------
Account in the name of the Borrower, with respect to (i) the amounts and types
of Disbursements made, repayments and prepayments of the principal thereof, and
the computation and payment of interest thereon, (ii) Letters of Credit issued,
or participated in, as the case may be, and draws and reimbursements thereon or
thereof, (iii) the computation and payment of the Fees due hereunder to the
Lenders and the Agent, and (iv) the computation of other amounts due and sums
paid and payable to the Lenders and the Agent hereunder. The Loan Account shall
be prima facie evidence as to the amount at any time due to the Lenders and the
Agent from the Borrower hereunder; provided, however, that the failure to make
                                   --------
notations, or to make accurate notations, on such Loan Account including without
limitation notations with respect to interest and Fees pursuant to Section 2.5
or otherwise shall not limit, expand or otherwise affect any obligations of the
Borrower hereunder.

2.12  Payment from Accounts Maintained by Borrower. In the event that any
      --------------------------------------------
payment of principal, interest, Fees or any other amount due to the Lenders or
the Agent under the Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents is not paid
when due, the Agent is hereby authorized to effect such payment by debiting any
demand deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Agent (excluding
however any special purpose fiduciary accounts, which are designated as such at
the time of their creation, or mandated by applicable statutes, regulations or
rules) and distributing such payment to the party to whom such amounts are due.
This right of debiting accounts of the Borrower is in addition to any right of
set-off accorded the Lenders or the Agent hereunder or by operation of law.

2.13  Time, Place and Manner of Payments. All payments and prepayments to be
      ----------------------------------
made by the Borrower in respect of principal, interest or other costs relating
to the Loans, Reimbursements Obligations and all Fees and any other amounts due
hereunder (excepting those amounts due under Sections 2.3 and 2.9 hereof) shall
be made at the principal office of the Agent for the ratable account of the
Lenders or the Agent, as the case may be. The Agent will promptly pay each such
payment received to each Lender or its order in accordance with Section 8.9
hereof. All payments due a Lender by reason of Sections 2.3 or 2.9 hereof shall
be paid at the principal office of the Lender which invoices the Borrower for
such payment. All payments to be made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall
be paid in Dollars and in immediately

                                     -34-
<PAGE>

available funds no later than 12:00 noon (eastern time) on the date such payment
is due, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, and without setoff, counterclaim or
other deduction of any nature. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
(i) the Agent's Fee, (ii) the Fronting Fee, and (iii) any interest paid with
respect to any Loan or any unreimbursed draw on the Letter of Credit to the
extent a Lender has not been required to honor or has not honored its funding
obligation with respect thereto shall be solely for the account of the Agent.

2.14 Certain Security. (i) To secure the repayment of the Secured Obligations,
     ----------------
the Borrower will execute and deliver to the Agent the Pledge Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit "H", together with a duly-executed control
agreement with respect to the securities account described in the Pledge
Agreement and all appropriate Form UCC-1 financing statements.

     (ii)  Prior to the advances of the Term Loan hereunder, the Borrower will
deposit, or cause to be deposited, into a securities account maintained with
___________________ and subject to a first Encumbrance in favor of the Agent
(for the benefit of the Lenders) Qualifying Securities with a value equal to at
least $20,000,000.

     (iii) So long as no Event of Default or Potential Default then exists, the
Borrower may request from time to time that the Agent, with the prior written
consent of all Lenders, release all or a portion of the Qualifying Securities
from the Encumbrance created or purported to be created under the Pledge
Agreement. Each such request shall be made by the Borrower to the Agent in
writing at least thirty (30) days but not more than ninety (90) days prior to
the date when such Qualifying Securities are to be released. The Borrower shall
provide the Agent with any information or documentation that the Agent may
reasonably request in support of the requested release of Qualifying Securities.
The Agent and the Lenders shall use their best efforts to respond to such
request in a timely manner; provided, however, that neither the Agent nor any
Lender shall be liable in any manner for failing to respond to any such request,
such response to be in the sole and absolute discretion of each Lender, and the
failure of the Agent or any Lender to so respond shall be deemed to be a
negative response from the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be. Any
Qualifying Securities released pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be liquidated
by the Borrower, and the proceeds thereof shall be used by the Borrower solely
for the purposes described in Section 4.1(iv)(x), (y) and (z) below.

           (iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no Event of Default or
Potential Default then exists, in the event that (as a result of a prepayment or
otherwise) the then current value (as determined by the Agent) of the Qualifying
Securities subject to a perfected first priority Encumbrance in favor of the
Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) exceeds the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Term Loans at any time, the Agent, without the consent of any
Lender, shall, if requested by the Borrower, release Qualifying Securities in an
amount up to such excess.

2.15 Guaranty. To secure the repayment of the Bank Indebtedness, the Borrower
     --------
will cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver to the Agent for the
benefit of the Lenders a Guaranty Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit
                                                                         -------
"D" attached hereto, (i) on
---

                                     -35-
<PAGE>

the Closing Date in the case of each Subsidiary in existence on such date, and
(ii) within ten (10) days after the formation or acquisition of any new direct
or indirect Subsidiary formed or acquired thereafter.

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

     To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to
make the Loans, and to issue, renew or extend the Letters of Credit, as herein
provided for, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders
that:

3.1  Existence. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, and each general
     ---------
partner or managing member of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is a
corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may
be, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
respective jurisdiction of organization or formation, and it is duly qualified
and in good standing as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited
liability company, as the case may be, authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its respective properties or
businesses, such qualification is required or, if not so qualified or in good
standing in any state, the lack of such qualification or good standing could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

3.2  Capitalization; Ownership. The issued and outstanding securities of the
     -------------------------
Borrower as of the Closing Date consist of_________ (_________) common units of
limited partnership interest and_________ (_________) subordinated units of
limited partnership, all of which have been validly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable. Penn Virginia GP, LLC, is the sole general partner of the
Borrower.

3.3  Subsidiaries and Other Investments. The Borrower does not have any
     ----------------------------------
Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect ownership interests in any other Person,
except as set forth on Schedule 3.3. The Borrower, and each Subsidiary of the
                       ------------
Borrower, has good and marketable title to all the securities of the
Subsidiaries issued to it, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances and all
such securities have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable. The authorized securities of such Subsidiaries and the ownership
thereof are as shown on Schedule 3.3 attached hereto.
                        ------------

3.4  Corporate Authority. Each Loan Party is duly authorized to execute and
     -------------------
deliver this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is or
will become a party; all necessary corporate, partnership or limited liability
company action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become
a party has been properly taken; the Borrower is and will continue to be duly
authorized to borrow hereunder; and each Loan Party is and will continue to be
duly authorized to perform all of the other terms and provisions of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become
a party.

3.5  Enforceability. This Agreement, the Notes, and each other Loan Document has
     --------------
been, and will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each Loan Party
which is or

                                     -36-
<PAGE>

will become a party thereto, and each constitutes or will constitute a valid and
legally binding agreement of such Loan Party enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
or other laws affecting creditor's rights generally and subject to general
principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.

3.6   No Restrictions, No Default. Neither the execution and delivery of this
      ---------------------------
Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which it is or will become
a party, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated nor compliance
with the terms and provisions hereof or of the Notes or any other Loan Document,
will conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws partnership agreement,
operating agreement or other organizational, formation or governing document of
any Loan Party or of any law or of any regulation, order, writ, injunction or
decree of any court or governmental agency or of any agreement, indenture or
other instrument to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any of them is
bound or to which any of them is subject, or constitute a default thereunder or
result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance of any nature whatsoever
upon any of the property or assets of any Loan Party pursuant to the terms of
any agreement, indenture or other instrument, except those items described above
that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change. No event has occurred and is continuing and
no condition exists or will exist after giving effect to the borrowings
hereunder to be made on the Closing Date which constitutes an Event of Default
or Potential Default.

3.7   Financial Matters.

3.7a  Financial Statements. The Borrower has furnished to the Lenders and the
      --------------------
Agent the audited combined balance sheets and the related combined statements of
income, owner's equity and cash flows for the Penn Virginia Coal Business for
the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2000 and for its Fiscal Quarter ending March
31, 2001. All such financial statements, including the related notes, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP, except as expressly noted therein, and fairly
present the combined financial position of the Penn Virginia Coal Business as at
the dates thereof and the results and combined results of their operations and
the changes in their financial position and in their combined financial position
for the periods ended on such dates. There were no material liabilities of the
Penn Virginia Coal Business, contingent or otherwise, not reflected in such
financial statements. Except as has been fully disclosed in writing to the
Lenders and the Agent prior to the date hereof (including the formation of the
Borrower and the completion of the Transaction), there has been no Material
Adverse Change in the business, condition or operations (financial or otherwise)
of the Penn Virginia Coal Business since March 31, 2001.

3.7b  Pro Forma Financials. The Borrower has delivered to the Lenders and the
      --------------------
Agent (i) its unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2001 and giving
effect to the Transaction and (ii) its five-year projections. Such pro forma
balance sheet is complete and correct in all material respects and fairly
presents the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a
Consolidated basis, in all material respects, and has been prepared in
accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements do not contain all
of the footnote

                                     -37-
<PAGE>

disclosures required by GAAP). The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no
material liabilities, whether direct or indirect, fixed or contingent, and no
liability for taxes, long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term
commitments as of the date of such financial statements which are not reflected
in such financial statements or in any notes thereto or in such projections.

3.8   Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8 hereto, there
      ---------------------                         ------------
are no actions, suits, investigations, litigation or governmental proceedings
pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, which could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, or which purport to affect the
legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or any other
Loan Document.

3.9   Tax Returns and Payments. As of the date hereof, the Borrower and its
      ------------------------
Subsidiaries have filed all Federal and other material tax returns required by
law to be filed and have paid all material taxes, material assessments and other
material governmental charges levied upon the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, or any of the respective properties, assets, income or
franchises of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, which are due
and payable, other than those currently payable or deferrable without penalty or
interest or those which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings diligently conducted for which reserves in accord with GAAP have
been provided. As of the date hereof, the charges, accruals and reserves on the
books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state and
local income taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate, and the Borrower knows
of no unpaid assessments for additional Federal, state or local income taxes for
any such fiscal period or any basis therefor.

3.10  Pension Plans. Except as otherwise noted on Schedule 3.10, (i) each Plan
      -------------                               -------------
has been and will be maintained and funded, in all material respects, in
accordance with its terms and with all provisions of ERISA and the Code
applicable thereto; (ii) no Reportable Event has occurred and is continuing with
respect to any Plan; (iii) no liability to PBGC has been incurred with respect
to any Plan, other than for premiums due and payable; (iv) no Plan has been
terminated, no proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan, and there
exists no intent to terminate or institute proceedings to terminate any Plan,
which has caused or would cause the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to incur any
liability to the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA; (v) no withdrawal, either
complete or partial, has occurred or commenced with respect to any multiemployer
Plan, and there exists no intent to withdraw either completely or partially from
any multiemployer Plan and (vi) the Borrower is not subject to any liability for
unpaid penalties or taxes imposed under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975
of the Code and has not engaged in a prohibited transaction as defined in
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code.

3.11  Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Borrower ends on December 31 of each
      -----------
year.

3.12  Condition of and Title to Assets. The Borrower and each of its
      --------------------------------
Subsidiaries has good title to its properties and assets except for Permitted
Encumbrances and defects in title which, taken as a whole, are not material.
None of the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is subject
to any Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. The

                                     -38-
<PAGE>

Borrower is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral free and clear of
any Encumbrance, except for the Encumbrances created under the Pledge Agreement.
All of material assets and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that
are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses are in good
working condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and are able to serve the
functions for which they are currently being used.

3.13  Insurance. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries currently maintain insurance
      ---------
of such types and at least in such amounts as are customarily carried by, and
insures against such risks as are customarily insured against by similar
businesses similarly situated and owning, leasing and operating similar
properties to those owned, leased and operated by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries. All of such insurance policies are valid and in full force and
effect. No notice has been given or claim made and no grounds exist to cancel or
avoid any of such policies or to reduce the coverage provided thereby.

3.14  Labor and Employment Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14,
      ----------------------------                         -------------
neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is a party to any
collective bargaining agreement.

3.15  Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary (i) is
      -------------------------------
not in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any
court or of any Federal, state, municipal or other Governmental Authority and
(ii) is substantially complying with all applicable statutes and regulations of
each Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over its activities; except for
those orders, writs, injunctions, decrees, statutes and regulations, default
under or non-compliance with which could not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Change.

3.16  Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16 hereto, the
      ---------------------                         -------------
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws. Except for any of the following that could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, there are no past, pending or,
to the best of the Borrower's knowledge, threatened Environmental Claims of any
material respect against the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of the property
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and there is no condition or
occurrence on any property owned or leased by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries that could reasonably be anticipated (i) to form the basis of a
material Environmental Claim against the Borrower, such Subsidiary or its
properties or (ii) to cause any property owned or leased by the Borrower or any
such Subsidiary to be subject to any material restrictions on its ownership,
occupancy or transferability under any applicable Environmental Law.

3.17  Governmental Approval. No order, authorization, consent, license,
      ---------------------
validation or approval of, or notice to, filing, recording, or registration
with, any Governmental Authority, or exemption by any Governmental Authority, is
required to authorize, or is required in connection with, (i) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan
Document, (ii) the legality, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement,
the Notes or any other Loan Document, (iii) the grant by the Borrower of the
Encumbrances granted by it pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, (iv) except as
required to comply with the requirements of the Uniform Commercial Code as
adopted in Pennsylvania, the perfection or maintenance of the

                                     -39-
<PAGE>

Encumbrances created under the Pledge Agreement (including the first priority
nature thereof), or (v) the consummation of the Transaction, which has not been
duly obtained and which is not in full force and effect (other than those the
failure to obtain which could not be reasonably be expected, individually or
collectively, to result in a Material Adverse Change).

3.18  Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of
      ----------------------
purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit to others for the purpose
of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock and no part of the proceeds of the Loans
will be used to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or for any other purpose
which would violate or be inconsistent with Regulations T, U or X.

3.19  Investment Company Act. The Borrower is not an "investment company", or a
      ----------------------
company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

3.20  Public Utility Holding Company Act. The Borrower is not a "holding
      ----------------------------------
company", or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of
a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company" within
the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

3.21  Senior Debt Status. On the Closing Date and on the date of each
      ------------------
Disbursement and the issuance of each Letter of Credit, all Bank Indebtedness
outstanding under the Loan Documents will constitute senior Indebtedness of the
Borrower and will rank at least pari passu in priority of payment with all other
                                ---- -----
Indebtedness owed by the Borrower from time to time, except Indebtedness of the
Borrower which may be secured by Encumbrances permitted pursuant to Section 5.2.

3.22  Intellectual Property. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower
      ---------------------
owns, is licensed or otherwise possesses the right to use all patents, patent
rights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, intellectual
property, technology, know-how and processes necessary for the conduct of its
business as currently conducted that are material to the condition (financial or
otherwise), business or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

3.23  Leases. All Leases in effect on the Closing Date are listed on Schedule
      ------                                                         --------
3.23 attached hereto. Each such Lease is in full force and effect and there is
----
no default thereunder and no event has occurred or is occurring which after
notice or lapse of time or both will result in such default. There is no consent
or approval required under any Lease with respect to this Agreement or the
consummation of the Transaction which has not been obtained.

3.24  Solvency. On the Closing Date, and as of the date of each advance of a
      --------
Loan or the issuance, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, as the case
may be, and after giving effect to such advance or the issuance, renewal or
extension of a Letter of Credit, and after giving effect to the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Transaction), the
Borrower is, and will be (individually and together with its Subsidiaries),
Solvent.

                                     -40-
<PAGE>

3.25 Tax Treatment. The Borrower will be treated as a partnership for federal
     -------------
income tax purposes.

3.26 Collateral. All filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect
     ----------
and protect the security interest in the Collateral created under the Pledge
Agreement have been duly made or taken and are in full force and effect, and the
Pledge Agreement creates in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a
valid, and, together with such filings and other actions, perfected first
priority security interest in the Collateral, securing the payment of the
Secured Obligations.

3.27 Disclosure. Neither this Agreement nor any other document, certificate or
      ---------
statement furnished to the Lenders or the Agent by or on behalf of any Loan
Party pursuant to this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material
fact. There is no fact known to any Loan Party which could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change that has not been set forth in
this Agreement or in the other documents, certificates and statements (financial
or otherwise) furnished to the Lenders or the Agent or otherwise disclosed in
writing to the Lenders or the Agent by or on behalf of any Loan Party prior to
or on the date hereof.

ARTICLE IV. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

     From the date hereof and thereafter until the termination of the
Commitments and until all of the Bank Indebtedness is paid in full, the Borrower
agrees that:

4.1  Use of Proceeds. (i) The proceeds of the General Revolving Loans will be
     ---------------
used by the Borrower solely for general corporate or partnership purposes of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including for working capital, capital
expenditures, refinancing existing Indebtedness and for Permitted Acquisitions,
but will not be used to fund any Restricted Payment. (ii) The proceeds of the
Distribution Loans will be used by the Borrower solely for (a) working capital
purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) funding Quarterly
Distributions to the extent permitted by Section 5.1. (iii) The Letters of
Credit will be used for general business purposes in the ordinary course of
business or for such other purposes as may be approved by the Required Lenders.
(iv) The proceeds of the Term Loans will be used by the Borrower solely to
purchase Qualifying Securities to be liquidated with the consent of the Lenders
in accordance with Section 2.14 above solely for the purpose of (x) funding
capital expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (y) funding Permitted
Acquisitions, and (z) repaying or prepaying the Term Loans.

4.2  Furnishing Information. The Borrower shall:
     ----------------------

      (i) deliver to the Agent (with copies for each Lender which Agent
   shall distribute) within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first
   three (3) Fiscal Quarters in each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the Borrower's
   Form 10Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission together with (A)
   consolidated balance sheet as at the end of such period for the Borrower and
   its Subsidiaries, (B) consolidated statements of income for such period for
   the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, in the case of the second and

                                     -41-
<PAGE>

     third quarterly periods, for the period from the beginning of the current
     Fiscal Year to the end of such quarterly period, and (C) consolidated
     statements of cash flow for such period for the Borrower and its
     Subsidiaries and, in the case of the second and third quarterly periods,
     for the period from the beginning of the current Fiscal Year to the end of
     such quarterly period; and each such statement shall set forth, in
     comparative form, corresponding figures for the corresponding period in the
     immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and all such statements shall be
     prepared in reasonable detail in accordance with GAAP and certified,
     subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments and the absence of
     footnotes, by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower;

          (ii)  deliver to the Agent (with copies for each Lender which Agent
     shall distribute) within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of
     each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the Borrower's Form 10K filed with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission together with (A) consolidated balance
     sheets as at the end of such year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
     (B) consolidated statements of income for such year for the Borrower and
     its Subsidiaries, (C) consolidated statements of cash flow for such year
     for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (D) consolidated statements of
     owners' equity for such year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and
     each such statement shall set forth, in comparative form, corresponding
     figures for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year; and all such financial
     statements shall present fairly in all material respects the financial
     position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the dates
     indicated and the results of its operations and its cash flow for the
     periods indicated, in conformity with GAAP; and the Borrower shall cause
     each of the consolidated financial statements described in the foregoing
     clauses (A) through (D) to be certified without limitation as to scope or
     material qualification by independent certified public accountants
     acceptable to the Agent;

          (iii) deliver to the Agent (with copies for each Lender which Agent
     shall distribute), together with each delivery of financial statements
     pursuant to items (i) and (ii) above, a Compliance Certificate of the
     Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit "D" hereto, properly
                                           -----------
     completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, (A) stating
     (1) that such officer has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents and has
     made, or caused to be made under his supervision, a review of the
     transactions and condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the
     accounting period covered by such financial statements and that such review
     has not disclosed the existence during such accounting period, and (2) that
     the Borrower does not have knowledge of the existence, as at the date of
     such Compliance Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an
     Event of Default or a Potential Default, or, if any such condition or event
     existed or exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof
     and what action the Borrower has taken or is taking or proposes to take
     with respect thereto, and (B) demonstrating in reasonable detail compliance
     as at the end of such accounting period with the covenants contained in
     Section 5.3 hereof;

          (iv)  promptly give written notice to the Agent of any pending or, to
     the knowledge of the Borrower, overtly threatened claim in writing,
     litigation or threat of litigation which arises between the General
     Partner, the Borrower, or any of its

                                     -42-
<PAGE>

     Subsidiaries, and any other party or parties (including, without
     limitation, any Governmental Authority) which claim, litigation or threat
     of litigation, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to
     result in a Material Adverse Change, any such notice to be given not later
     than five (5) Business Days after the Borrower becomes aware of the
     occurrence of any such claim, litigation or threat of litigation and has
     ascertained it is reasonably likely to result in Material Adverse Change;

          (v)    deliver to the Agent (with copies for each Lender which Agent
     shall distribute) promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all
     financial statements, reports, notices and information statements sent or
     made available generally by the Borrower to its security holders
     (including, without limitation, proxy materials) and copies of all other
     regular and periodic reports (including, without limitation, Form 8-K)
     filed by the Borrower with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
     Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its functions, and of all press
     releases and other statements made available generally by the Borrower to
     the public concerning material developments in the business of the Borrower
     and any of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

          (vi)   promptly after receipt thereof, by the Borrower or the
     administrator of any Plan, deliver to the Agent a copy of any notice from
     the PBGC that the PBGC is instituting Termination Proceedings if such
     Termination Proceedings could reasonably be expected to result in a
     Material Adverse Change;

          (vii)  deliver to the Agent within sixty (60) days following the end
     of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower, a report of Available Cash (as
     defined in the MLP Agreement), cash reserves and other related items of the
     Borrower and its Subsidiaries in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Agent;

          (viii) promptly and in any event within thirty (30) days after the
     Borrower or the administrator of any Plan knows or has reason to know that
     any Reportable Event has occurred which would cause the PBGC to institute
     Termination Proceedings give notice thereof to the Agent if such
     Termination Proceedings could reasonably be expected to result in a
     Material Adverse Change;

          (ix)   promptly, but not later than five (5) Business Days, after any
     officer obtains knowledge of the happening of any event which constitutes
     an Event of Default or a Potential Default, give written notice thereof to
     the Agent;

          (x)    deliver to the Agent within one hundred twenty (120) days
     following the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, an operational
     report in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, showing (A)
     five-year projections, (B) tons of coal mined and sold by lessee, including
     actual tons mined and sold compared to the previous Fiscal Year and to
     budget, (C) royalty income by lessee, (D) timber harvested by property,
     including actual timber harvested compared to the previous Fiscal Year and
     to budget, (E) a coal reserve summary, and (F) a lease summary, including
     individual lease profiles and lease property maps (upon the reasonable
     request of the Agent);

                                     -43-
<PAGE>

          (xi)   in the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries gives to
     or receives notice from any Governmental Authority of any Contamination or
     receives any Environmental Claim from any Person, including any state
     agency responsible in whole or in part for environmental matters in the
     state in which its properties are located or the United States
     Environmental Protection Agency which in either case could reasonably be
     expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, then Borrower shall,
     within five (5) Business Days, give written notice of same to the Agent
     detailing non-privileged and non-confidential facts and circumstances
     giving rise to the Contamination or Environmental Claim. Such information
     is to be provided to allow the Agent and the Lenders to protect their
     interests hereunder and is not intended to create any obligation upon the
     Agent or any Lender with respect thereto;

          (xii)  promptly after receipt thereof, deliver to the Agent copies of
     any statement or report regarding the rating of the Borrower's debt
     furnished by any rating agency to any Loan Party; and

          (xiii) promptly, deliver to the Lenders such other publicly available
     information and data with respect to the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any
     Lender.

4.3  Visitation. The Borrower will permit, and will cause each of its
     ----------
Subsidiaries to permit, the Lenders and the Lender's designated employees and
agents to have access, from time to time, upon reasonable notice and during
normal business hours at any reasonable time, to visit any of the properties of
the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of any of its
books of record and account and such reports and returns as the Borrower or any
such Subsidiary may file with any Governmental Authority and discuss the
Borrower's or any such Subsidiary's affairs and accounts with, and be advised
about them, by any Authorized Officer.

4.4  Preservation of Existence; Qualification. At its own cost and expense, the
     ----------------------------------------
Borrower will do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect its and each of its Subsidiaries' corporate existence and qualification
under the laws of their respective states of incorporation and each state where,
due to the nature of their respective activities or the ownership of their
respective properties, qualification to do business is required except where (i)
the lack of corporate existence of a Subsidiary or (ii) the failure to be so
qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change or except as permitted by Sections 5.8 and 7.4.

4.5  Compliance with Laws and Contracts. The Borrower shall and shall cause each
     ----------------------------------
Subsidiary to comply with all applicable Governmental Rules and including, but
not limited to, Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

4.6  Payment of Taxes and Other Liabilities. The Borrower shall and shall cause
     --------------------------------------
each Subsidiary to promptly pay and discharge all obligations, accounts and
liabilities to which it is subject or which are asserted against it and which
obligations, accounts and liabilities are, to

                                     -44-
<PAGE>

the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, material, including but not
limited to all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it or
upon any of its income, profits, or property prior to the date on which
penalties attach thereto; provided, however, that for purposes of this
Agreement, neither the Borrower nor the relevant Subsidiary shall be required to
pay any tax, assessment, charge or levy (i) the payment of which is being
contested in good faith by appropriate and lawful proceedings diligently
conducted and (ii) as to which the Borrower shall have set aside on its books
reserves for such claims as are determined to be adequate pursuant to the
accounting procedures employed by the Borrower, but only to the extent that
failure to discharge any such liabilities would not result in any additional
liability which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.

4.7   Insurance. The Borrower will keep and maintain, and cause each Subsidiary
      ---------
to keep and maintain, insurance with responsible insurance companies, on such of
their respective properties, in such amounts and against such risks as is
customarily maintained by similar businesses similarly situated and owning,
leasing or operating similar properties. The Borrower may satisfy the
requirements of the preceding sentence with self insurance and deductibles
consistent with customary and prudent industry standards, all as reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent. The Borrower will furnish to the Agent at the Closing
and together with the annual reports delivered pursuant to Subsection 4.2(ii)
hereof, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifying that
such insurance is in force, is adequate in nature and amount and complies with
the Borrower's and each Subsidiary's obligations under this Section 4.7.

4.8   Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower shall and shall cause its
      -------------------------
Subsidiaries to maintain, preserve, protect and keep their respective properties
in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted),
and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that
their business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times, except where the failure to maintain,
preserve, protect or keep such properties could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.

4.9   Plans and Benefit Arrangement. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each
      -----------------------------
ERISA Affiliate to, comply with ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws
which are applicable to Plans, except where the failure to do so, alone or in
conjunction with any other failure to do so, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.

4.10  Senior Debt Status. The Bank Indebtedness will rank at least pari passu in
      ------------------                                           ---- -----
priority of payment with all other Indebtedness of the Borrower, except
Indebtedness of the Borrower which may be secured by Encumbrances permitted
pursuant to Section 5.2.

4.11  Leases; Material Contracts. (i) The Borrower will perform and observe, or
      --------------------------
cause to be performed and observed, all of the covenants and conditions required
to be performed by it or any of its Subsidiaries under each Lease, except where
such failure could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

                                     -45-
<PAGE>

          (ii)  The Borrower will promptly notify the Agent in writing of the
receipt by the Borrower of any notice from any third party to the Borrower of
any material default under, or the termination of, any Material Contract
pursuant to the provisions of such Material Contract, and will promptly cause a
copy of each such notice received by the Borrower from any third party to be
delivered to the Agent.

          (iii) The Borrower will not, without the prior written consent of the
Required Lenders, terminate, or surrender or suffer or permit any termination,
or surrender of any Material Contract during the initial term thereof or any
valid extension thereto, other than the termination of such Material Contract as
of the result of the exhaustion of the coal reserves subject thereto as shown on
the reports delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 4.2(x), unless (a) such
Material Contract is replaced within 30 days by a substitute contract on terms
and conditions no less favorable to the Borrower in any material respect or (b)
the failure to replace such Material Contract could not reasonably be expected
to result in a Material Adverse Change.

4.12  Clean-Down Period. The Borrower will cause the aggregate outstanding
      -----------------
principal balance of Distribution Loans to be zero for a period of at least
fifteen (15) consecutive days during each calendar year.

4.13  Environmental Indemnification. The Borrower shall defend and indemnify the
      -----------------------------
Agent and each Lender and hold them harmless from and against all loss,
liability, damage, expense, claims, costs, fines, penalties, assessments
(including interest on any of the foregoing) and reasonable attorneys' fees,
suffered or incurred by the Agent or any Lender which arise, result from or in
any way relate to a breach or violation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower of any applicable Environmental Law, either prior to or subsequent to
the date hereof, including the assertion or imposition of any Encumbrance on the
Borrower's or its Subsidiaries' assets, or which relate to or arise out of an
Environmental Claim. The Borrower's obligations hereunder shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Bank Indebtedness.

ARTICLE V. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

      From the date hereof and thereafter until the Commitments are terminated
and until the Bank Indebtedness is paid in full, the Borrower agrees that:

5.1   Dividends, Etc. The Borrower will not declare or make any dividend payment
      --------------
or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations or
securities on account of any partnership interests or units (whether general or
limited) or other equity of the Borrower, or purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire for value (or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so) any partnership
interests or units (whether general or limited) or other equity of the Borrower
or any warrants, rights or options to acquire any such interests, now or
hereafter outstanding (each of the foregoing being a "Restricted Payment"),
except that, so long as no Event of Default or Potential Default shall have
occurred and be continuing at such time or would result therefrom, the Borrower
may declare, make or incur a liability to make Quarterly Distributions provided
that (i) such Quarterly Distributions are made in accordance with the provisions
of the MLP

                                     -46-
<PAGE>

Agreement, (ii) such Quarterly Distributions are made from Operating Surplus (as
defined in the MLP Agreement), and (iii) the aggregate amount of Quarterly
Distributions made with respect to any Fiscal Quarter shall not exceed Available
Cash (as defined in the MLP Agreement) for such Fiscal Quarter.

5.2   Encumbrances. The Borrower will not create or suffer to exist, or permit
      ------------
any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Encumbrance or any
other type of preferential arrangement, upon or with respect to any of its
properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of
its Subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive income, in each case to secure
or provide for the payment of any Indebtedness of any Person, other than (a)
Encumbrances created under the Loan Documents including Encumbrances on the
Qualifying Securities, (b) purchase money liens or purchase money security
interests upon or in any property acquired or held by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of
such property or to secure indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of
financing the acquisition of such property, so long as such indebtedness does
not exceed 100% of the purchase price of such property, (c) Encumbrances
existing on such property at the time of the acquisition of such property or the
acquisition of such Subsidiary (other than any such Encumbrance created as a
result of such acquisition), (d) Permitted Encumbrances, or (e) extensions or
renewals of any Encumbrance described in clauses (b) through (d) above,
provided, that (i) any such extension or renewal shall be limited to the
--------
property theretofore subject to such Encumbrance, (ii) the principal amount of
the Indebtedness secured by such Encumbrance shall not be increased and (iii)
the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by Encumbrances referred
to in clauses (b) through (d) above shall not exceed $2,500,000 at any time
outstanding (it being expressly agreed that any refinanced Indebtedness shall
not be considered new Indebtedness hereunder).

5.3   Financial Covenants.
      -------------------

5.3a  Leverage Ratio. At no time shall the ratio of the Borrower's Consolidated
      --------------
Total Indebtedness to its Consolidated EBITDA for the four (4) most recently
completed Fiscal Quarters, taken as a single accounting period, exceed 2.50 to
1.00.

5.3b  Interest Coverage Ratio. At no time shall the ratio of the Borrower's
      -----------------------
Consolidated EBITDA for the four (4) most recently completed Fiscal Quarters,
taken as a single accounting period, to its Consolidated Interest Expense for
the four (4) most recently completed Fiscal Quarters, taken as a single
accounting period, be less than 4.00 to 1.00.

5.3c  Calculation of Consolidated EBITDA. For purposes of calculating
      ----------------------------------
Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for any
period for the purposes of this Section 5.3 only, the earnings before interest,
                                            ----
taxes, depreciation and amortization calculated as set forth in the definition
of "Consolidated EBITDA" above of any Person or assets acquired by the Borrower
or its Consolidated Subsidiaries during such period shall be included on a pro
                                                                           ---
forma basis for such period as if such acquisition and the incurrence or
-----
assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith had occurred on the first
day of such period and based upon the financial statements and other information
delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.4.

                                     -47-
<PAGE>

5.4   Acquisitions. The Borrower shall not, except as otherwise permitted or
      ------------
required in this Agreement, purchase or otherwise acquire, or permit any
Subsidiary to purchase or acquire, any obligations or stock of, or any other
interest in, or all or substantially all of the assets of, any Person
whatsoever, other than (i) pursuant to a merger permitted under Section 5.8
below or (ii) other non-hostile acquisitions of the equity securities or assets
of any domestic Person, provided that (a) immediately prior to and after giving
                        --------
effect to any such acquisition, no Event of Default or Potential Default shall
have occurred or be continuing or will result therefrom, (b) such acquisition is
consummated in accordance with applicable law, (c) if such acquisition is of
equity securities of a Person, such Person complies with Section 2.15 above, and
substantially all of the assets held by such Person are Permitted Assets, (d) if
such acquisition is of assets, substantially all such assets are Permitted
Assets, (e) the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with this Agreement
and shall deliver to the Agent (A) a certificate which indicates pro forma
compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 5.3, in each case
after giving effect to such acquisition and (B) financial statements with
respect to such Person or assets supporting the calculations set forth in such
certificate and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, and (f) such
acquired Person or assets shall not be subject to any material liabilities or
Encumbrances except as permitted by this Agreement. A transaction meeting the
requirements of clause (ii) above shall be referred to herein as a "Permitted
Acquisition".

5.5   Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not and shall not permit its Subsidiaries
      ------------
to create, incur, assume or permit to exist or remain outstanding any
Indebtedness, except for:

     (i)   the Indebtedness owed by the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents;

     (ii)  Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries existing on the
date hereof and listed on Schedule 5.5;
                          ------------

     (iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary
to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

     (iv)  Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries secured by
Encumbrances permitted under Section 5.2;

     (v)   performance Guarantees entered into in the ordinary course of
business with respect to the performance of any obligation of any Subsidiary of
the Borrower; and

     (vi)  other Indebtedness owed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any one time outstanding.

5.6   Loans, Acquisitions and Investments. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries
      -----------------------------------
shall not at any time make any loan or advance to, or purchase or otherwise
acquire any stock, bonds, notes or securities of, or any partnership interest
(whether general or limited) or other equity interest in, or assets of, or any
other investment or interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any other
Person, or agree to or become liable to do any of the foregoing, except for:

                                     -48-
<PAGE>

      (a) trade credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary
course of business;

      (b) fixed assets, equipment or inventory acquired in the ordinary course
of business;

      (c) loans and advances to employees to meet expenses incurred by such
employees in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation
relocation expenses;

      (d) Permitted Investments;

      (e) loans, advances and capital contributions by a Subsidiary of the
Borrower to the Borrower or any of the Borrower's other Subsidiaries or loans,
advances and capital contributions by the Borrower to any of its Subsidiaries;
and

      (f) Permitted Acquisitions.

5.7   Sales of Assets. The Borrower shall not nor shall it permit any Subsidiary
      ---------------
to enter into any arrangement, direct or indirect, pursuant to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any
property, real, personal or mixed, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
except (i) sales, transfers or dispositions in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) sales, transfers or dispositions not in the ordinary course of business
provided that the aggregate proceeds of all such sales, transfers and
dispositions permitted by this item (ii) shall not exceed, (A) from the date
hereof during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months more than $1,000,000
and (B) during the term hereof more than $5,000,000, [and] (iii) sales of
Qualifying Securities as permitted by this Agreement [and (iv) sales of wetlands
credits].

5.8   Merger. The Borrower shall not merge or consolidate with any other Person
      ------
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except, so long as no Event of
Default or Potential Default then exists or would result therefrom, (A) a merger
or consolidation of any Subsidiary with or into any other Subsidiary or the
Borrower or (B) a merger or consolidation constituting a Permitted Acquisition,
provided that in any merger or consolidation involving the Borrower, the
Borrower is the surviving entity.

5.9   Regulation T, U and X Compliance. The Borrower shall not and shall not
      --------------------------------
permit any Subsidiary to use the proceeds of a Loan to purchase or carry Margin
Stock or otherwise act so as to cause any Lender, in extending credit hereunder,
to be in contravention of Regulations T, U or X.

5.10  ERISA. The Borrower shall not and shall not permit any ERISA Affiliate to
      -----
permit any Plan to:

      (i) engage in any "prohibited transaction", as such term is defined in
  Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code;

                                     -49-
<PAGE>

          (ii)  incur any "accumulated funding deficiency", as such term is
     defined in Section 302 of ERISA, whether or not waived;

          (iii) be terminated in a manner which could result in liability to the
     PBGC under Title IV of ERISA or the imposition of a lien on the property of
     the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA; or

          (iv)  partially or completely withdraw from any Plan, which withdrawal
     shall subject the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to multiemployer
     withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4201 of ERISA,

if any such event could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.

5.11  No Limitation on Dividends and Distributions. The Borrower shall not
      --------------------------------------------
permit its Subsidiaries to enter into or otherwise be bound by any agreement not
to pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrower, except as imposed by any
Governmental Rule or Governmental Authority.

5.12  Negative Pledges. The Borrower shall not directly or indirectly enter into
      ----------------
or assume, or permit any Subsidiary to enter into or assume, any agreement
(other than this Agreement) prohibiting the creation or assumption of any lien
or Encumbrance upon any of the Borrower's or its Subsidiaries' properties,
whether now owned or hereafter created or acquired, or otherwise prohibiting or
restricting any transaction contemplated hereby; provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to (i) restrictions and conditions imposed by any Governmental
Rule or by any Loan Document, (ii) restrictions or conditions imposed by any
agreement relating to secured Indebtedness or other obligations permitted by
this Agreement but only to the extent such restriction or condition is limited
to the specific assets subject to the permitted Encumbrance, or (iii) customary
provisions in leases or other agreements restricting the assignment thereof.

5.13  Changes in Organizational Documents. Permit or suffer to exist any
      -----------------------------------
amendment or modification in any respect of the MLP Agreement or any other Loan
Party's certificate of incorporation (including any provisions or resolutions
relating to capital stock), by-laws, certificate of limited partnership,
partnership agreement, certificate of formation, limited liability company
agreement or other organizational documents without (i) providing at least
thirty (30) calendar days' prior written notice to the Agent and the Lenders
and, (ii) in the event such change would be adverse to the interests of the
Agent and the Lenders as determined by the Agent in its sole discretion,
obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

5.14  Change in Nature of Business. The Borrower shall not make, or permit any
      ----------------------------
of its Subsidiaries to make any material change in the nature of their
businesses, taken as a whole, as carried on at the Closing Date.

                                     -50-
<PAGE>

ARTICLE VI.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO DISBURSEMENTS AND
               ISSUANCE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT

6.1       All Disbursements. The obligation of the Lenders to make any
          -----------------
Disbursements hereunder, or of the Agent to issue, renew or extend any Letters
of Credit hereunder, is subject to the performance by the Borrower of its
obligations to be performed hereunder at or prior to the making of any such
Disbursement or the issuance, renewal or extension of any such Letter of Credit,
as the case may be, and to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions
precedent:

6.1a      No Default. The Borrower shall have performed and complied, in all
          ----------
material respects, with all agreements and conditions herein required to be
performed or complied with by it prior to any Disbursements or to the issuance,
renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, and, at the time of such
Disbursements or such issuance, renewal or extension, no Potential Default or
Event of Default shall exist.

6.1b      Representations Correct. The representations and warranties contained
          -----------------------
in Article III hereof and in the other Loan Documents shall be correct in all
material respects (i) when made and (ii) at the time of each Disbursement or
issuance, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit except for such
representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date (in which
case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all
material respects as of such date).

6.1c      No Material Adverse Change. At the time of the making of any
          --------------------------
Disbursement or the issuance, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, no
Material Adverse Change shall have occurred and be continuing.

6.1d      Loan Request/Application. The Borrower shall have complied (i) with
          ------------------------
the requirements of Section 2.1A, Section 2.1B or Section 2.2, as appropriate,
with respect to a requested Disbursement, and (ii) with the requirements of
Section 2.6 with respect to the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

Each request for Disbursement and each request for the issuance, renewal or
extension of a Letter of Credit shall constitute, as at the time made, a
representation and warranty by the Borrower that the matters set forth in
Subsections 6.1a, 6.1b and 6.1c above are true and correct.

6.2       Conditions Precedent to Initial Borrowings. The obligation of the
          ------------------------------------------
Lenders to make the initial Disbursements is subject to the satisfaction of each
of the following conditions precedent in addition to the applicable conditions
precedent set forth in Section 6.1 above:

          (i)   Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a counterpart
     original of this Agreement executed by the other Lenders and the Borrower.

          (ii)  Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a Revolving
     Credit Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit "A" attached hereto, made
                                               -----------
     payable to such Lender in the amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit
     Commitment and otherwise properly completed and executed by the Borrower.

                                      -51-
<PAGE>

          (iii) Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a Term Note,
     substantially in the form of Exhibit "B" attached hereto, made payable to
                                  -----------
     such Lender in the amount of such Lender's Term Commitment and otherwise
     properly completed and executed by the Borrower.

          (iv)  Receipt by the Agent of all schedules to this Agreement, in form
     and substance satisfactory to the Lenders.

          (v)   Receipt by the Agent of a Guaranty Agreement duly executed by
     each Subsidiary of the Borrower.

          (vi)  Receipt by the Agent of the Pledge Agreement duly executed by
     the Borrower, together with (a) evidence that the Qualifying Securities
     have been credited to the securities account described in the Pledge
     Agreement, (b) a control agreement with respect to such securities account,
     duly executed by the Borrower and the custodian of such securities account,
     together with any applicable UCC-1 financing statements, and (c) evidence
     that all action that the Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable
     in order to perfect and protect the first priority Encumbrances created
     under the Pledge Agreement have been taken.

          (vii) Receipt by the Agent of the following formation, governance or
     other documents for each Loan Party and the General Partner:

                (a) a copy of its partnership agreement, operating agreement,
          articles and/or certificate of incorporation, and other formation or
          governmental documents, certified as true and correct by secretary of
          the respective Loan Party or the General Partner, as the case may be;

                (b) good standing or subsistence certificates relating to each
          Loan Party and the General Partner executed by the Secretary of State
          of each state in which such Loan Party or the General Partner, as the
          case may be, conducts its business;

                (c) resolutions or other evidence of approval of the partners,
          board of directors or other governing body authorizing the execution
          of the Loan Documents and the performance by the Loan Parties pursuant
          thereto, certified by the secretary or other officer of the respective
          Loan Party (or, if applicable, of the respective Loan Party's general
          partner or managing member) as being true, correct, complete and in
          effect and in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank;

                (d) a copy of the by-laws (or equivalent documents), if any, and
          all amendments thereto, certified by the secretary or other officer of
          each Loan Party and the General Partner as being true, correct,
          complete and in effect; and

                                      -52-
<PAGE>

                 (e) an incumbency certificate for each Loan Party and the
          General Partner, showing the names of the Authorized Officers of each
          Loan Party and the General Partner, their titles and containing their
          true signatures.

          (viii) Receipt by the Agent of the certificate of the Borrower
     required pursuant to Section 4.7 of the Agreement.

          (ix)   Receipt by the Agent of written instructions addressed to the
     Agent and executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower relating to the
     initial Disbursements.

          (x)    Receipt by the Agent on behalf of each Lender of a signed
     favorable opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Borrower, dated
     as of the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and
     its counsel as to the matters set forth on Exhibit "E" attached hereto.
                                                -----------

          (xi)   Receipt by the Agent, for the benefit of each Lender and the
     Agent, a certificate of the Borrower, dated the Closing Date and signed by
     an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, regarding the satisfaction of the
     conditions set forth in Subsections 6.1a, 6.1b and 6.1c.

          (xii)  Receipt by the Agent on its own behalf and on behalf of the
     Lenders all Fees due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date and all
     reimbursable expenses incurred on or prior to the Closing Date for which
     invoices (in reasonable detail) have been furnished to the Borrower.

          (xiii) The Lenders shall have received satisfactory evidence that (a)
     the Transaction has been completed, including without limitation the
     offering of the common units of the Borrower pursuant to the Transaction,
     and (b) the Borrower shall have received cash from the proceeds of such
     offering in an amount at least equal to $100,000,000, net of transaction
     costs associated with the Transaction.

          (xiv)  Receipt by the Agent of true and correct copies of the Leases
     listed on Schedule 3.23 and satisfactory review thereof by the Agent and
               -------------
     its counsel.

ARTICLE VII.     DEFAULTS

          Each of the events or occurrences described in Sections 7.1 to and
including 7.11 below shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder.

7.1       Payment Default. Default in the payment of (i) interest on any Loan,
          ---------------
any Fee, or any other amount due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and
continuance of any such nonpayment of such interest, Fee or other amount for
five (5) Business Days, or (ii) principal of any Loan when due.

                                      -53-
<PAGE>

7.2       Nonpayment of Other Indebtedness. The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
          --------------------------------
fail to pay any Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may
be, other than the Bank Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount as to the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries collectively of $1,000,000 or more, as and when the same
shall become due, or the occurrence of any default under any agreement or
instrument under or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is incurred or issued
and continuance of such default beyond the period of grace, if any, allowed with
respect thereto, if such default permits or causes the acceleration of such
Indebtedness (whether or not such right shall have been waived) or the
termination of any commitment to lend with respect thereto.

7.3       Insolvency.
          ----------

7.3a      Involuntary Proceedings. A proceeding shall have been instituted in a
          -----------------------
court having jurisdiction seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of the
General Partner, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in an
involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, or any other similar
applicable Federal or state law, now or hereafter in effect, or for the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, sequestrator or similar official
for the General Partner, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for a
substantial part of its or their property, or for the winding up or liquidation
of its or their affairs, and the same shall remain undismissed or unstayed and
in effect for a period of sixty (60) days.

7.3b      Voluntary Proceedings. The General Partner, the Borrower or any
          ---------------------
Subsidiary of the Borrower shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a
voluntary bankrupt, or any of them shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy
proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking
reorganization under the Federal bankruptcy laws, or any other similar
applicable Federal or state law now or hereinafter in effect, or shall consent
to the filing of any such petition or shall consent to the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for the General
Partner, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of
its or their property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or shall admit in writing its or their inability to pay its or their debts
generally as they become due, or corporate action shall be taken by the General
Partner, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in furtherance of any of the
aforesaid purposes.

7.4       Termination of Existence. The Borrower, the General Partner or any
          ------------------------
Subsidiary of the Borrower shall terminate its existence or cease to exist (i)
except by reason of a permitted merger or liquidation of a Subsidiary into or a
consolidation of a Subsidiary with the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the
Borrower, or (ii) except where a Subsidiary's termination or cessation of its
existence could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.

7.5       Failure to Comply with Loan Documents
          -------------------------------------

7.5a      Failure to Comply with Article V Covenants and Certain Article IV
          -----------------------------------------------------------------
Covenants. The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of
---------
Section 4.3, Section 4.4, Section 4.10 or of any covenant contained in Article
V.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>

7.5b      Failure to Comply with Other Covenants and Loan Documents. Any Loan
          ---------------------------------------------------------
Party shall default in the due performance or observance of any other covenant,
condition or provision set forth herein or in any of the other Loan Documents to
which it is a party and such default shall not be remedied (i) with respect to
any default under Section 4.2(ix) hereunder for a period of ten (10) days; and
(ii) with respect to any other such default for a period of thirty (30) days
after such default is known to any Authorized Officer of the Borrower or notice
thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Agent.

7.6       Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made by any Loan
          -----------------
Party herein or in any other Loan Document proves to have been untrue in any
material respect as of the date when made, or any certificate or other document
furnished by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to the Agent or any Lender
pursuant to the provisions hereof proves to have been untrue in any material
respect on the date as of which the facts set forth therein are stated or
certified.

7.7       Adverse Judgments, Etc. Entry or filing of any one or more judgments,
          ----------------------
writs or warrants of attachment or of any similar process in an aggregate
amount, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries collectively, of $1,000,000 or
more in excess of any third-party insurance protecting against such liability
against the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or against any of their respective
properties and failure of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to vacate, pay, bond,
stay or contest in good faith such judgments, writs, warrants of attachment or
other process within a period of thirty (30) days.

7.8       Invalidity or Unenforceability. This Agreement, the Notes or any other
          ------------------------------
Loan Document ceases to be valid and binding on any Loan Party in any material
respect or is declared null and void in any material respect, or the validity or
enforceability thereof is contested by any Loan Party or any Loan Party denies
it has any or further liability under this Agreement, any Note or under the
other Loan Documents to which it is a party.

7.9       ERISA. (i) A trustee shall be appointed by a court of competent
          -----
jurisdiction to administer any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; (ii)
the PBGC shall terminate any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or
appoint a trustee to administer any such Plan; or (iii) the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate shall incur any liability to the PBGC in connection with any
Plan, which, in any such case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

7.10      Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.
          -----------------

7.11      Collateral. The Pledge Agreement shall for any reason (other than
          ----------
pursuant to the terms hereof or thereof) be declared void or unenforceable for
any reason or cease to constitute, grant and/or convey a valid and perfected
first priority Encumbrance on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby; or
the Collateral shall for any reason no longer be impressed with a first priority
Encumbrance in favor of the Agent to secure the Term Loan except as otherwise
released pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>

7.12      Consequences of an Event of Default. If one or more of the Events of
          -----------------------------------
Default occur then (a) if such Event of Default is set forth in Sections 7.3 or
7.4, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Notes then
outstanding shall become immediately due and payable, without necessity of
demand, presentation, protest, notice of dishonor or notice of default, and the
Agent shall be under no further obligation to issue, renew, extend or amend
Letters of Credit hereunder; or (b) if such Event of Default is set forth in any
of the remaining Sections of this Article VII, then the Agent, at the request of
the Required Lenders, and without notice to the Borrower, shall declare the
Borrower in default hereunder, and upon such declaration, shall, at the request
of the Required Lenders, terminate the Commitments and/or terminate the
obligation of the Agent to issue, renew, extend or amend Letters of Credit
and/or declare the unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and all
interest accrued thereon, any unpaid Fees and all other Bank Indebtedness
immediately due and payable, without necessity of any further demand,
presentation, protest, notice of dishonor or further notice of default,
whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable.

7.13      Remedies Upon Default. Upon the termination of the Commitments and the
          ---------------------
obligation to issue Letters of Credit and the acceleration of the Notes and the
other Bank Indebtedness following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
Lenders shall, unless such termination and acceleration subsequently have been
rescinded, have the full panoply of rights and remedies granted to them under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and all those rights and remedies
granted by law to creditors, and the Agent, at the direction of the Required
Lenders, shall proceed to protect and enforce the Lenders' rights by an action
at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific
performance of any agreement contained herein, in the Notes or in any of the
other Loan Documents, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the
terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby
or thereby or by law. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement, in
the Notes, or by any other Loan Document, upon the Agent or the Lenders shall be
exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or
now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. No
exercise of any one right or remedy shall be deemed a waiver of other rights or
remedies. The rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders specified herein
are for the sole and exclusive benefit, use and protection of the Agent and the
Lenders, and the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled, but shall have no duty
or obligation, to exercise or to refrain from exercising any right or remedy
reserved to the Agent or the Lenders hereunder.

7.14      Cash Collateral. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described
          ---------------
in Sections 7.3 or 7.4 or upon the declaration by the Required Lenders of any
other Event of Default and the termination of the Commitments, the obligation of
the Agent to issue or amend Letters of Credit shall terminate, and an amount
equal to the maximum amount which may at any time be drawn under the Letters of
Credit then outstanding (whether or not any beneficiary of such Letters of
Credit shall have presented, or shall be entitled at such time to present, the
drafts or other documents required to draw under such Letters of Credit) shall
automatically become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand,
protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrower; provided that the foregoing shall not affect in any way
                        --------
the obligations of the Lenders to purchase from the Agent participations in the
unreimbursed amount of any drawings under the Letters of Credit issued by

                                      -56-
<PAGE>

it as provided in Subsection 2.6d. So long as the Letters of Credit shall remain
outstanding, any amounts declared due pursuant to this Section 7.14 with respect
to the outstanding Letters of Credit when received by the Agent shall be
deposited and held by the Agent in an interest bearing account denominated in
the name of the Agent for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders over which
the Agent shall have sole dominion and control of withdrawals (the "Cash
Collateral Account") as cash collateral for the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse the Agent in the event of any drawing under the Letters of Credit and
upon any drawing under such Letters of Credit in respect of which the Agent has
deposited in the Cash Collateral Account any amounts declared due pursuant to
this Section 7.14, the Agent shall apply such amounts held by the Agent to
reimburse the Agent for the amount of such drawing. In the event that any Letter
of Credit in respect of which the Agent has deposited in the Cash Collateral
Account any amounts described above is cancelled or expires or in the event of
any reduction in the maximum amount available at any time for drawing under any
of the Letters of Credit outstanding, the Agent shall apply the amount then in
the Cash Collateral Account designated to reimburse the Agent for any drawings
under the Letters of Credit issued by it less the maximum amount available at
any time for drawing under the Letters of Credit remaining outstanding
immediately after such cancellation, expiration or reduction, if any, to the
payment in full of the outstanding Bank Indebtedness, and second, to the payment
of any excess, to the Borrower.

ARTICLE VIII. AGREEMENT AMONG LENDERS.

8.1       Appointment and Grant of Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby
          ----------------------------------
appoints PNC Bank, National Association, and PNC Bank, National Association
hereby agrees to act as, the Agent under this Agreement, the Notes and the other
Loan Documents. As such Agent, PNC Bank, National Association shall have and may
exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are
specifically delegated to the Agent, by the terms hereto or thereof, together
with such other powers as are incidental thereto. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, is authorized to execute all of
the Loan Documents (other than this Agreement), to accept all of the Loan
Documents and all other agreements, documents or instruments reasonably required
to carry out the intent of the parties to this Agreement, to release any
Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty Agreement in the event of the
disposition of such Guarantor as permitted in this Agreement and to release any
Qualifying Securities or other Collateral from the Encumbrance granted pursuant
to the Pledge Agreement as required by and in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.

8.2       Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any of its duties
          --------------------
hereunder by or through agents or employees (provided such delegation does not
constitute a relinquishment of duties as the Agent hereunder) and, subject to
Sections 8.7 and 9.2 hereof, shall be entitled to engage and pay for the advice
or services of any attorneys, accountants, or other experts concerning all
matters pertaining to duties hereunder and to rely upon any advice so obtained.

8.3       Reliance by Agent on Lenders for Funding. Unless the Agent shall have
          ----------------------------------------
received notice from a Lender prior to any Borrowing Date that such Lender will
not make available to the Agent such Lender's portion of net disbursements of
Loans, the Agent may

                                      -57-
<PAGE>

assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent and the
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make Loans to the Borrower. If and
to the extent that such Lender has not made such portion available to the Agent
on or prior to any Borrowing Date, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree
to repay to the Agent immediately upon demand, in immediately available funds,
such unpaid amount, together with interest thereon for each day from the
applicable Borrowing Date until such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in
the case of the Borrower, at the rate of interest then in effect for such Loan
and (ii) in the case of such Lender, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate. If
such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount
shall constitute a Loan made by such Lender for purposes of this Agreement. The
failure by any Lender to pay its portion of a Loan made by the Agent shall not
relieve any other Lender of the obligation to pay its portion of net
disbursements of Loans on any Borrowing Date, but no Lender shall be responsible
for the failure of any other Lender to make its net share of Loans to be made by
such other Lender on such Borrowing Date.

8.4       Non-Reliance on Agent. Each Lender agrees that it has, independently
          ---------------------
and without reliance on the Agent, based on such documents and information as it
has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and evaluation of the
Borrower and its operations and decision to enter into this Agreement and that
it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, and based on such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to
make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Agent shall have no duty to
keep the Lenders informed as to the performance or observance by the Borrower of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or to inspect the properties or books
of the Borrower. The Agent, in the absence of gross negligence or willful
misconduct, shall not be liable to any Lender for its failure to relay or
furnish to the Lender any information.

8.5       Responsibility of Agent and Other Matters.
          -----------------------------------------

8.5a      Ministerial Nature of Duties. As among the Lenders and the Agent, the
          ----------------------------
Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth
in this Agreement, the Notes or in the other Loan Documents, and those duties
and responsibilities shall be subject to the limitations and qualifications set
forth in this Article VIII. The duties of the Agent shall be ministerial and
administrative in nature.

8.5b      Limitation of Liability. As among the Lenders and the Agent, neither
          -----------------------
the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be
liable for any action taken or omitted (whether or not such action taken or
omitted is within or without the Agent's responsibilities and duties expressly
set forth in this Agreement) under or in connection with this Agreement or any
other instrument or document in connection herewith except for gross negligence
or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Agent nor any
of its directors, officers or employees shall be responsible for, or have any
duty to examine (i) the genuineness, execution, validity, effectiveness,
enforceability, value or sufficiency of (A) this Agreement, the Notes or any of
the other Loan Documents or (B) any other document or instrument furnished
pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the perfection or
priority of any Encumbrance created or purported to be created under or in
connection with, any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant thereto, (iii) the

                                      -58-
<PAGE>

collectibility of any amounts owed by the Borrower to the Lenders, (iv) the
truthfulness of any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made to
the Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement, (v) any failure of
any party to this Agreement to receive any communication sent, including any
telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or telephone message or any writing,
application, notice, report, statement, certificate, resolution, request, order,
consent letter or other instrument or paper or communication entrusted to the
mails or to a delivery service, or (vi) the assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations or business, or creditworthiness of the
Borrower.

8.5c      Reliance. The Agent shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully
          --------
protected in acting upon, any telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or any
writing, application, notice, report, statement, certificate, resolution,
request, order, consent, letter or other instrument, paper or communication
believed by the Agent in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been
signed or sent or made by a proper Person. The Agent may consult counsel and
shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in
good faith, in accordance with advice given by counsel. The Agent may employ
agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be liable for the default or
misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by the Agent with
reasonable care. The Agent shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the
performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents on the part of the Borrower or any
other party thereto.

8.6       Actions in Discretion of Agent; Instructions from the Lenders. The
          -------------------------------------------------------------
Agent agrees, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, to take or
refrain from taking any action of the type specified as being within the Agent's
rights, powers or discretion herein or under any Loan Documents, provided that
the Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Agent to
personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or applicable law. In the absence of a request by the Required Lenders,
the Agent shall have authority, in its sole discretion, to take or not to take
any such action, unless this Agreement specifically requires the consent of the
Required Lenders or all of the Lenders. Any action taken or failure to act
pursuant to such instructions or discretion shall be binding on the Lenders,
subject to Subsection 8.5b hereof. Subject to the provisions of Subsection 8.5b,
no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Agent as a
result of the Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance
with the instructions of the Required Lenders.

8.7       Indemnification. To the extent the Borrower does not reimburse and
          ---------------
save harmless the Agent according to the terms hereof for and from all costs,
expenses and disbursements in connection herewith, such costs, expenses and
disbursements shall be borne by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their
respective Commitment Percentages. Each Lender hereby agrees on such basis (i)
to reimburse the Agent for such Lender's pro rata share of all such reasonable
costs, expenses and disbursements on request and (ii) to the extent of each such
Lender's pro rata share, to indemnify and save harmless the Agent against and
from any and all losses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments and suits
and other costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever
which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent, other than
as a consequence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the
Agent, arising out of or in connection with (i) this Agreement, the Notes, the
other Loan Documents or any other agreement, instrument or document executed or
delivered in con-

                                      -59-
<PAGE>

nection herewith or therewith, or (ii) any action taken at the request of the
Required Lenders or all of the Lenders hereunder, as the case may be, including
without limitation the reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements in
connection with defending themselves against any claim or liability, or
answering any subpoena or other process related to the exercise or performance
of any of their powers or duties under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
or any of the other agreements, instruments or documents executed or delivered
in connection herewith or the taking or refraining from any action under or in
connection with any of the foregoing.

8.8       Agent's Rights as a Lender. With respect to the Commitment of the
          --------------------------
Agent as a Lender hereunder, and any Loans of the Agent under this Agreement,
the other Loan Documents and any other agreements, instruments and documents
delivered pursuant hereto and any other amounts due to the Agent under this
Agreement, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers, duties and
obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents or other
agreement, instrument or document as any Lender and may exercise such rights and
powers and shall perform such duties and fulfill such obligations as though it
were not the Agent. The Agent and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to, issue letters of credit for the account of, and generally engage, and
continue to engage, in any kind of business with the Borrower as if it were not
the Agent.

8.9       Payment to Lenders. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8.3
          ------------------
hereof, promptly after receipt from the Borrower of any principal repayment of
the Loans, interest due on the Loans, any Fees or any other amounts owing to the
Lenders or other amounts due under any of the Loan Documents (except for such
amounts which are payable for the sole account of any Lender or the Agent), the
Agent shall distribute to each Lender that Lender's share of the funds so
received.

8.10      Pro Rata Sharing. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8.3 hereof,
          ----------------
all interest and principal payments on the Loans, and all payments of the
Commitment Fee and the Letter of Credit Fee are to be divided pro rata among the
Lenders in proportion to the Loans outstanding from each Lender or, if no such
Loans are then outstanding, in accordance with their respective Commitment
Percentages. Any sums obtained from the Borrower by any Lender by reason of the
exercise of its rights of set-off, banker's lien or in collection shall be
shared (net of costs) pro rata among the Lenders on the basis of the principal
amount of Loans outstanding. Nothing in this Section 8.10 shall be deemed to
require the sharing among the Lenders of collections specifically relating to,
or of the proceeds of any collateral securing, any other Indebtedness of the
Borrower to any Lender.

8.11      Successor Agent.
          ---------------

8.11a     Resignation of Agent. The Agent may resign as Agent hereunder by
          --------------------
giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower.
If such notice shall be given, the Lenders shall appoint a successor agent for
the Lenders, during such thirty (30) day period, which successor agent shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, to serve as agent hereunder and under
the several Loan Documents. If at the end of such thirty (30) day period, the
Lenders have not appointed such a successor, the Agent shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to procure a successor reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders
and the Borrower, to serve

                                      -60-
<PAGE>

as agent for the Lenders hereunder and under the several Loan Documents. Any
such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the
Agent.

8.11b     Rights of the Former Agent. Upon the appointment of such successor
          --------------------------
agent or upon the expiration of such thirty (30) day period (or any longer
period to which the Agent has agreed), the former Agent's rights, powers and
duties as Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on
the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement except for
the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements or amendments
thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or
desirable, or as the Required Lenders may reasonably request, in order to
continue the perfection of the Encumbrances granted or purported to be granted
by the Pledge Agreement. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as
Agent hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII shall inure to the benefit
of such retiring Agent as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it
while it was Agent under this Agreement.

8.12      Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or
          -----------------
notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default unless the Agent has received
written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement,
describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of
default".

8.13      Notices. The Agent shall promptly send to each Lender a copy of all
          -------
notices received from any Loan Party pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents promptly upon receipt thereof. The Agent
shall promptly notify the Borrower and the other Lenders of each change in the
Base Rate and the effective date thereof.

8.14      Holders of Notes. The Agent may deem and treat any payee of any Note
          ----------------
as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until written notice of
the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been recorded in the Register as
contemplated by Section 9.6. Any request, authority or consent of any Person who
at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the
holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder,
transferee or assignee of such Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange
therefor.

8.15      Calculations. In the absence of gross negligence or willful
          ------------
misconduct, the Agent shall not be liable for any error in computing the amount
payable to any Lender whether in respect of the Loans, Fees or any other amounts
due to the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents. In the
event an error in computing any amount payable to any Lender is made, the Agent,
the Borrower and each affected Person shall, forthwith upon discovery of such
error, make such adjustments as shall be required to correct such error, and any
compensation therefor will be calculated at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

8.16      Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided herein, the provisions of
          -------------
this Article VIII are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and
the Borrower shall not have any rights to rely on or enforce any of the
provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement,
the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall
not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or
trust with or for the Borrower.

                                      -61-
<PAGE>

ARTICLE IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1       Amendments and Waivers. Subject to the remaining provisions of this
          ----------------------
Section 9.1, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower may, from time to time,
enter into amendments, extensions, renewals, modifications, supplements and
replacements to and of this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents and
the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, may, from time to time,
waive compliance with a provision thereof. No amendment, extension, renewal,
modification, supplement, replacement, waiver or consent of any provision of the
Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents or consent to any departure
therefrom by the Borrower or any Guarantor shall be effective unless it is in
writing and is signed by the Required Lenders (or the Agent with the written
consent of the Required Lenders), and then such waiver or consent shall be
effective only for the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which
it is given; provided, however, that no amendment, extension, renewal,
             --------
modification, supplement, replacement, waiver or consent, unless in writing and
signed by all of the Lenders (or the Agent with the written consent of all of
the Lenders), shall do any of the following:

          (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender or subject any Lender to any
     additional obligations hereunder;

          (B) except for changes permitted by Sections 2.7 or 2.10 hereof or
     changes made pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, change any
     Lender's Commitment Percentage or the aggregate or individual unpaid
     principal amount of any Lender's Note, or forgive the payment of the
     principal or interest payable on any Lender's Note;

          (C) waive an Event of Default in the payment of principal and/or
     interest due hereunder and under any of the Notes;

          (D) decrease the interest rate relating to the Loans;

          (E) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of or
     interest on the Loans, the Commitment Fee, the Letter of Credit Fee, or any
     other obligations of the Borrower set forth in Article II;

          (F) reduce the Commitment Fee or the Letter of Credit Fee;

          (G) amend the definition of the term "Required Lenders" or amend or
     waive the provisions of this Section 9.1; or

          (H) except as specifically provided in Section 2.14 hereof, release
     all or any portion of the Collateral from the Encumbrance granted or
     purported to be granted under the Pledge Agreement, permit the creation or
     incurrence of any Encumbrance on the Collateral to secure any obligations
     other than obligations owing to the Lenders under the Loan Documents, or
     amend or waive the provisions of Section 2.14 hereof.

                                      -62-
<PAGE>

Any such amendment, extension, renewal, modification, supplement, replacement,
waiver or consent shall apply equally to the Borrower and each of the Lenders
and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent and all future
holders of the Notes. In the case of any waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders and
the Agent shall be restored to their former positions and rights, and any Event
of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default, or impair any
right consequent thereon.

9.2       Expenses. The Borrower shall pay:
          --------

          (i)  All reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent (including without
     limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent's special
     counsel, Tucker Arensberg, P.C.), incurred in connection with the
     preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
     other Loan Documents and any and all other documents and instruments
     prepared in connection herewith, including but not limited to all
     amendments, extensions, modifications, replacements, waivers, consents and
     other documents and instruments prepared or entered into from time to time;
     and

          (ii) All reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders
     (including without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of the
     Agent's and the Lenders' counsels, which may be in house counsel) in
     connection with (A) the enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan
     Documents arising pursuant to a breach by the Borrower of any of the terms,
     conditions, representations, warranties or covenants of any Loan Document
     to which it is a party, and (B) defending or prosecuting any actions, suits
     or proceedings relating to any of the Loan Documents.

All of such costs and expenses shall be payable by the Borrower to the Lenders
or the Agent, as the case may be, upon demand or as otherwise agreed upon by the
Lenders or the Agent and the Borrower, and shall constitute Bank Indebtedness
under this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay, and save the Agent and
the Lenders harmless from any and all liability for, any stamp or other taxes
which may be payable with respect to the execution or delivery of this Agreement
or the issuance of the Notes or of any Letters of Credit. The Borrower's
obligation to pay such costs and expenses shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and the repayment of the Bank Indebtedness.

9.3       Notices. Any notice, request, demand, direction or other communication
          -------
(for purposes of this Section 9.3 only, a "Notice") to be given to or made upon
any party hereto or any other Loan Document under any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be given or made by telephone or in
writing (which includes by means of electronic transmission (i.e., "e-mail") or
facsimile transmission or by setting forth such Notice on a site on the World
Wide Web (a "Website Posting") if Notice of such Website Posting (including the
information necessary to access such site) has previously been delivered to the
applicable parties hereto by another means set forth in this Section 9.3) in
accordance with this Section 9.3. Any such Notice must be delivered to the
applicable parties hereto at the addresses and numbers set

                                      -63-
<PAGE>

forth below or in accordance with any subsequent unrevoked Notice from any such
party that is given in accordance with this Section 9.3. Any Notice shall be
effective:

          (i)   In the case of hand-delivery, when delivered;

          (ii)  If given by mail, four days after such Notice is deposited with
     the United States Postal Service, certified or registered mail postage
     prepaid, return receipt requested;

          (iii) In the case of a telephonic Notice, when a party is contacted by
     telephone, if delivery of such telephonic Notice is confirmed no later than
     the next Business Day by hand delivery, a facsimile or electronic
     transmission, a Website Posting or an overnight courier delivery of a
     confirmatory Notice (received before the close of business on such next
     Business Day);

          (iv)  In the case of a facsimile transmission, when sent to the
     applicable party's facsimile machine's telephone number, if the party
     sending such Notice receives confirmation of the delivery thereof from its
     own facsimile machine;

          (v)   In the case of electronic transmission, when actually received;

          (vi)  In the case of a Website Posting, upon delivery of a Notice of
     such posting (including the information necessary to access such site) by
     another means set forth in this Section 9.3; and

          (vii) If given by any other means (including by overnight courier),
     when actually received.

Any Lender giving a Notice to the Borrower shall concurrently send a copy
thereof to the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify the other Lenders of
its receipt of such Notice.

9.3a      Notice to the Borrower.
          ----------------------

          Penn Virginia Resource Partners, L.P.
          100 Matsonford Road, Suite 200
          Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087
          Attention:    Frank Pici
          Telecopier:   (610) 687-3688
          Telephone:    (610) 687-8900

                                      -64-
<PAGE>

9.3b      Notice to the Agent.
          -------------------

          PNC Bank, National Association
          Agency Services
          One PNC Plaza - 22nd Floor
          249 Fifth Avenue
          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707
          Attention:    Lisa Pierce
          Telephone     (412) 762-6442
          Telecopier:   (412) 762-8672

          with a copy to:

          PNC Bank, National Association
          Energy, Metals and Mining Group
          One PNC Plaza, 3rd Floor
          249 Fifth Avenue
          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707
          Attention:    Christopher Moravec
                        Senior Vice President
          Telephone:    (412) 762-2540
          Telecopier:   (412) 705-3232

9.3c      Notice to the Lenders. All notices required to be delivered to the
          ---------------------
Lenders pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to the addresses set forth on
the signature pages of the Agreement or such Lender's signature page to the
Assignment and Assumption Agreement executed by it as a Purchasing Lender.

9.4       Tax Withholding. Each Lender or assignee or Participant of a Lender
          ---------------
that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a
state thereof (and, upon the written request of the Agent, each other Lender or
assignee or Participant or a Lender) agrees that it will deliver to each of the
Borrower and the Agent two (2) duly completed appropriate valid Withholding
Certificates (as defined under (S)1.1441-1(c)(16) of the Income Tax Regulations
(the "Regulations")) certifying its status (i.e., United States or foreign
person) and, if appropriate, making a claim of reduced, or exemption from,
United States withholding tax on the basis of an income tax treaty or an
exemption provided by the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). Such delivery may
be made by electronic transmission as described in (S)1.1441-1(e)(4)(iv) of the
Regulations if the Agent establishes an electronic delivery system. The term
"Withholding Certificate" means a Form W-9; a Form W-8BEN; a Form W-8ECI; a Form
W-81MY and the related statements and certifications as required under
(S)1.1441-1(e)(3) of the Regulations; a statement described in (S)1.871-
14(c)(2)(v) of the Regulations; or any other certificates under the Code or
Regulations that certify or establish the status of a payee or beneficial owner
as a United States or foreign person. Each Lender, assignee or Participant
required to deliver to the Borrower and the Agent a valid Withholding
Certificate pursuant to the preceding sentence shall deliver such valid
Withholding Certificate as follows: (A) each Lender which is a party hereto on
the Closing Date shall deliver such valid Withholding Certificate at

                                      -65-
<PAGE>

least five (5) Business Days prior to the first date on which any interest or
Fees are payable by the Borrower hereunder for the account of such Lender; (B)
each assignee or Participant shall deliver such valid Withholding Certificate at
least five (5) Business Days before the effective date of such assignment or
Participation (unless the Agent in its sole discretion shall permit such
assignee or Participant to deliver such Withholding Certificate less than five
(5) Business Days before such date in which case it shall be due on the date
specified by the Agent). Each Lender, assignee or Participant which so delivers
a valid Withholding Certificate further undertakes to deliver to each of the
Borrower and the Agent two (2) additional copies of such Withholding Certificate
(or a successor form) on or before the date that such Withholding Certificate
expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a
change in the most recent Withholding Certificate so delivered by it, and such
amendments thereto or tensions or renewals thereof as may be reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Agent. Notwithstanding the submission of a
Withholding Certificate claiming a reduced rate of, or exemption from, United
States withholding taxes, the Agent shall be entitled to withhold United States
federal income taxes at the full 30% withholding rate if in its reasonable
judgment it is required to do so under the due diligence requirements imposed
upon a withholding agent under (S)1.1441-7(b) of the Regulations. Further, the
Agent is indemnified under (S)1.1461-1(e) of the Regulations against any claims
and demands of any Lender or assignee or Participant of a Lender for the amount
of any tax it deducts and withholds in accordance with regulations under (S)1441
of the Internal Revenue Code.

9.5       Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
          ----------------------
Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns,
and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and the Lender and the
successors and assigns of the Agent and the Lender; provided, that the Borrower
                                                    --------
shall not assign its rights or duties hereunder or under any of the other Loan
Documents without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

9.6       Assignments and Participations.
          ------------------------------

9.6a      Assignments. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Subsection
          -----------
9.6a, any Lender (a "Transferor Lender"), at any time, in the ordinary course of
its commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable law, may sell
to one or more financial institutions (individually a "Purchasing Lender"), a
portion or all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Notes
then held by it, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit "G" executed by the Transferor Lender, such
                             -----------
Purchasing Lender, the Borrower and the Agent; subject, however to the following
requirements:

          (i)   Each such assignment must be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000,
     or, if in excess thereof, in integral multiples of $1,000,000, unless such
     Lender's Commitment is less than $10,000,000, in which case such assignment
     shall be in the full amount of such Lender's Commitment;

          (ii)  During the first ninety (90) days following the Closing Date,
     each assignment made shall become effective only on a date which coincides
     with the expiration date of any Interest Period then in effect, unless the
     Agent agrees to waive this provision;

                                      -66-
<PAGE>

          (iii) The Agent and the Borrower must each give its prior consent to
     any such assignment which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; it
     being agreed that it shall not be deemed unreasonable for the Borrower to
     decline to consent to such assignment if (A) such assignment would result
     in incurrence of additional costs to the Borrower under Article II, or (B)
     the proposed assignee has not provided to the Borrower any tax forms
     required under Section 9.4; provided, however, no consent is required for
                                 --------  -------
     the transfer by a Lender to its Affiliate or to another Lender so long as
     the conditions in clauses (A) and (B) immediately above are satisfied;

          (iv)  The Transferor Lender shall pay to the Agent a $3,500 service
     fee for each such transfer at the time of each such transfer; and

          (v)   Each such assignment shall be of a uniform, and not a varying,
     percentage of all rights and obligations of the Transferor Lender under and
     in respect of each of the Term Commitment and the Revolving Credit
     Commitments;

provided, however the restrictions set forth in item (i) above shall not apply
--------
(x) in the case of an assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of such Lender or
(y) in the case of any assignment by any Transferor Lender upon the occurrence
and during the continuation of an Event of Default; and provided further, that
                                                        -------- -------
upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default the
consent of the Borrower to any assignment is not required.

Upon the execution, delivery, acceptance and recording of any such Assignment
and Assumption Agreement, from and after the Transfer Effective Date determined
pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, all parties hereto agree
that (a) the Purchasing Lender thereunder shall be a party hereto as a Lender
and, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, shall
have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder with the Commitments as
set forth therein, and (b) the Transferor Lender thereunder shall, to the extent
provided in such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its
obligations as a Lender under this Agreement. Such Assignment and Assumption
Agreement shall be deemed to amend this Agreement (without further action) to
the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of such
Purchasing Lender as a Lender and the resulting adjustment of Commitment
Percentages arising from the purchase by such Purchasing Lender of all or a
portion of the rights and obligations of such Transferor Lender under this
Agreement and its Notes. On or prior to the Transfer Effective Date, the
Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Agent, in exchange for the surrendered
Notes held by the Transferor Lender, new Notes to the order of such Purchasing
Lender in amounts equal to the Commitment or the Loans assumed by it and
purchased by it pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, and new
Notes to the order of the Transferor Lender in amounts equal to the Commitment
or the Loans retained by it hereunder.

In addition to the assignments permitted above, any Lender may assign and pledge
all or any portion of its Loans and Notes to any Federal Reserve Bank as
collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System and any Operating

                                      -67-
<PAGE>

Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall release
the assigning Lender from its obligations and duties hereunder.

9.6b      Assignment Register. The Agent shall maintain, at its address referred
          -------------------
to in Subsection 9.3b, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement
delivered to it and a register (the "Register") for the recordation of the name,
address and Commitment of each Lender and the amount of the Loans owing to each
Lender from time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in
the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders may
treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of the
Notes and the Loans and the holder of the Commitment recorded therein for all
purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Register shall be
available at the office of the Agent set forth in Subsection 9.3b for inspection
by either Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time
upon reasonable prior notice.

9.6c      Participations. Each Lender, in the ordinary course of its commercial
          --------------
banking business and in accordance with applicable law, may sell to one or more
Participants a participating interest in any Loan or Letter of Credit owing to
such Lender, the interest of such Lender in any Note, Letter of Credit or the
Commitment of such Lender. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of a
participating interest to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under this
Agreement to the other parties to this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such
Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof, such Lender
shall remain the holder of its Note for all purposes under this Agreement and
the Borrower, the other Lenders and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and
directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement or its Notes and the Participants shall have
voting rights only with respect to matters described in items (B), (C), (D), (E)
and (F) of Section 9.1.

9.6d      Provisions for Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding
          -----------------------------------------------
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may
grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC") of such Granting Lender,
identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the
Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of
any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the
Borrower provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make
any Loan by such SPC and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or
otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender
shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of
a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment Percentage of the
Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by the
Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for
any payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable,
for so long as, and to the extent, the related Granting Lender makes such
payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees that,
prior to the date that is one year and one day after the later of (i) the
payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of such SPC and (ii) the
Termination Date, it will not institute against, or join any other person in
instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of
the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Subsection 9.6d, such SPC may (i) with prior
written consent of the Borrower and the Agent (such consent not to be

                                      -68-
<PAGE>

unreasonably withheld) and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign
all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Lender or to any
financial institutions providing liquidity and/or credit facilities to or for
the account of such SPC to fund the Loans made by such SPC or to support the
securities (if any) issued by such SPC to fund such Loans and (ii) disclose on a
confidential basis consistent with Section 9.19 any non-public information
relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider
of a surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. In no
event shall the Borrower be obligated to pay an SPC that has made a Loan in a
greater amount than the Borrower would have been obligated to pay under this
Agreement if the Granting Lender had made such Loan. Each Granting Lender shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower and its directors, officers, employees
and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses arising from or attributable to the making of a Loan by an SPC of such
Granting Lender.

9.7       Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or
          ------------
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.

9.8       Survival. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of
          --------
the Borrower contained herein, in the Notes or in the other Loan Documents or
made in writing in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the issuance
of the Notes and the Letters of Credit and shall continue in full force and
effect so long as the Borrower may borrow hereunder and so long thereafter until
payment in full of all the Notes and the Bank Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the
terms of the foregoing sentence, the representations, warranties, covenants,
agreements and indemnities set forth in Sections 2.6i, 4.13, 8.7, 9.4, 9.16 and
9.18 shall survive the termination of the Commitments hereunder and the payment
in full of the Notes and the Bank Indebtedness.

9.9       Governing Law. This Agreement, each Note and each other Loan Document
          -------------
shall be a contract made under, governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without reference to the provision
thereof regarding conflicts of law except where such law is superseded by
applicable Federal law.

9.10      Non-Business Days. Except as otherwise specifically required pursuant
          -----------------
to the terms of this Agreement, whenever any payment hereunder or under the
Notes is due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment may
be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

9.11      Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
          -----------
the parties relating to this financing transaction and it supersedes all prior
understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties
hereto concerning the subject matter of this Agreement.

9.12      Headings, etc. Article, Section and other headings and Section and
          -------------
Subsection references used in this Agreement are intended for convenience only
and shall not, and are not intended to, in any way or manner affect the meaning
or construction of this Agreement.

                                      -69-
<PAGE>

9.13      Set-Off. The Borrower hereby grants to the Lenders a lien and security
          -------
interest for the amount of any Bank Indebtedness upon and in any property,
credits, securities or money of the Borrower which may at any time be delivered
to, or be in the possession of, or owed by any Lender in any capacity whatever,
including the balance of any deposit account but excluding any trust or
fiduciary accounts, in each case maintained by the Borrower with such Lender.
The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender in case of an Event of Default, at
such Lender's option, at any time and from time to time, to apply, at the
discretion of such Lender, to the payment of Bank Indebtedness, any and all such
property, credits, securities or money now or hereafter in the hands of such
Lender belonging or owed to the Borrower. Nothing herein shall restrict any
Lender's ability to set off any property, credits, securities or money of the
Borrower which may at any time be delivered to, or be in possession or owed to
any Lender in any capacity whatever to satisfy an independent obligation of the
Borrower to the Lender.

9.14      Consent to Forum. The parties hereto each hereby irrevocably consents
          ----------------
to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, or in the District Court of the United States for the Western
District of Pennsylvania in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents, and each party agrees
that a summons and complaint commencing an action or proceeding in either of
such courts shall be properly served and shall confer personal jurisdiction if
served personally or by certified mail to the party at its respective address
set forth in Section 9.3, or as otherwise provided under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Further, the parties hereby specifically waive and
hereby acknowledge that the parties are estopped from raising any claim that any
such court lacks personal jurisdiction over such party so as to prohibit either
such court from adjudicating any issues raised in a complaint filed with any
such court against the Borrower or the Lenders concerning this Agreement, the
Notes or the other Loan Documents.

9.15      Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower
          --------------------
hereby knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally waive any rights they may have
to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation based hereon, or arising out of,
under, or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any
course of conduct, course of dealing, statements (whether verbal or written) or
actions of the Agent, the Lenders or the Borrower relating hereto or thereto.
The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it has received full and sufficient
consideration for this provision (and each other provision of each other Loan
Document to which it is a party) and that this provision is a material
inducement for the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and each such other Loan
Document.

9.16      Indemnity. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent, the
          ---------
Lenders and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys,
agents and Affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any loss,
liabilities, damages, claims, and reasonable costs and expenses, joint or
several, (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements reasonably
incurred by any such Person in connection with the preparation for or defense of
any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding) suffered or incurred by
any of them under any applicable federal or state law or otherwise caused by,
arising out of, resulting from or in any manner connected with, the execution,
delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents, the Loans and any and
all transactions related to or consummated in

                                      -70-
<PAGE>

connection with the Loans. The indemnity set forth in this Section 9.16 shall be
in addition to any other obligations or liabilities of the Borrower to the
Agents or the Lenders, or at common law or otherwise. The provisions of this
Section 9.16 shall survive the payment of the Bank Indebtedness and the
termination of this Agreement. The foregoing provisions of this Section 9.16 to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower shall not be obligated to indemnify
the Agent, or any Lender pursuant to this Section 9.16 for (i) any losses,
liabilities, damages, claims or costs suffered or incurred by any of them in
connection with the administrative transfer of funds in connection with this
Agreement and which arise directly from the Agent's or such Lender's negligence
or willful misconduct, or (ii) any other losses, liabilities, damages, claims,
or costs which arise directly from the Agent's, or such Lender's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. All amounts owed pursuant to this Section 9.16
shall be part of the Bank Indebtedness.

9.17 Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendment, modification, extension or
     ------------
renewal hereto or hereof may be executed in several counterparts and by each
party on a separate counterpart, each of which, when so executed and delivered,
shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the
same instrument. In proving this Agreement or any amendment, modification,
extension or renewal, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more
than one such counterpart signed by the other party against whom enforcement is
sought.

9.18 Limitation on Recourse to General Partner. Except as set forth below, the
     -----------------------------------------
Agent and the Lenders shall not look to the General Partner for the payment of
the Bank Indebtedness and the performance of the Borrower's other obligations
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that and the
Agent and the Lenders shall have the right to look to the General Partner on a
joint and several basis for, and the General Partner on a joint and several
basis shall indemnify, and hold harmless, the Agent and the Lenders from, any
loss, damage, liability, claim, cost or expense (including reasonable attorneys'
fees) which the Agent or any Lender may incur as a result of and to the extent
caused by (i) any representation or warranty made by the Borrower, any Guarantor
or the General Partner herein or in any other Loan Document or in any
certificate, schedule, statement, report, notice or other writing furnished or
made to the Agent or the Lenders in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement is untrue in any material respect, or (ii) any
assets, rights, rents, profits, issues, income or other properties or revenues
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are misappropriated by the General
Partner and the Agent or any Lender sustains a loss therefrom.

9.19 Confidentiality. Each of the Agent and each Lender 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 any other Loan Document or
the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement

                                     -71-
<PAGE>

containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any
assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in,
any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of
Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available
other than as a result of a breach of this Section by any Person or (ii) becomes
available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source
other than Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this
Section, "Information" means all information received from Borrower or its
Subsidiaries relating to Borrower and its Subsidiaries or their business, other
than any such information that is available to the Agent or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of information received from Borrower
              --------
after the date of this Agreement, such information is clearly identified at the
time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the
confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 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.

                [THE REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                     -72-
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound
     hereby, have caused this Credit Agreement to be executed by their
     respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written
     above.

ATTEST:                                PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE
                                       PARTNERS, L.P., a Delaware limited
                                       partnership

                                       By: PENN VIRGINIA GP, LLC, a
                                           Delaware limited liability company,
                                           its sole general partner


By:_______________(SEAL)               By:_______________(SEAL)
Name:___________________               Name:___________________
Title:__________________               Title:__________________



                                       PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                       in its capacity as the Agent hereunder


                                       By:______________________
                                       Name:____________________
                                       Title:___________________

                                     -73-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned
Lender has caused this Credit Agreement by and among PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE
PARTNERS, L.P., THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
the Agent to be executed by its duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.

Commitment:                                 PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
         $
          --------------------------

Commitment Percentage:                      By:_________________
                                            Name:_______________
                __________________%         Title:______________

Addresses for notice purposes:

If by United States Mail:                   If by other means:

PNC Bank, National Association              PNC Bank, National Association
Agency Services                             Agency Services
One PNC Plaza - 22nd Floor                  One PNC Plaza - 22nd Floor
249 Fifth Avenue                            249 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707         Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707
Attention:  Lisa Pierce                     Attention:  Lisa Pierce
                                            Telephone:  (412) 762-6442
                                            Telecopier: (412) 762-8672

With a copy to:                             With a copy to:

PNC Bank, National Association              PNC Bank, National Association
Energy Metals and Mining Group              Energy Metals and Mining Group
One PNC Plaza - 3rd Floor                   One PNC Plaza - 3rd Floor
249 Fifth Avenue                            249 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707         Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-2707
Attention:  Christopher Moravec             Attention:  Christopher Moravec
            Senior Vice President                       Senior Vice President
                                            Telephone:  (412) 762-2540
                                            Telecopier: (412) 705-3232

Address for Euro-Rate Loan Funding if different from above:

         N/A
________________________
________________________
________________________

Telephone:______________
Telecopier:_____________
Telex:__________________

                                     -74-
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, intending to be legally bound hereby, the undersigned
Lender has caused this Credit Agreement by and among PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE
PARTNERS, L.P., THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
the Agent to be executed by its duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.

Commitment:

     $_____________                         ____________________

Commitment Percentage:                      By:_________________
                                            Name:_______________
      _____________%                        Title:______________


Addresses for notice purposes:

If by United States Mail:                   If by other means:
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
Attention:__________                        Attention:__________
                                            Telephone: (__)__-____
                                            Telecopier:(__)__-____

With a copy to:                             With a copy to:
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
____________________                        ____________________
Attention:__________                        Attention:__________
                                            Telephone: (__)__-___
                                            Telecopier:(__)__-___

Address for Euro-Rate Loan Funding if different from above:

        N/A
___________________
___________________
___________________

Telephone:_________
Telecopier:________
Telex:_____________

                                     -75-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                  FORM OF NOTE
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                              FORM OF LOAN REQUEST
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                         FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

                           FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT E

                           FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT F

                   FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT