<PAGE>
 
============================================================================

                              CREDIT AGREEMENT A

                           DATED AS OF JULY 23, 1997

                                     AMONG


                            ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY,

                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,

                                   AS AGENT



                                      AND


                 THE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO



                                  ARRANGED BY

                      FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

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

                                 EXHIBIT 10.2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION                                                                    PAGE
<S>                                                                        <C> 
                                  ARTICLE I 
                                 DEFINITIONS...............................   1

SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.................................................   1
SECTION 1.02.  Accounting Terms and Determinations.........................  12

                                  ARTICLE II 
                                  THE CREDITS..............................  13

SECTION 2.01.  Commitments to Lend.........................................  13
SECTION 2.02.  Notice of Syndicated Borrowings.............................  14
SECTION 2.03.  Money Market Borrowings.....................................  14
SECTION 2.04.  Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans...........................  19
SECTION 2.05.  Notes.......................................................  19
SECTION 2.06.  Maturity of Loans...........................................  20
SECTION 2.07.  Interest Rates..............................................  20
SECTION 2.08.  Fees........................................................  22
SECTION 2.09.  Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments............  22
SECTION 2.10.  Mandatory Termination of Commitments........................  23
SECTION 2.11.  Optional Prepayments........................................  23
SECTION 2.12.  General Provisions as to Payments...........................  23
SECTION 2.13.  Funding Losses..............................................  24
SECTION 2.14.  Computation of Interest and Fees............................  25
SECTION 2.15.  Judgment Currency...........................................  25
SECTION 2.16.  Taxes.......................................................  26
SECTION 2.17.  Maximum Interest Rate.......................................  28
SECTION 2.18.  Extension of the Termination Date...........................  28

                                 ARTICLE III 
                           CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS........................  29

SECTION 3.01.  Initial Borrowing by the Borrower...........................  29
SECTION 3.02.  Each Borrowing..............................................  30

                                  ARTICLE IV 
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................  31

SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrower..............  31
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
SECTION                                                                    PAGE
<S>                                                                        <C>
                                  ARTICLE V 
                                  COVENANTS................................. 34
 
SECTION 5.01.  Certain Information to be Furnished by the Borrower.......... 34
SECTION 5.02.  Limitation on Liens.......................................... 36
SECTION 5.03.  Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back............................ 37
SECTION 5.04.  Consolidation, Merger, Disposition of Assets................. 38
SECTION 5.05.  Minimum Consolidated Net Worth............................... 39
SECTION 5.06.  Transactions with Affiliates................................. 39
SECTION 5.07.  Use of Proceeds.............................................. 39

                                  ARTICLE V 
                                  IDEFAULTS................................. 40

SECTION 6.01.  ............................................................. 40
SECTION 6.02.  Notice of Default............................................ 42

                                 ARTICLE VII 
                                  THE AGENT................................. 42

SECTION 7.01.  Appointment and Authorization................................ 42
SECTION 7.02.  Agent and Affiliates......................................... 42
SECTION 7.03.  Action by Agent.............................................. 42
SECTION 7.04.  Employment and Reliance on Agents and Counsel................ 42
SECTION 7.05.  Liability of Agent........................................... 42
SECTION 7.06.  Reimbursement and Indemnification............................ 43
SECTION 7.07.  Credit Decision.............................................. 43
SECTION 7.08.  Successor Agent.............................................. 43
SECTION 7.09.  Co-Agents.................................................... 44

                                 ARTICLE VIII 
                            CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES......................... 44

SECTION 8.01.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair..... 44
SECTION 8.02.  Illegality................................................... 46
SECTION 8.03.  Increased Cost and Reduced Return............................ 46
SECTION 8.04.  Substitute Loans............................................. 48
SECTION 8.05.  Certain Reserve Compensation................................. 48
SECTION 8.06.  Substitution of Bank......................................... 49
</TABLE>
                                      ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
SECTION                                                                               PAGE 
<S>                                                                                   <C>
                                  ARTICLE IX
                                 MISCELLANEOUS..........................................49

SECTION 9.01.  Notices..................................................................49
SECTION 9.02.  No Waiver................................................................50
SECTION 9.03.  Governing Law............................................................50
SECTION 9.04.  Expenses and Indemnification.............................................50
SECTION 9.05.  Amendments, Etc..........................................................50
SECTION 9.06.  Counterparts; Effectiveness; Termination of Existing Credit Agreement....51
SECTION 9.07.  Successors and Assigns...................................................51
SECTION 9.08.  Survival.................................................................52
SECTION 9.09.  Acknowledgement..........................................................52
SECTION 9.10.  Headings.................................................................53
SECTION 9.11.  Sharing of Setoffs.......................................................53
SECTION 9.12.  Collateral...............................................................53
SECTION 9.13.  Consent to Jurisdiction..................................................53
SECTION 9.14.  Waiver of Jury Trial.....................................................54
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
SCHEDULE I  -- Euro-Currency Payment Offices of the Agent


EXHIBIT A   -- Note

EXHIBIT B   -- Money Market Quote Request

EXHIBIT C   -- Invitation for Money Market Quotes

EXHIBIT D   -- Money Market Quote

EXHIBIT E   -- Form of Certificate of Incumbency

EXHIBIT F   -- Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Borrower

EXHIBIT G   -- Assignment and Assumption Agreement

EXHIBIT H   -- Notice of Effectiveness

EXHIBIT I   -- Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Agent
<PAGE>
 
     This CREDIT AGREEMENT A (this "Agreement") is entered into as of July 23,
1997 among ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the
several financial institutions from time to time party to this Agreement
(individually each a "Bank;" collectively the "Banks") and THE FIRST NATIONAL
BANK OF CHICAGO, as Agent (the "Agent").

     WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to borrow from the Banks from time to time
under this Agreement amounts not exceeding in the aggregate $200,000,000
outstanding at any one time for its general corporate purposes, and the Banks
are prepared to make loans upon the terms hereof.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

     SECTION 1.01.  Definitions.  In addition to terms defined elsewhere in this
                    -----------                                                 
Agreement, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings (all terms defined in this Agreement in the singular to have
the same meanings when used in the plural and vice versa):

     "Absolute Rate Auction" shall mean a solicitation of Money Market Quotes
setting forth Money Market Rates pursuant to Section 2.03.

     "Administrative Questionnaire" shall mean, with respect to any Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Agent and submitted to
the Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) duly completed by such Bank.

     "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any Person that directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, controls the Borrower (a "Controlling Person") or
(ii) any Person (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary) which is controlled by
or is under common control with a Controlling Person.  As used herein, the term
"control" means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     "Agent" shall mean The First National Bank of Chicago in its capacity as
agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.

     "Agreed Currency" shall mean Dollars, Deutsche Marks, Dutch guilders,
French francs, Japanese yen and pounds sterling and any other currency which is
freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, in which deposits are
customarily offered to banks in the London interbank market, which the Borrower
requests the Agent to include as an Agreed Currency hereunder and which is
acceptable to each Bank; provided that the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank
                         --------                                               
of each such request and each Bank shall be deemed to have agreed to each such
request if its objection thereto
<PAGE>
 
has not been received by the Agent within five Domestic Business Days from the
date of such notification by the Agent to such Bank.

     "Applicable Lending Office" shall mean as to any Bank (i) in the case of
its Base Rate Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of its Euro-
Currency Loans, its Euro-Currency Lending Office and (iii) in the case of its
Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.

     "Approximate Equivalent Amount" of any currency with respect to any amount
of Dollars at any date shall mean the Equivalent Amount of such currency with
respect to such amount of Dollars at such date (i) if such currency is an Agreed
Currency listed below, rounded up to the nearest amount of such Agreed Currency
set forth below opposite such amount of Dollars:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            Amount of  Amount of  Amount of   Amount of   Amount of
Amount of                   Deutsche     Dutch     French     Japanese     Pounds
 Dollars                      Marks    Guilders    Francs        Yen      Sterling
---------                   ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
up to 1,000,000                 1,000      1,000      1,000      100,000      1,000
1,000,000 to 9,999,999         10,000     10,000     10,000    1,000,000     10,000
10,000,000 to 99,999,999      100,000    100,000    100,000   10,000,000    100,000
100,000,000 and upwards     1,000,000  1,000,000  1,000,000  100,000,000  1,000,000
</TABLE>

and (ii) if such currency is not an Agreed Currency listed above, rounded up to
the nearest amount of such currency as determined by the Agent from time to
time.

     "Arranger" shall mean First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.

     "Assignee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.07(c).

     "Authorized Officer" and "Authorized Representative" of the Borrower shall
mean an officer or other representative of the Borrower designated in the latest
Certificate of Incumbency of the Borrower.  The Agent and the Banks shall be
conclusively entitled to rely on the latest such Certificate of Incumbency
delivered to the Agent.

     "Bank" shall mean each bank which is listed on the signature pages hereof
as having a Commitment and which has executed and delivered this Agreement, and
its successors and assigns.

     "Bank Credit Documents" shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the
Notes, the Other Agreement and the "Notes" under and as defined in the Other
Agreement.

     "Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher
of (i) the Corporate Base Rate for such day or (ii) the sum of  1/2 of 1% plus
the Federal Funds Rate for such day.

     "Base Rate Loan" shall mean a Loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to Section
2.01 as a Base Rate Loan in accordance with the applicable Notice of Borrowing
or pursuant to Article VIII or

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Section 2.04(d).

     "Benefit Arrangement" shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a
Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any
member of the ERISA Group.

     "Borrowed Funds" shall mean Debt for borrowed money.

     "Borrower" shall mean ARCO Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation, and
its permitted successors.

     "Borrowing" shall mean the aggregation of Loans of the same type and
currency of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower pursuant to Article II
on a single date and for a single Interest Period.  Borrowings are classified
for purposes of this Agreement either by reference to the pricing of Loans
comprising such Borrowing (e.g., a "Euro-Currency Borrowing" is a Borrowing
comprised of Euro-Currency Loans) or by reference to the provisions of Article
II under which participation therein is determined (e.g., a "Syndicated
Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.01 in which all Banks participate in
proportion to their Commitments and a "Money Market Borrowing" is a Borrowing
under Section 2.03 in which the Bank participants are determined by the Agent in
accordance therewith).

     "Certificate of Incumbency" shall mean a Certificate of Incumbency
described in Section 3.01(ii) and any successor or replacement Certificate of
Incumbency delivered hereunder.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor statute.

     "Commitment" shall mean, as to each Bank, the Dollar Amount set forth
opposite its name on the signature pages hereof under the heading "Commitment"
(as such amount may be reduced from time to time as provided in Section 2.09).

     "Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean at any date the consolidated
stockholders' equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries less
their consolidated write-ups, all determined as of such date.  For purposes of
this definition, "write-ups" shall mean the amount (to the extent reflected in
determining such consolidated stockholders' equity) of all write-ups (other than
write-ups resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of assets
of a going concern business made within 12 months after the acquisition of such
business) subsequent to December 31, 1995 in the book value of any asset owned
by the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary.

     "Consolidated Subsidiary" shall mean, on any date, any Subsidiary or other
entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in
its consolidated financial statements as of such date.

     "Corporate Base Rate" shall mean a rate per annum equal to the corporate
base rate of interest

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
announced by The First National Bank of Chicago from time to time, changing when
and as said corporate base rate changes.

     "Cross-Indemnification Agreement" shall mean the Cross-Indemnification
Agreement dated as of June 1, 1987, as amended, between the Parent and the
Borrower.

     "Debt" of any Person shall mean at any date, without duplication, (i) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii)
all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee under capital leases,
(v) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or
not such Debt is assumed by such Person, and (vi) all Debt of others guaranteed
by such Person; provided that in no event shall "Debt" be deemed to include any
                --------                                                       
"take-or-pay" obligations incurred by the Borrower in connection with its
purchases of petrochemical feedstocks or other such petrochemical products in
the ordinary course of business.

     "Default" shall mean any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

     "Designated Currency" shall mean (i) each Agreed Currency, (ii) any other
currency which is freely transferable and convertible into Dollars, in which
deposits are customarily offered to banks in the London interbank market and
which the Borrower designates as a Designated Currency hereunder upon five
Domestic Business Days' notice in writing to the Banks through the Agent and
(iii) any other currency which is freely transferable and convertible into
Dollars, in which deposits are not customarily offered to banks in the London
interbank market and which the Borrower designates as a Designated Currency
hereunder by notice in writing to the Banks through the Agent; provided that any
                                                               --------         
notice given pursuant to this clause (iii) shall also propose an appropriate
amendment to this Agreement to provide for the basis for determining the rate to
which Money Market Margins are to be added or subtracted in the relevant Money
Market Quotes and to amend any other relevant provisions hereof as necessary and
that any such notice and proposed amendment shall be effective for all purposes
hereunder on the 20th Domestic Business Day after the date of such notification
by the Agent to each Bank if no Bank has objected thereto to the Agent before
such 20th Domestic Business Day.

     "Dollar Amount" of any currency at any date shall mean (i) the amount of
such currency if such currency is Dollars or (ii) the equivalent amount of
Dollars if such currency is any currency other than Dollars, calculated on the
basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the
Agent for such currency on the London market at the opening of business in
London on the relevant FX Date.

     "Dollars" and "$" shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     "Domestic Business Day" shall mean any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City or Chicago, Illinois are
authorized or required by law to close.

     "Domestic Lending Office" shall mean, as to each Bank, its office, branch
or affiliate specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" below its name on the
signature pages hereof or such other office, branch or affiliate as such Bank
may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower as its Domestic
Lending Office.

     "Equivalent Amount" of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars
at any date shall mean the equivalent in such currency of such amount of
Dollars, calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell
spot rates of exchange of the Agent for such other currency at the opening of
business in London on the relevant FX Date.

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

     "ERISA Group" shall mean the Borrower and all members of a controlled group
of corporations and all trades or business (whether or not incorporated) under
common control which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Code.

     "Euro-Currency Business Day" shall mean any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
Dollar deposits) in London and, where funds are to be paid or made available in
a currency other than Dollars, on which commercial banks are open for domestic
and international business (including dealings in deposits in such currency) in
both London and the place where such funds are to be paid or made available.

     "Euro-Currency Lending Office" shall mean, as to each Bank, (i) for loans
denominated in each of Dollars, Deutsche Marks, Dutch guilders, French francs,
Japanese yen and pounds sterling, its office, branch or affiliate specified as
its "Euro-Currency Lending Office" for such currency below its name on the
signature pages hereof (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending
Office for Base Rate Loans) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such
Bank as it may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower as its
Euro-Currency Lending Office and (ii) for loans denominated in each other Agreed
Currency permitted hereunder from time to time, such office branch or affiliate
of such Bank as it may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower
as its Euro-Currency Lending Office for such other currency (or, if no such
office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office for Base Rate Loans).

     "Euro-Currency Loan" shall mean a Loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to
Section 2.01 as a Euro-Currency Loan in accordance with the applicable Notice of
Borrowing.

     "Euro-Currency Payment Office" of the Agent shall mean, (i) for each of
Dollars, Deutsche Marks, Dutch guilders, French francs, Japanese yen and pounds
sterling, the office, branch or affiliate of the Agent specified as the "Euro-
Currency Payment Office" for such currency in Schedule

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
I hereto or such other office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the
Agent as it may from time to time specify to the Borrower and each Bank as its
Euro-Currency Payment Office and, (ii) for each other Designated Currency, such
office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Agent as it may from time
to time specify to the Borrower and each Bank as its Euro-Currency Payment
Office for such Designated Currency.

     "Euro-Currency Reserve Percentage" shall mean with respect to any Bank for
any day that percentage (expressed as a decimal) 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 requirement imposed on such Bank in
respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" (or in respect of any other category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Euro-Currency Loans and Money Market LIBOR Loans is determined or any category
of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United
States office of such Bank to United States residents).

     "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section
6.01.

     "Existing Credit Agreement" shall mean the $300 million Credit Agreement
dated as of November 19, 1993 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of October
14, 1994, and Amendment No. 2 dated as of April 3, 1996), among the Borrower,
the banks listed on the signature pages thereof and The First National Bank of
Chicago, as agent.

     "Facility Fee Percentage" shall mean 0.05% per annum.

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

     "Fixed Rate Loans" shall mean Euro-Currency Loans or Money Market Loans
(excluding Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.01(a)) or any combination of the foregoing.

     "FX Date" shall mean the date on which the Agent's spot rate of exchange
shall be determined for purposes of calculating the Dollar Amount and Equivalent
Amount of any currency at any time.  With respect to any calculation of Dollar
Amount or Equivalent Amount as of:

          (i)  any borrowing date for any type of Borrowing, the relevant FX
     Date shall be the

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     latest date by which a Notice of Borrowing is required to be delivered with
     respect to such Borrowing (unless the Borrowing is a Base Rate Borrowing
     pursuant to Section 2.04(d), 8.01(a), 8.02 or 8.04(b), in which case the
     relevant FX Date shall be four Euro-Currency Business Days before the
     borrowing date);

          (ii)  the Termination Date, the relevant FX Date shall be four Euro-
     Currency Business Days before the Termination Date;

          (iii)  any date of prepayment of any Loan which is not also a
     borrowing date, the relevant FX Date shall be the date of such prepayment;

          (iv)  each day as of which the Commitment may be reduced or terminated
     pursuant to Section 2.09, the relevant FX Date shall be four Euro-Currency
     Business Days before such day; and

          (v)  each day on which any vote or other action by the Required Banks
     or Banks holding a specified proportion of the principal amount of the
     Notes is to be taken or to be effective and each other day not specified
     above on which the Dollar Amount or Equivalent Amount is to be determined
     (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 6.01(e) and 6.01(i)),
     the relevant FX Date shall be such day.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time
to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board
and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with
similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting
profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of
determination.

     "Guarantee" by any Person shall mean any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other
obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
       --------                                                             
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term "guarantee"
used as a verb shall have a corresponding meaning.

     "Interest Period" shall mean: (1) with respect to each Euro-Currency
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending 1, 2,
3 or 6 months thereafter (or 9 or 12 months thereafter if all Reference Banks
agree to such period), as the Borrower may elect in the

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
applicable Notice of Borrowing; provided that:
                                --------      

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

          (b)  any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Currency
     Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
     numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
     Interest Period) shall end on the last Euro-Currency Business Day of a
     calendar month; and

          (c)  the Borrower may not elect any Interest Period which would end
     subsequent to the Termination Date;

     (2)  with respect to each Base Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the
date of such Borrowing and ending 30 days thereafter; provided that:
                                                      --------      

          (a)  any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period determined
     pursuant to clause (b) below) which would otherwise end on a day which is
     not a Euro-Currency Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
     Euro-Currency Business Day; and

          (b)  any Interest Period which begins before the Termination Date and
     would otherwise end after the Termination Date shall end on the Termination
     Date;

     (3)  with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such whole number of months
thereafter as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.03; provided
                                                                      --------
that:

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

          (b)  any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Currency
     Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
     numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
     Interest Period) shall end on the last Euro-Currency Business Day of a
     calendar month; and

          (c)  the Borrower may not elect any Interest Period which would end
     subsequent to the Termination Date;

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     (4)  with respect to each Money Market Rate Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on such day (not earlier
than the 7th day) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect in accordance with
Section 2.03; provided that:
              --------      

          (a)  any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
     not a Euro-Currency Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
     Euro-Currency Business Day; and

          (b)  the Borrower may not elect any Interest Period which would end
     subsequent to the Termination Date.

     "Internally-Funded Subsidiary" shall mean any Wholly-Owned Consolidated
Subsidiary (a) all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests
of which (except directors' qualifying shares) are owned by the Borrower or
another Internally-Funded Subsidiary, (b) which is a non-operating Subsidiary,
and (c) that does not at any time (including, without limitation, at the time
of, or at any time subsequent to, any transfer of the Borrower's assets to such
Subsidiary pursuant to clause (B) of the third proviso to Section 5.04) have any
Debt owing to any Person other than the Borrower or another Internally-Funded
Subsidiary.

     "LIBOR Auction" shall mean a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting
forth Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant
to Section 2.03.

     "Lien" shall mean, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be
deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject
to the interest of a vender or lessor under any conditional sale agreement,
capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

     "Loan" shall mean a Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Currency Loan or a Money
Market Loan and "Loans" means Base Rate Loans or Euro-Currency Loans or Money
Market Loans or any combination of the foregoing.

     "London Interbank Offered Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(b).

     "Material Subsidiary" shall mean, as of any date of determination, a
Subsidiary which meets the definition of a "significant subsidiary" contained as
of the date of this Agreement in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

     "Money Market Lending Office" shall mean, as to each Bank, (i) for Money
Market Loans denominated in Dollars, its Domestic Lending Office for Base Rate
Loans or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may from time
to time specify as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and
the Agent and (ii) for Money Market Loans denominated in each other Designated
Currency, such office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may from time

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
to time specify as its Money Market Lending Office for such other Designated
Currency by notice to the Borrower and the Agent (or, if no such office if
specified, its Domestic Lending Office for Base Rate Loans); provided that any
                                                             --------         
Bank may from time to time by notice to the Borrower and the Agent designate
separate Money Market Lending Offices for each of its Money Market LIBOR Loans
denominated in each Designated Currency and its Money Market Rate Loans in which
case all references herein to the Money Market Lending Office of such Bank shall
be deemed to refer to one or all of such offices, as the context may require.

     "Money Market LIBOR Loan" shall mean a Loan to be made by a Bank pursuant
to a LIBOR Auction (including such a Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)).

     "Money Market Loan" shall mean a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money Market
Rate Loan.

     "Money Market Margin" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

     "Money Market Quote" shall mean an offer by a Bank to make a Money Market
Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.

     "Money Market Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

     "Money Market Rate Loan" shall mean a Loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to
an Absolute Rate Auction.

     "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of
the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions
or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for
these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during
such five year period.

     "New York Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest Period for any
Euro-Currency Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan shall mean the average (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per
annum at which deposits in the currency in which such Euro-Currency Loan is
denominated are offered to each of the Reference Banks in the New York interbank
market at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, two Euro-Currency
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount
approximately equal to the principal amount of the Euro-Currency Loan of such
Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of
time comparable to such Interest Period.

     "Notes" means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the form
of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay the
Loans, and "Note" means any one of such promissory notes issued hereunder.

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
     "Notice of Borrowing" shall mean a Notice of Syndicated Borrowing (as
defined in Section 2.02) or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined in
Section 2.03(f)) and the "date of a Notice of Borrowing" shall mean the date the
Notice of Borrowing is given to the Agent pursuant to Section 2.02 or 2.03(f),
as the case may be.

     "Other Agreement" means Credit Agreement B dated as of July 23, 1997, as it
may be amended, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified, among the
Borrower, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof and The First National
Bank of Chicago, as agent for said banks.

     "Parent" shall mean Atlantic Richfield Company, a Delaware corporation, and
its successors.

     "Participant" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.07(b).

     "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

     "Person" shall mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an
association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government
or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

     "Plan" shall mean at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than
a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the
minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is
maintained, or contributed to, by a member of the ERISA Group for employees of a
member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five
years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a
member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was at such time a
member of the ERISA Group.

     "Quarterly Date" shall mean the last day of each March, June, September and
December, commencing September 30, 1997; provided that, if any such date is not
                                         --------                              
a Euro-Currency Business Day, the relevant Quarterly Date shall be the next
succeeding Euro-Currency Business Day.

     "Reference Banks" shall mean the principal London offices of Bank of
America National Trust and Savings Association, The Chase Manhattan Bank and The
First National Bank of Chicago, and each such other bank as may be appointed
pursuant to Section 9.07(f), and "Reference Bank" shall mean any one of such
Reference Banks.

     "Refunding Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing which, after application of
the proceeds thereof to repay one or more other Borrowings in whole or in part,
results in no net increase in the aggregate principal amount of Loans
outstanding hereunder.

     "Regulation D" shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time (including any successor
provision thereto or any other United

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
States law or regulation imposing reserves on deposits or loans).

     "Regulation U" shall mean Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time (including any successor
provision thereto).

     "Required Banks" shall mean at any time Banks having at least 66-2/3% of
the aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, holding Notes the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount of
which evidence at least 66-2/3% of the Dollar Amount of the outstanding
aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

     "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other entity of which securities
or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions (whether or
not any other class of securities has or might have voting power by reason of
the happening of a contingency) are at the time owned or controlled directly or
indirectly by the Borrower.

     "Syndicated Loan" shall mean a Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Currency Loan made
by a Bank pursuant to Section 2.01.

     "Syndicated Margin" shall mean, with respect to Base Rate Loans, 0%,  and
with respect to Euro-Currency Loans, 0.15%.

     "Taxes" shall mean any present or future taxes, duties, withholdings or
other charges levied or imposed by any government or any political subdivision
or taxing authority thereof, excluding any of the foregoing imposed on or
calculated by reference to the net income of any Bank.

     "Tax Sharing Agreement" shall mean the Amended and Restated Tax Sharing
Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995, as amended, between the Parent and the
Borrower.

     "Termination Date" shall mean July 22, 1998, or such later date to which
the Termination Date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.18 (or, if such day
is not a Euro-Currency Business Day, the next preceding Euro-Currency Business
Day).

     "Unfunded Liabilities" shall mean, with respect to any Plan at any time,
the amount (if any) by which (i) the present value of all benefits under such
Plan exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such
benefits (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of
the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that
such excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to
the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

     "Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary" shall mean any Consolidated
Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of
which (except directors' qualifying shares) are at the time directly or
indirectly owned by the Borrower.

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 1.02.  Accounting Terms and Determinations.  Unless otherwise
                    -----------------------------------                   
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements
required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as
in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent (except for changes
concurred in by the Borrower's independent public accountants) with the most
recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided that if the Borrower
                                                  --------                     
notifies the Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend Section 5.05 to eliminate
or to take into account the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of
such covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Banks
wish to amend Section 5.05 for such purpose), then the Borrower's compliance
with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect
immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either
such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to
the Borrower and the Required Banks.

     SECTION 1.03.  Introduction of Euro.  For the avoidance of doubt, the
                    --------------------                                  
parties hereto affirm and agree that neither the fixation of the conversion rate
of any Designated Currency of a country that is a member of the European Union
against the Euro as a single currency, in accordance with the Treaty
Establishing the European Economic Community, as amended by the Treaty on the
European Union (the Maastricht Treaty), nor the conversion of any Loans or other
obligations under this Agreement from a Designated Currency of a country that is
a member of the European Union into Euros, shall require the early termination
of this Agreement or the prepayment of any amount due under this Agreement or
create any liability of one party to another party for any direct or
consequential loss arising from any of such events.  As of the date that any
such Designated Currency is no longer the lawful currency of its respective
country, all payment obligations under this Agreement that would otherwise be in
such Designated Currency shall thereafter by satisfied in Euros.


                                  ARTICLE II

                                  THE CREDITS

     SECTION 2.01.  Commitments to Lend.  From the date hereof to but not
                    -------------------                                  
including the Termination Date, each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to lend to the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 2.01 from time to time amounts such that, upon giving effect to each
such Borrowing: (i) the then aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of
all Syndicated Loans made by such Bank to the Borrower shall not exceed the
amount of such Bank's Commitment then in effect and (ii) the then aggregate
outstanding principal Dollar Amount of all Syndicated Loans and all Money Market
Loans made by the Banks to the Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate amount of
the Commitments then in effect.  Each Borrowing under this Section 2.01 shall be
in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent
Amount thereof) or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate
Equivalent Amount thereof) (except that any such Borrowing may be in the
aggregate amount of the unused

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
Commitments or the Equivalent Amount thereof) and shall be made from the several
Banks ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments.  Within the
foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, repay, or to
the extent permitted by Section 2.11, prepay Loans and reborrow under this
Section 2.01 at any time prior to the Termination Date.  Subject to the
preceding provisions of this Section 2.01, each Bank severally agrees to make
Euro-Currency Loans in the Agreed Currencies.

     SECTION 2.02.  Notice of Syndicated Borrowings.  The Borrower shall give
                    -------------------------------                          
the Agent notice (a "Notice of Syndicated Borrowing") not later than 10:00 a.m.,
Chicago time, on (x) the Domestic Business Day next preceding each Base Rate
Borrowing, (y) in the case of a Euro-Currency Borrowing to be made in Dollars,
the third Euro-Currency Business Day before each such Euro-Currency Borrowing
(or the fourth Euro-Currency Business Day before any such Euro-Currency
Borrowing for which a 9 or 12 month Interest Period is requested) and (z) in the
case of a Euro-Currency Borrowing to be made in an Agreed Currency other than
Dollars, the fourth Euro-Currency Business Day before each such Euro-Currency
Borrowing, specifying:

          (i)   the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business
     Day in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Currency Business Day in
     the case of a Euro-Currency Borrowing;

          (ii)  the aggregate amount of such Borrowing; provided that upon
                                                        --------          
     giving effect to such Borrowing, the then aggregate outstanding principal
     Dollar Amount of all Syndicated Loans and all Money Market Loans shall not
     exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect;

          (iii) whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to be Base Rate
     Loans or Euro-Currency Loans and, if Euro-Currency Loans, the currency
     thereof in accordance with the last sentence of Section 2.01; and

          (iv)  in the case of a Euro-Currency Borrowing, the duration of the
     Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the
     definition of Interest Period and provided that deposits in the currency of
     such Borrowing are being offered for such Interest Period to the Reference
     Banks in the London interbank market.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 2.02, if, by 10:00
a.m., Chicago time, on the Domestic Business Day next preceding the last day of
the Interest Period applicable to any outstanding Syndicated Loan, the Borrower
shall not have either (i) given a Notice of Syndicated Borrowing to refinance
such Syndicated Loan, (ii) requested offers for Money Market Loans pursuant to
Section 2.03(b) to refinance such Syndicated Loan or (iii) given notice of the
Borrower's election to prepay such Syndicated Loan pursuant to Section 2.11 or
to repay such Syndicated Loan pursuant to Section 2.12, then the Borrower shall
be deemed to have given Notice of Syndicated Borrowing for a Refunding Borrowing
comprised of a Base Rate Loan in Dollars to be made on the last day of such
Interest Period in a principal amount equal to the outstanding principal Dollar

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
Amount of such Syndicated Loan, the making of such Refunding Borrowing to be
subject to each of the conditions precedent set forth in clauses (ii), (iii) and
(iv) of Section 3.02.

     SECTION 2.03.  Money Market Borrowings.  (a)  In addition to Syndicated
                    -----------------------                                 
Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01, the Borrower may, as set forth in this
Section, request the Banks at any time prior to the Termination Date (but not
during any period when the Borrower's senior unsecured long-term public debt is
rated either below Baa3 by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. (or its successor) or
below BBB- by Standard & Poor's Corporation (or its successor)) to make offers
to make Money Market Loans to the Borrower.  The Banks may, but shall have no
obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no
obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this Section.

     (b)  When the Borrower wishes to request offers to make Money Market Loans
under this Section, it shall transmit to the Agent by telex or facsimile
transmission a Money Market Quote Request substantially in the form of Exhibit B
hereto so as to be received no later than (x) 3:00 p.m., London time, on the
fifth Euro-Currency Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed
therein, in the case of a LIBOR Auction in a Designated Currency other than
Dollars, (y) 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the fifth Euro-Currency Business Day
prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR Auction
in Dollars or (z) 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the Domestic Business Day next
preceding the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of an Absolute
Rate Auction (or, in any such case, such other time and date as the Borrower and
the Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified the Banks of not
later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR
Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective),
specifying:

          (i)   the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Currency
     Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day in
     the case of an Absolute Rate Auction;

          (ii)  the proposed currency of such Borrowing, which shall be a
     Designated Currency in the case of a LIBOR Auction or Dollars in the case
     of an Absolute Rate Auction;

          (iii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be at least
     $10,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof) or a larger
     multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof);
     provided that upon giving effect to such Borrowing, the then aggregate
     --------                                                              
     outstanding principal Dollar Amount of all Syndicated Loans and all Money
     Market Loans shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments then
     in effect;

          (iv)  the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject
     to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period; and

          (v)   whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a
     Money Market

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
     Margin or a Money Market Rate.

The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than one
Interest Period but not more than one currency in a single Money Market Quote
Request. No Money Market Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Currency
Business Days (or such other number of days as the Borrower and the Agent may
agree) of any other Money Market Quote Request (under and as defined in either
this Agreement or the Other Agreement).

     (c)  Promptly upon receipt of a Money Market Quote Request, the Agent shall
send to the Banks by telex or facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money
Market Quotes substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, which shall
constitute an invitation by the Borrower to each Bank to submit Money Market
Quotes offering to make the Money Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote
Request relates in accordance with this Section.

     (d)(i)  Each Bank may submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or
offers to make Money Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market
Quotes. Each Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this
subsection and must be submitted to the Agent by telex or facsimile transmission
at its offices specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01 not later than (x) 3:00
p.m., London time, on the fourth Euro-Currency Business Day prior to the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction in a Designated
Currency other than Dollars, (y) 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the fourth 
Euro-Currency Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case
of a LIBOR Auction in Dollars, or (z) 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in any such
case, such other time and date as the Borrower and the Agent shall have mutually
agreed and shall have notified the Banks of not later than the date of the Money
Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for
which such change is to be effective); provided that Money Market Quotes
                                       --------                         
submitted by the Agent (or any Affiliate of the Agent) in the capacity of a Bank
may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Agent or such affiliate
notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained therein not
later than (A) 2:00 p.m., London time, on the fourth Euro-Currency Business Day
prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction in a
Designated Currency other than Dollars, (B) noon, Chicago time, on the fourth
Euro-Currency Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case
of a LIBOR Auction in Dollars, or (C) 8:45 a.m., Chicago time, on the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction. Subject to Articles
III and VI, any Money Market Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the
written consent of the Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.

     (ii)   Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit D hereto and shall in any case specify:

           (A)  the proposed date of Borrowing and, in the case of a LIBOR
     Auction, the proposed currency of such Borrowing;

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
          (B)   the principal amount of each Money Market Loan for which each
     such offer is being made, (w) the Dollar Amount of which principal amount
     may be greater or less than the Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) which
     principal amount must be $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount
     thereof) or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent
     Amount thereof), (y) which principal amount may not exceed in the aggregate
     with the other Money Market Loans included in such offer the principal
     amount of Money Market Loans for which offers were requested and (z) which
     principal amount may be subject to an aggregate limitation as to the
     maximum principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers being made
     by such quoting Bank may be accepted;

          (C)   the duration of the Interest Period applicable to each Money
     Market Loan for which each such offer is being made, subject to the
     provisions of the definition of Interest Period;

          (D)   in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or below the
     applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "Money Market Margin")
     offered for each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a percentage (rounded
     to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such
     base rate;

          (E)   in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of interest
     per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the "Money Market
     Rate") offered for each such Money Market Loan; and

          (F)   the identity of the quoting Bank.

A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the quoting
Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation
for Money Market Quotes.

     (iii)  Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded that:

          (A)   is not substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto or does not
     specify all of the information required by subsection (d)(ii) of this
     Section;

          (B)   contains qualifying, conditional or similar language;

          (C)   proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in
     the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes; or

          (D)   arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i) of this
     Section.

     (e)  The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the terms (i) of any
Money Market Quote submitted by a Bank that is in accordance with subsection (d)
of this Section and (ii) of any subsequent Money Market Quote that amends,
modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
Money Market Quote submitted by such Bank with respect to the same Money Market
Quote Request; provided that any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be
               --------                                                     
disregarded by the Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted
solely to correct a manifest error in such former Money Market Quote.  The
Agent's notice to the Borrower shall specify (x) the aggregate principal amount
and currency of Money Market Loans for which offers have been received for each
Interest Period specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (y) the
respective principal amounts and Money Market Margins or Money Market Rates, as
the case may be, so offered and (z) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate
principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money
Market Quote may be accepted.

     (f)  Not later than (x) 5:00 p.m., London time, on the fourth Euro-Currency
business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR
Auction in a Designated Currency other than Dollars, (y) 10:00 a.m., Chicago
time, on the third Euro-Currency Business Day prior to the proposed date of
Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction in Dollars, or (z) 10:00 a.m., Chicago
time, on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction
(or, in any such case, such other time and date as the Borrower and the Agent
shall have mutually agreed upon and shall have notified the Banks of not later
than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or
Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective), the Borrower
shall notify the Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so
notified to it pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.  In the case of
acceptance, such notice (a "Notice of Money Market Borrowing") shall specify the
aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted.
The Borrower may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part; provided
                                                                    --------
that:

          (i)   the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing
     may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market
     Quote Request;

          (ii)  the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be at
     least $10,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof) or a
     larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount
     thereof); provided that upon giving effect to such Borrowing, the then
               --------                                                    
     aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of all Syndicated Loans and
     all Money Market Loans shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the
     Commitments then in effect;

          (iii) acceptance of offers for each Interest Period may only be made
     on the basis of ascending Money Market Margins or Money Market Rates, as
     the case may be; and

          (iv)  the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in
     subsection (d)(iii) of this Section or that otherwise fails to comply with
     the requirements of this Agreement.

     (g)  If offers are made by two or more Banks with the same Money Market
Margins or Money Market Rates, as the case may be, for a greater aggregate
principal amount of Money Market Loans than can be accepted for the related
Interest Period (after giving effect to the acceptance of all lower

                                      18
<PAGE>
 
Money Market Margins or Money Market Rates, as the case may be, properly offered
for such Interest Period), the principal amount of Money Market Loans which can
be accepted shall be allocated by the Agent among such Banks as nearly as
possible (in such multiples, not greater than $1,000,000 (or the Approximate
Equivalent Amount thereof), as the Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to
the aggregate principal amount of such offers.  Determinations by the Agent of
the amounts of Money Market Loans by each Bank shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error.

     SECTION 2.04.  Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a
                    ---------------------------------                       
Notice of Borrowing, the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents
thereof and of such Bank's ratable share (if any) of such Borrowing and such
Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower except
pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section or Section 8.01(a).

     (b)  On the date of each Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall
(except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section) make available its
ratable share of such Borrowing, (i) if such Borrowing is denominated in
Dollars, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, in Federal or other funds
immediately available to the Agent, in Chicago, Illinois at its address
specified in or pursuant to Section 10.01 and, (ii) if such Borrowing is
denominated in another currency, not later than 12:00 noon, local time in the
city of the Agent's Euro-Currency Payment Office for such currency, in such
funds as may then be customary for the settlement of international transactions
in such currency in the city of and at the address of the Agent's Euro-Currency
Payment Office for such currency. Unless the Agent determines that any
applicable condition specified in Article III has not been satisfied, the Agent
will make the funds so received from the Banks available to the Borrower at the
Agent's aforesaid address.

     (c)  If any Bank makes a new Loan hereunder on the date on which the
Borrower is to repay all or any part of an outstanding Loan from such Bank,
which outstanding Loan is denominated in the currency of such new Loan, such
Bank shall apply the proceeds of its new Loan to make such repayment and only an
amount equal to the difference (if any) between the amount being borrowed and
the principal amount being repaid shall be made available by such Bank to the
Agent as provided in subsection (b) of this Section or remitted by the Borrower
to the Agent as provided in Section 2.12, as the case may be.

     (d)  Notwithstanding the satisfaction of all conditions referred to in
Section 2.01, 2.02 or 2.03(b) with respect to any Borrowing in any currency
other than Dollars, if there shall occur on or prior to the date of such
Borrowing any change in national or international financial, political or
economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which would
in the opinion of the Agent or the Required Banks make it impracticable for the
Euro-Currency Loans or Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such Borrowing to be
denominated in the currency specified by the Borrower, then the Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks, and such Loans
shall not be denominated in such currency but shall be made on the date of such
Borrowing in Dollars, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar
Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Notice of
Borrowing, as Base Rate Loans, unless the Borrower notifies the Agent at least
one Domestic Business Day before such date that (i) it elects

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
not to borrow on such date or (ii) it elects to borrow on such date in a
different Agreed Currency or Designated Currency, as the case may be, in which
the denomination of such Loans would in the opinion of the Agent and the
Required Banks be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Notice
of Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.05.  Notes.  (a) The Loans of each Bank to the Borrower shall be
                    -----                                                      
evidenced by a single Note of the Borrower payable to the order of such Bank for
the account of its Applicable Lending Office in an amount equal to the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of such Bank's Loans to the Borrower.

     (b)  Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent (to be given
not later than two Domestic Business Days prior to the first Borrowing) request
that its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by a separate Note in an amount
equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Loans.  Each such Note
shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto with appropriate
modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences solely Loans of the relevant
type.  Each reference in this Agreement to a "Note" or the "Notes" of such Bank
shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as the context
may require.

     (c)  Upon receipt of each Bank's Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.01(vi), the
Agent shall mail such Note(s) to such Bank.  Each Bank shall record, and prior
to any transfer of its Note(s) shall endorse on the schedules forming a part
thereof appropriate notations to evidence, the date, currency, amount and
maturity of each Loan made by it to the Borrower and the date and amount of each
payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect thereto; provided that
                                                                --------     
the failure of any Bank to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not
affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes.  Each Bank
is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Borrower so to endorse the Notes and to
attach to and make a part of any such Note a continuation of any such schedule
as and when required.

     SECTION 2.06.  Maturity of Loans.  Each Loan included in any Borrowing
                    -----------------                                      
shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, on the
last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.07.  Interest Rates.  (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest
                    --------------                                              
on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the date such
Loan is made until it becomes due at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate for
such day.  Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last
day thereof.  Any overdue principal of and, to the extent permitted by law,
overdue interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand,
for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 1% plus the rate
otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

     (b)  Each Euro-Currency Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate
per annum equal to the sum of the applicable

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
Syndicated Margin plus the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate.  Such
interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and,
if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three
months after the first day thereof.

     The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest Period for
any Euro-Currency Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan shall mean the average
(rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective
rates per annum at which deposits in the currency in which such Euro-Currency
Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan is denominated are offered to each of the
Reference Banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, two Euro-Currency Business Days before the first day of such
Interest Period, in an amount approximately equal to (i) the principal amount of
the Euro-Currency Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan of such Reference Bank to
which such Interest Period is to apply or (ii) if such Reference Bank is not
submitting a Money Market Quote for such Money Market LIBOR Loan, $10,000,000
(or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof), and for a period of time
comparable to such Interest Period; provided that (i) for Euro-Currency Loans
                                    --------                                 
denominated in pounds sterling the respective rates per annum at which deposits
in pounds sterling are offered to each of the Reference Banks shall be the rate
for euro-sterling deposits not domestic sterling deposits and (ii) for Money
Market LIBOR Loans denominated in pounds sterling the respective rates per annum
at which deposits in pounds sterling are offered to each of the Reference Banks
shall be the rates for euro-sterling or domestic sterling deposits as specified
by the Borrower in the relevant Money Market Quote Request.

     (c)  Any overdue principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue
interest on any Euro-Currency Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for
each day from and including the date payment thereof was due to but excluding
the date of actual payment, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 1% plus the
applicable Syndicated Margin plus the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to
the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one day
(or, if such amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Currency Business
Days, then for such other period of time not longer than three months as the
Agent may elect) deposits in the relevant currency in an amount approximately
equal to such overdue payment due to each of the Reference Banks are offered to
such Reference Bank in the London interbank market for the applicable period
determined as provided above (or, if the circumstances described in clause (a)
or (b) of Section 8.01 shall exist, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i)
if such Euro-Currency Loan is denominated in Dollars, 1% plus the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day and (ii) if such Euro-Currency Loan
is denominated in any other currency, 1% plus the cost to such Bank of funding
or maintaining such Euro-Currency Loan).  The certificate of such Bank as to the
cost of funding or maintaining such Euro-Currency Loan shall be conclusive
absent manifest error.

     (d)  Subject to Section 8.01(a)(1), each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period
applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London Interbank
Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with subsection
(c) of this Section as if each Reference Bank were to participate in the related
Money Market Borrowing ratably in proportion to its Commitment) plus (or minus)
the

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
Money Market Margin quoted by the Bank making such Loan in accordance with
Section 2.03.  Each Money Market Rate Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable
thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the Money Market Rate quoted by the Bank
making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.  Such interest shall be
payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof.  Any overdue principal
of and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest on any Money Market
Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate
per annum equal to the sum of (i) if such Money Market Loan is denominated in
Dollars, 1% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day and (ii) if
such Money Market Loan is denominated in any other currency, 1% plus the cost to
such Bank of funding or maintaining such Money Market Loan.  The certificate of
such Bank certifying the cost of funding or maintaining such Money Market Loan
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (e)  The Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans
hereunder.  The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the
participating Banks by telex or facsimile transmission of each rate of interest
so determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence
of manifest error.

     (f)  Each Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish
quotations to the Agent as contemplated by this Section.  If any Reference Bank
does not furnish a timely quotation, the Agent shall determine the relevant
interest rate on the basis of the quotation or quotations furnished by the
remaining Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of such quotations is available on
a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall apply.

     SECTION 2.08.  Fees.  (a)  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the
                    ----                                                   
account of the Banks ratably in proportion to their Commitments a facility fee
at a rate per annum equal to the Facility Fee Percentage on the daily average
amount of the Commitments (without regard to the outstanding principal amount of
the Loans).  Such facility fee shall accrue from and including July 23, 1997 to
but excluding the Termination Date.

     (b)  The Borrower shall pay to each of the Agent and the Arranger for its
own account fees in the amounts and at the time previously agreed upon between
the Borrower, the Agent and the Arranger.

     (c)  Accrued fees under subsection (a) of this Section shall be payable
quarterly in arrears on the fifth Domestic Business Day after each Quarterly
Date for the quarter ending on such Quarterly Date or, if earlier, the fifth
Domestic Business Day after the date of termination of the Commitments in their
entirety.

     SECTION 2.09.  Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
                    ------------------------------------------------ 

     (a)  The Borrower may, upon at least two Domestic Business Days'
irrevocable notice to the Agent, terminate at any time, or reduce from time to
time by an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000
the aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the Dollar

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
Amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans.

     (b)  In the absence of a Default that has occurred and is continuing and in
the event that (i) any Bank claims indemnification pursuant Section 2.16(a) or
Section 2.16(b), (ii) the Borrower is required to make an additional payment to
any Bank pursuant to Section 2.16(a), or (iii) any Bank makes a claim for
increased costs relating to taxes under Section 8.03, the Borrower shall have
the right to repay all of such Bank's outstanding Loans and to terminate such
Bank's Commitment hereunder upon ten days prior written notice to the Agent and
such Bank.  On the day on which any Bank's Commitment is terminated pursuant to
this Section 2.09(b), the Borrower shall pay all principal, accrued interest,
fees and other amounts owing to such Bank hereunder (including, without
limitation, any amounts owing under Sections 2.08, 2.13, 2.16, and 8.03).

     SECTION 2.10.  Mandatory Termination of Commitments.  The Commitments shall
                    ------------------------------------                        
terminate on the Termination Date, and any Loans outstanding on the Termination
Date shall be due and payable on the Termination Date (together with accrued
interest thereon).

     SECTION 2.11.  Optional Prepayments.  (a) The Borrower may prepay any Base
                    --------------------                                       
Rate Borrowing (or any Money Market Borrowing bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) upon at least one Domestic Business Day's notice to
the Agent or, subject to Section 2.13, prepay any Euro-Currency Borrowing upon
at least two Euro-Currency Business Days' notice to the Agent, in any such case
in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in amounts aggregating
$10,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof) or any larger
multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof), by paying
the principal amount to be prepaid together with accrued interest thereon to the
date of prepayment.  Each such optional prepayment shall be applied to prepay
ratably the Loans of the several Banks included in such Borrowing.  The Borrower
may not prepay all or any portion of the principal amount of any Money Market
Loan (other than a Money Market LIBOR Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) prior to the maturity thereof.

     (b)  Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment pursuant to this Section, the
Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and of such Bank's
ratable share (if any) of such prepayment and such notice shall not thereafter
be revocable by the Borrower.

     SECTION 2.12.  General Provisions as to Payments.  (a) All payments to be
                    ---------------------------------                         
made by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes in Dollars shall be made not
later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date when due, in Federal or other
funds immediately available in Chicago, Illinois, to the Agent at its address
referred to in Section 9.01.  The Agent will promptly distribute to each Bank
its ratable share of each such payment received by the Agent for the account of
the Banks.

     (b)  Each Borrowing shall be repaid or prepaid in the currency in which it
was made in the amount borrowed and interest payable thereon shall be paid in
such currency.  All payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder or under the
Notes in any currency other than Dollars shall be made in such currency on the
date due in such funds as may then be customary for the settlement of

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
international transactions in such currency for the account of the Agent, at its
Euro-Currency Payment Office for such currency.  The Agent will promptly cause
such payments to be distributed to each Bank in like funds and currency.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making
of any Loan in any currency other than Dollars, currency control or exchange
regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the
result that different types of such currency (the "New Currency") are introduced
and the type of currency in which the Borrowing was made (the "Original
Currency") no longer exists or the Borrower is not able to make payment to the
Agent for the account of the Banks in such Original Currency, then all payments
to be made by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes in such currency shall
be made in such amount and such type of the New Currency as shall be equivalent
to the amount of such payment otherwise due hereunder or under the Notes in the
Original Currency, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the
Borrower takes all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or
exchange regulations.  In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of
this Section, if, after the making of any Borrowing in any currency other than
Dollars, the Borrower is not able to make payment to the Agent for the account
of the Banks in the type of currency in which such Borrowing was made, then such
Borrowing shall instead be repaid when due in Dollars in a principal amount
equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such Borrowing.

     (c)  Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Base Rate
Loans or of additional compensation shall be due on a day which is not a
Domestic Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Domestic Business Day.  Whenever any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Euro-Currency Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-
Currency Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Euro-Currency Business Day unless such Euro-Currency Business
Day occurs in another calendar month, in which case the date for payment thereof
shall be the next preceding Euro-Currency Business Day.  Whenever any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the Money Market Loans shall be due on a day which
is not a Euro-Currency Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Currency Business Day.  If the date for any
payment of principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise, interest
thereon shall be payable for such extended time.

     (d)  Unless the Agent shall have been notified by a Bank or the Borrower
(the "Payor") prior to the date on which such Bank is to make payment to the
Agent of the proceeds of a Loan to be made by it hereunder or the Borrower is to
make a payment to the Agent for the account of one or more of the Banks, as the
case may be (each of such payments being herein called a "Required Payment"),
which notice shall be effective upon receipt, that the Payor does not intend to
make the Required Payment to the Agent, the Agent may assume that the Required
Payment has been made and may (but shall not be required to), in reliance upon
such assumption, make the amount thereof available to the intended recipient on
such date and, if the Payor has not in fact made the Required Payment to the
Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on demand, refund to the Agent the
amount made available to it together with interest thereon in respect of the
period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the Agent
until the date the Agent recovers such amount at a rate equal to the Federal
Funds Rate for such period, if the recipient is a Bank, and, if

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
the recipient is the Borrower, the rate which the Borrower would have been
obligated to pay hereunder for the Loans that are the subject of, or are
equivalent to, such payment for such period.

     SECTION 2.13.  Funding Losses.  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the
                    --------------                                              
account of each Bank, upon the request of such Bank through the Agent, such
amount or amounts as shall compensate such Bank for any reasonable loss, cost or
expense incurred by such Bank (or, subject to Section 9.07(b), by an existing or
prospective Participant in the related Loan) as a result of:

          (a)  any payment or prepayment of a Fixed Rate Loan (pursuant to
     Section 2.11 or Article VI or VIII or otherwise)  held by such Bank on a
     date other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or
     the end of an applicable period fixed pursuant to Section 2.07(c) or

          (b)  any failure by the Borrower to borrow a Fixed Rate Loan
     (including a failure to borrow due to the occurrence of any event described
     in Section 2.04(d)) held or to be held by such Bank on the date for such
     Borrowing specified in the relevant Notice of Borrowing under Section 2.02
     or 2.03(f), such compensation to be payable in the currency specified in
     the certificate referred to below and to include, without limitation, an
     amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which
     would have accrued on the amount so paid or prepaid, or not borrowed, for
     the period from the date of such payment or prepayment or failure to borrow
     to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to
     borrow, the Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Loan which would have
     commenced on the date of such failure to borrow) in each case at the
     applicable rate of interest for such Fixed Rate Loan provided for herein
     (excluding, however, the Syndicated Margin or any positive Money Market
     Margin, as the case may be, included therein) over (ii) the amount of
     interest (as reasonably determined by such Bank) which would have accrued
     to such Bank on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a
     comparable period with leading banks in the London interbank market or in
     the New York or Chicago certificate of deposit market; provided that such
                                                            --------          
     Bank shall have delivered to the Borrower, within 60 days after the date of
     such payment or prepayment or failure to borrow, a certificate as to the
     amount and currency of such loss or expense, which certificate shall set
     forth in reasonable detail the basis for such loss or expense and shall be
     conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     SECTION 2.14.  Computation of Interest and Fees.  Interest based on the
                    --------------------------------                        
Base Rate and interest on Borrowings denominated in pounds sterling shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and
paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day).  All other interest and fees shall be computed on the
basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).

     SECTION 2.15.  Judgment Currency.  If for the purposes of obtaining
                    -----------------                                   
judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrower
hereunder or under any of the Notes in the currency expressed to be payable
herein or under the Notes (the "specified currency") into another

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may
effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in
accordance with normal banking procedures the Agent could purchase the specified
currency with such other currency at the Agent's main Chicago office on the 
Euro-Currency Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable
judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to
any Bank or the Agent hereunder or under any Note shall, notwithstanding any
judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to
the extent that on the Euro-Currency Business Day following receipt by such Bank
or the Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other
currency such Bank or the Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with
normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such
other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less
than the sum originally due to such Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, in
the specified currency, the Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may
effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such
judgment, to indemnify such Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, against such
loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the
sum originally due to any Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, in the
specified currency and (b) any amounts shared with other Banks as a result of
allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such Bank under
Section 9.11, such Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such
excess to the Borrower.

     SECTION 2.16.  Taxes.  (a) All payments made by the Borrower in respect of
                    -----                                                      
principal of and interest on its Borrowings and of all other amounts payable by
it under this Agreement are payable without deduction for or on account of any
Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes
from any such amount payable by it hereunder or under any of the Notes to or for
the account of any Bank, (i) such amount shall be increased as may be necessary
so that, after making such deductions or withholdings (including any deductions
or withholdings applicable to additional amounts payable pursuant to this
Section), such Bank receives an amount equal to the amount it would have
received had no such deductions or withholdings been made and (ii) the Borrower
shall make such deductions and withholdings and pay the amount thereof to the
relevant government, political subdivision or taxing authority at or prior to
the time required to be paid under applicable law (and shall promptly furnish to
the Agent, for the benefit of the Banks, official receipts evidencing such
payment). In addition, the Borrower will pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or similar taxes or levies imposed by any government of any
jurisdiction outside the United States of America or any political subdivision
or taxing authority thereof from any payment by it hereunder or under any of the
Notes or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any of the Notes (herein called "Other Taxes").
The Borrower will indemnify each Bank and the Agent for, and hold each Bank and
the Agent harmless against, the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including,
without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section) paid or payable by such Bank or the Agent
and any liability of such Bank or the Agent relating thereto (including, without
limitation, penalties, interest and expenses). Notwithstanding anything set
forth above in this clause (a), the Borrower shall have no obligation to
increase the amount payable to any Bank as a result of any deduction or
withholding, or to indemnify any Bank for or hold any Bank harmless against any
Taxes or Other Taxes, to the extent that such deduction or withholding would not
have

                                      26
<PAGE>
 
been required, or such Taxes or Other Taxes would not have been paid or payable,
if such Bank's representation and warranty in clause (f) below had been accurate
or such Bank had complied with its obligations under clause (g) below.

     (b)  If the cost to any Bank of making or maintaining any Loan to the
Borrower is increased, or the amount of any sum received or receivable by any
Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) is reduced, by an amount deemed by such
Bank to be material, which increase or reduction would not have occurred but for
the fact that the Borrower conducts business in a jurisdiction outside the
United States of America, the Borrower shall indemnify such Bank for such
increased cost or reduction within 15 days after demand by such Bank (with a
copy to the Agent).  A certificate of such Bank claiming indemnification under
this Section, setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it
hereunder and setting forth in reasonable detail a reasonable basis therefor,
shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.  In determining such
amount, such Bank may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

     (c)  Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of any event
of which it has knowledge that will entitle such Bank to any payment or
indemnification under clause (a) or (b) of this subsection and will designate a
different Domestic Lending Office, Money Market Lending Office or Euro-Currency
Lending Office, as the case may be, if such designation will avoid the need for,
or reduce the amount of, such payment or indemnification and will not, in the
sole opinion of such Bank, be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Bank.

     (d)  If, and to the extent that, any Bank shall obtain a credit, relief or
remission for, or repayment of, any Taxes or Other Taxes indemnified or paid by
the Borrower pursuant to this Section or for any taxes for which Borrower has
made payments under Section 8.03, such Bank agrees to promptly notify the
Borrower thereof and thereupon enter into negotiations in good faith with the
Borrower to determine the basis on which an equitable reimbursement of such
taxes can be made to the Borrower.

     (e)  All tax receipts required to be delivered under this Section shall be
originals, duplicate originals or duly certified or authenticated copies within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.905-2(a)(2).

     (f)  Each Bank represents and warrants to the Borrower and the Agent that,
as of the date of this Agreement (or, in the case of an Assignee, the date it
becomes a party hereto), it is entitled to receive payments hereunder without
any deduction or withholding for or on account of any Taxes imposed by the
United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof.

     (g)  Each Bank which is a Non-U.S. Person (and, if at any time the Agent
hereunder is a Non-U.S. Person, such Agent) agrees that it will, to the extent
it is able to do so under applicable law and treaties,

          (i)   within 30 days of the date of this Agreement (or, in the case of
     a Bank which

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
     becomes a party hereto pursuant to a transfer or assignment, on or prior to
     the date on which the relevant transfer or assignment becomes effective)
     deliver to the Borrower (and, in the case of a Bank, to the Agent) such
     forms (including two duly executed originals of United States Internal
     Revenue Form 1001 or 4224 or any successor to the applicable form),
     properly and accurately completed, as are necessary to claim complete or
     partial (as the case may be) exemption from withholding of United States
     federal taxes; and

          (ii)  deliver extensions or renewals of such forms on or before the
     date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete, and after the
     occurrence of any event requiring  a change in the most recent form
     previously delivered by it, unless in any such case an event (including,
     without limitation, any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred
     prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required
     which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Agent
     or Bank from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to
     it and such Agent or Bank so advises the Borrower (and, in the case of a
     Bank, the Agent).

For purposes of the foregoing, a Non-U.S. Person means a Person that is not (i)
a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or partnership
created or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or
(iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source;

     SECTION 2.17.  Maximum Interest Rate.  (a) Nothing contained in this
                    ---------------------                                
Agreement or the Notes shall require the Borrower to pay interest at a rate
exceeding the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

     (b)  If the amount of interest payable for the account of any Bank on any
interest payment date in respect of the immediately preceding interest
computation period, computed pursuant to Section 2.07, would exceed the maximum
amount permitted by applicable law to be charged by such Bank, the amount of
interest payable for its account on such interest payment date shall be
automatically reduced to such maximum permissible amount.

     (c)  If the amount of interest payable for the account of any Bank in
respect of any interest computation period is reduced pursuant to clause (b) of
this Section and the amount of interest payable for its account in respect of
any subsequent interest computation period, computed pursuant to Section 2.07,
would be less than the maximum amount permitted by applicable law to be charged
by such Bank, then the amount of interest payable for its account in respect of
such subsequent interest computation period shall be automatically increased to
such maximum permissible amount; provided that at no time shall the aggregate
                                 --------                                    
amount by which interest paid for the account of any Bank has been increased
pursuant to this clause (c) exceed the aggregate amount by which interest paid
for its account has theretofore been reduced pursuant to clause (b) of this
Section.

     SECTION 2.18.  Extension of the Termination Date.   (a)  The Borrower may,
                    ---------------------------------                          
from time to time, by written notice to the Agent (each such notice being an
"Extension Notice") given not later

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
than 30 days but not sooner than 60 days prior to the then scheduled Termination
Date, request an extension of the Termination Date to the Euro-Currency Business
Day falling not more than 364 days after the then-scheduled Termination Date.
The Agent shall notify each Bank in writing of its receipt of an Extension
Notice within three Domestic Business Days after the Agent's receipt thereof.
Each Bank may, by a revocable written notice (a "Consent Notice") to the
Borrower and the Agent given within 30 days following the Agent's receipt of
such Extension Notice (the "Consent Deadline Date"), consent to such extension
of the Termination Date, which consent may be given or withheld by each Bank in
its absolute and sole discretion; it being understood that any Bank that fails
to respond in writing to the Borrower and the Agent by the Consent Deadline Date
shall be deemed not to have consented to such request.

     (b)  Any Bank which does not consent (or is deemed not to have consented)
to an extension of the Termination Date (a "Non-Consenting Bank") shall be
obliged during the 30 days following the Consent Deadline Date, at the request
of the Borrower and subject to the Non-Consenting Bank receiving payment in full
of all amounts owing to it under this Agreement, the Other Agreement and its
"Notes" (as defined in both this Agreement and the Other Agreement), to assign,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.07(c) of this Agreement and the
Other Agreement, all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, the
Other Agreement and its "Notes" (as defined in both this Agreement and the Other
Agreement) to a Bank or other bank or financial institution nominated by the
Borrower, consented to by the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld) and willing to participate in the Other Agreement and this Agreement
(through, in the case of this Agreement, the extended Termination Date) in the
place of such Non-Consenting Bank.

     (c)  If all Banks consent to the extension of the scheduled Termination
Date prior to the Consent Deadline Date pursuant to clause (a) above or all 
Non-Consenting Banks are replaced as parties to this Agreement prior to the
scheduled Termination Date pursuant to clause (b) above, then the Termination
Date shall be extended to the date requested by the Borrower in its Extension
Notice (effective on the previously scheduled Termination Date). In the absence
of such consents or such replacement(s), the Termination Date shall occur as
scheduled.


                                  ARTICLE III

                           CONDITIONS TO BORROWINGS

     SECTION 3.01.  Initial Borrowing by the Borrower.  The obligation of each
                    ---------------------------------                         
Bank to make any Loan to be made by it as a part of the initial Borrowing by the
Borrower hereunder is subject to the condition precedent that the Agent shall
have received the following documents:

          (i)   certified copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
     of the Borrower and the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
     Borrower adopted in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby and
     such other documents as the Agent or the Required Banks may reasonably
     request relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate

                                      29
<PAGE>
 
     authority for and the validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any
     other matters relevant hereto, all in form and substance satisfactory to
     the Agent;

          (ii)  a Certificate of Incumbency executed by the Secretary or an
     Assistant Secretary of the Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit E
     hereto setting forth the name, title and specimen signature of each
     Authorized Officer or Authorized Representative of the Borrower (1) who has
     signed this Agreement on behalf of the Borrower, (2) who will sign the
     Notes on behalf of the Borrower or (3) who will, until replaced by another
     officer or representative duly authorized for that purpose, act as the
     representative of the Borrower for the purposes of signing documents and
     giving notices and other communications by the Borrower in connection with
     this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;

          (iii) an opinion of the General Counsel or, in his absence, the
     Associate General Counsel-Corporate, of the Borrower, dated on or prior to
     the date of such initial Borrowing, with respect to the Borrower in
     substantially the form of Exhibit F hereto and covering such additional
     matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Required
     Banks may reasonably request;

          (iv)  certified copies of the Cross-Indemnification Agreement and the
     Tax Sharing Agreement as originally executed and all amendments,
     modifications and waivers thereto;

          (v)   a certificate signed by the President or any Vice President of
     the Borrower to the effect set forth in clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section
     3.02;

          (vi)  for the account of each Bank, a duly executed Note, dated on or
     before the date of such initial Borrowing, complying with the provisions of
     Section 2.05; and

          (vii) an opinion of Mayer, Brown and Platt, special counsel to the
     Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto.

The certificate referred to in subclause (v) shall be dated no more than three
Euro-Currency Business Days before the date of such initial Borrowing.

     SECTION 3.02.  Each Borrowing.  The obligation of each Bank to make each
                    --------------                                           
Loan to be made by it as part of a Borrowing hereunder to the Borrower is
subject to the further conditions precedent that:

          (i)   the Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing as required
     by Section 2.02 or 2.03, as the case may be;

          (ii)  the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the Dollar
     Amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans will not
     exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments;

                                      30
<PAGE>
 
          (iii) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, no Default
     shall have occurred and be continuing; and

          (iv)  the fact that the representations and warranties of the Borrower
     contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of such
     Borrowing as if made on and as of such date (except, in the case of a
     Refunding Borrowing, the representations and warranties set forth in
     clauses (d) and (e) of Section 4.01 as to any material adverse change or
     litigation, respectively, which has theretofore been disclosed in writing
     by the Borrower to the Banks).

Each Borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by
the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts specified in clauses
(ii), (iii) and (iv) of this Section.


                                  ARTICLE IV

                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrower.  The
                    ----------------------------------------------      
Borrower represents and warrants to the Banks as follows:

          (a)(1) The Borrower (i) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
     existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and
     (ii) either is qualified to do business and in good standing in each
     jurisdiction where the ownership of its properties or the conduct of its
     business requires such qualification or is subject to no material liability
     or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such
     jurisdiction.

          (2)  The Borrower has all corporate power and authority, governmental
     permits, licenses, consents, authorizations, orders and approvals and other
     authorizations as are necessary to carry on its business substantially as
     presently conducted except for such of the foregoing the absence of which
     would not, in the aggregate, subject the Borrower to any material liability
     or disability.

          (3)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Bank Credit
     Documents, and borrowings thereunder by the Borrower, are within its
     corporate power and authority and have been duly authorized by all
     necessary corporate proceedings.

          (4)  Neither such authorization nor the execution, delivery and
     performance by the Borrower of the Bank Credit Documents, nor any borrowing
     thereunder by the Borrower when made, will conflict with, result in a
     breach of or constitute a default under any of the terms, conditions or
     provisions of any law or any regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree
     of any court or governmental authority or of the Certificate of
     Incorporation or By-Laws of the Borrower or result in the violation or
     contravention of, or the acceleration of any obligation under, or cause the
     creation of any Lien on any of the properties of the Borrower

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
     pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, agreement or other instrument
     to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

          (5)  Assuming their due execution by the Banks and the Agent, each of
     this Agreement and the Other Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
     binding agreement of the Borrower, and the Notes (both as defined hereunder
     and under the Other Agreement), when duly executed on behalf of the
     Borrower and delivered in accordance with this Agreement and the Other
     Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
     Borrower (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
     reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors'
     rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of
     equity).

          (b)  The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and the related
     consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for the
     12 months ended that date, certified by Coopers & Lybrand, copies of all of
     which have been delivered to the Banks, fairly present the consolidated
     financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of
     such date and the consolidated results of their operations and changes in
     financial position for such fiscal year, in conformity with GAAP
     consistently applied.

          (c)  The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1997 and the related unaudited
     consolidated statements of income and changes in financial position for the
     fiscal quarter then ended, a copy of which has been delivered to each of
     the Banks, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis
     consistent with the financial statements referred to in paragraph (b) of
     this Section, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of
     operations and changes in financial position for such fiscal quarter
     (subject to normal year-end adjustments).

          (d)  Except as disclosed in writing to the Banks prior to July 23,
     1997, there has been no material adverse change since December 31, 1996 and
     prior to July 23, 1997, in the business, operations, affairs, assets,
     condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Borrower
     and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

          (e)  Except as disclosed in writing to the Banks prior to July 23,
     1997, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge
     of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries in any court or before or by any arbitrator, governmental
     department, agency or instrumentality (i) which is likely to have a
     material adverse effect upon the Borrower's ability to pay and perform its
     obligations under the Bank Credit Documents in accordance with their
     respective terms or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the
     validity of any of the Bank Credit Documents.

          (f)  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

                                      32
<PAGE>
 
          (g) No consent, authorization, order or approval of (or filing or
     registration with) any governmental commission, board or other regulatory
     authority (other than routine reporting requirements) is required for the
     execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of any of the Bank
     Credit Documents or for borrowings thereunder by the Borrower.

          (h) Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations under
     the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each
     Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the presently
     applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan.  No
     member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding
     standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed
     to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in
     respect of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or
     Benefit Arrangement, which has resulted or could result in the imposition
     of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the
     Code or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a
     liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.

          (i) The Cross-Indemnification Agreement and the Tax Sharing Agreement,
     in the respective forms, with amendments, certified to the Banks pursuant
     to Section 3.01(iv), are in full force and effect in accordance with their
     respective terms except for (1) any amendments, modifications or waivers of
     the Tax Sharing Agreement which do not materially alter the rights and
     obligations of the Borrower thereunder which as a whole place the Borrower
     in the same (or more favorable) relative financial position with respect to
     the Parent which the Borrower would have been in if the Borrower were not
     consolidated with the Parent for purposes of filing federal, state or local
     or other income tax returns, (2) any amendments to the Cross-
     Indemnification Agreement for the purpose of placing the Borrower and the
     Parent in the same financial positions with respect to each other which
     they would have been in if the Borrower and the Parent were not members of
     the same ERISA Group, including the allocation of, and indemnification with
     respect to, assets and funded and unfunded liabilities among the Borrower,
     the Parent, Affiliates, Subsidiaries and their respective Plans in such
     manner as is fair and equitable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (3)
     any amendments, modifications or waivers of the Cross-Indemnification
     Agreement or the Tax Sharing Agreement which do not, in the aggregate,
     materially reduce the rights of the Borrower thereunder against the Parent
     or materially increase the obligations of the Borrower thereunder to the
     Parent and (4) any other amendments, modifications or waivers of such
     instruments to which the Required Banks have consented.  True and complete
     copies of all such amendments, modifications and waivers have been
     delivered to the Agent for each of the Banks.  No amount that may be due
     under the Cross-Indemnification Agreement or the Tax Sharing Agreement from
     the Parent to the Borrower or to the Parent from the Borrower is
     delinquent, except such amount as the Borrower or the Parent may be
     contesting in good faith.

          (j) Each corporate Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
     incorporation, and has all corporate

                                      33
<PAGE>
 
     powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and
     approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted except for
     licenses, authorizations, consents or approvals the absence of which will
     not materially and adversely affect the business of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

          (k) The Borrower is not an "investment company" within the meaning of
     the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (l) There are no Liens on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
     on July 23, 1997 which would have been prohibited if Section 5.02 of this
     Agreement had been in effect on the date the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
     as the case may be, acquired such asset.

          (m) Except as disclosed in writing to the Banks, the description of
     environmental matters affecting the Borrower and its Subsidiaries contained
     in each of the Borrower's reports delivered to the Banks pursuant to clause
     (ii) of Section 5.01(c) complied in all material respects as of the date of
     such report with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
     as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


                                   ARTICLE V

                                   COVENANTS

     The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment hereunder
or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid:

     SECTION 5.01.  Certain Information to be Furnished by the Borrower.  The
                    ---------------------------------------------------      
Borrower will deliver to each Bank:

          (a) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the
     end of each of its fiscal years, the consolidated balance sheet of the
     Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal
     year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for
     such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
     the previous fiscal year, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
     applied and so certified by a nationally recognized firm of independent
     certified public accountants, provided, that the delivery requirement
                                   --------                               
     described in this paragraph (a) for any fiscal year shall be deemed to have
     been satisfied upon delivery by the Borrower to the Banks within 120 days
     after the end of such fiscal year of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
     such fiscal year, as filed (with exhibits) with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission;

          (b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end
     of each of the first three quarters of each of its fiscal years, the
     consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
     Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated

                                      34
<PAGE>
 
     statement of income for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the
     fiscal year ended with such quarter and the related consolidated statement
     of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year ended with such quarter,
     setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the
     corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower's
     previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end
     adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, GAAP and consistency by the
     chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower,
                                                                             
     provided, that the delivery requirement described in this paragraph (b) for
     --------                                                                   
     any fiscal quarter shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon delivery by
     the Borrower to the Banks within 60 days after the end of such fiscal
     quarter of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter, as
     filed (with exhibits) with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

          (c) promptly after the same are available, copies of all (i) financial
     statements, notices, reports and proxy materials sent to shareholders of
     the Borrower and (ii) regular and periodic reports filed by the Borrower
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental agency
     succeeding to the functions of such Commission);

          (d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial
     statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of the
     Borrower signed by the Treasurer or other financial officer of the Borrower
     (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to
     establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of
     Section 5.05 on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating
     whether there exists on the date of such certificate any Default, and, if
     any such Default then exists, specifying the nature and period of existence
     thereof and the action the Borrower is taking and proposes to take with
     respect thereto;

          (e) forthwith, if at any time any officer of the Borrower shall obtain
     knowledge of any Default, a certificate of the Treasurer or other financial
     officer specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and the
     action the Borrower is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

          (f) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required
     to give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in Section
     4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for
     a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan
     administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any
     such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given
     or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or
     partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any
     Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is insolvent or has been
     terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC
     under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose liability (other
     than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a
     trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a
     waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code, a
     copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate

                                      35
<PAGE>
 
     any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other
     information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any
     Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii)
     fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan
     or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any amendment to any Plan
     or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the imposition
     of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of the
     chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower
     setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the
     Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to
     take; and

          (g) from time to time such further information regarding compliance
     with this Agreement or the business, operations, affairs, assets, condition
     (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Borrower and its
     Consolidated Subsidiaries as the Agent, at the request of any Bank, may
     reasonably request.

     SECTION 5.02.  Limitation on Liens.  Neither the Borrower nor any
                    -------------------                               
Subsidiary will issue, assume or guarantee any Debt secured by any Lien upon any
asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or grant any Lien on any such asset to
secure any such Debt without effectively providing that all of the Notes
(together with, if the Borrower so determines, any other Debt then existing and
any other Debt thereafter created ranking equally with the Notes) shall be
secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt so long as such Debt
shall be so secured.  To the extent the following Liens would otherwise be
prohibited by the foregoing provisions, the foregoing provisions shall not apply
to:

          (a) Liens on any asset of a corporation existing at the time it
     becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or at the time it is merged into or
     consolidated with the Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in
     contemplation of such event;

          (b) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof or
     incurred to secure payment of all or part of the purchase price thereof or
     to secure Debt incurred prior to, at the time of or within 24 months after
     acquisition thereof for the purpose of financing all or part of the
     purchase price thereof;

          (c) Liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of
     construction or improvements thereon or Debt incurred to provide funds for
     any such purpose in a principal amount not exceeding the cost of such
     construction or improvements;

          (d) Liens which secure only Debt owing by a Subsidiary to the Borrower
     or another Subsidiary;

          (e) Liens in favor of the United States of America or any state
     thereof or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision
     of any such jurisdiction to secure partial, progress, advance or other
     payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
     any Debt payable to the foregoing incurred for the purpose of financing all
     or any part of the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the
     property subject to such Lien, including, without limitation, Liens to
     secure Debt in respect of any pollution control, industrial revenue bond or
     other similar type of financing;

          (f) Liens required by any contract or statute in order to permit the
     Borrower or a Subsidiary to perform any contract or subcontract made by it
     with or at the request of the United States of America, any state or any
     department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of either;

          (g) mechanics', suppliers', materialmen's and similar Liens arising in
     the ordinary course of business securing Debt which is not overdue or is
     being contested by the Borrower in good faith by appropriate action,
     promptly initiated and diligently conducted and in connection with which
     adequate reserves are being maintained;

          (h) Liens securing obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to
     pay the deferred purchase price of services not exceeding in the aggregate
     $10,000,000;

          (i) the Lien of any judgment or attachment in respect of any Debt, so
     long as (1) the Borrower in good faith by appropriate action, promptly
     initiated and diligently conducted, shall contest or cause to be contested
     the validity, amount, extent or application thereof and (2) such action
     shall operate to prevent the sale or foreclosure (or the posting of notices
     preparatory to any sale or foreclosure) of any part of any asset to satisfy
     such Lien prior to a final determination of such action;

          (j) Liens for taxes not delinquent or being contested in good faith
     based on the advice of counsel that such contest is meritorious and by
     appropriate proceedings and for which reserves adequate under GAAP are
     being maintained; and

          (k) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions,
     renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in
     the foregoing clauses (a) to (h) inclusive or of any Debt secured thereby,
     provided that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed
     --------
     the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension,
     renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement
     Lien shall be limited to all or part of substantially the same property
     which secured the Lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on
     such property);

provided that the Borrower and any one or more Subsidiaries may issue, assume or
--------                                                                        
guarantee Debt secured by Liens which would otherwise be subject to the
foregoing restrictions or grant any such Lien to secure any such Debt in an
aggregate principal amount which, together with the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries which would
otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions (not including Debt permitted
to be secured under clauses (a) to (g) inclusive above) and the aggregate Value
of the Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

                                      37
<PAGE>
 
(as such terms are defined in Section 5.03 hereof) in existence at such time
(not including Sale and Lease-Back Transactions as to which the Borrower has
complied with Section 5.03(b) hereof) does not at any one time exceed 15% of the
consolidated total assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 5.03.  Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back.  Neither the Borrower nor
                    ---------------------------------                           
any Subsidiary will enter into any arrangement with any Person (other than the
Borrower or a Subsidiary), or to which any such Person is a party, providing for
the leasing to the Borrower or a Subsidiary for a period of more than three
years of any property which

has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to
such Person or to any Person (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary), to which
funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of the
leased property (in this Section and in Section 5.02 hereof called a "Sale and
Lease-Back Transaction") unless either:

          (a) the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the
     provisions of Section 5.02 hereof, to incur Debt in a principal amount
     equal to or exceeding the Value of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction,
     secured by a Lien on the property to be leased, without equally and ratably
     securing the Notes; or

          (b) the Borrower (and in any such case the Borrower covenants and
     agrees that it will do so) during or immediately after the expiration of
     four months after the effective date of such Sale and Lease-Back
     Transaction (whether made by the Borrower or a Subsidiary) applies to the
     voluntary retirement of Debt of the Borrower ranking at least pari passu
     with the Notes an amount equal to the Value of such Sale and Lease-Back
     Transaction, less the principal amount of such Debt of the Borrower
     voluntarily retired by the Borrower within such four-month period,
     excluding retirements of such Debt as a result of conversions or pursuant
     to mandatory sinking fund or repayment provisions or (other than in the
     case of commercial paper) by payment at maturity.

For purposes of Section 5.02 hereof and this Section, the term "Value" shall
mean, with respect to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, as of any particular
time, the amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale or
transfer of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
or (ii) the fair value in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Borrower
of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction, in either case divided first by the number of full years of the
term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term
remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or
extension options contained in the lease.

     SECTION 5.04.  Consolidation, Merger, Disposition of Assets.  The Borrower
                    --------------------------------------------               
will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or (ii) sell,
lease or otherwise transfer all or any substantial part of its assets (whether
in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions) to any other
Person; provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if (A) the
        --------                                                           
Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and (B) immediately after
giving effect to such merger, no

                                      38
<PAGE>
 
Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and provided further that the
                                                   -------- -------         
Borrower may consolidate or merge with or into the Parent if (A) the Parent
theretofore expressly assumes the obligations of the Borrower hereunder and
under the Notes by an instrument satisfactory in form and substance to the
Required Banks and (B) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation or
merger and such assumption, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
and provided further that the Borrower may (A) sell its inventory in the
    -------- -------                                                    
ordinary course of business and (B) sell, lease or otherwise transfer such of
its assets (including all or any portion of the stock of any Subsidiary) on an
arms-length basis to an Internally-Funded Subsidiary.  The Borrower will not
permit any Subsidiary which constitutes a substantial part of its assets to
consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer all or substantially all of its
assets (whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions)
to, any Person other than the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Consolidated
Subsidiary. For purposes of this Section, "substantial part of its assets" means
assets (including Subsidiaries or other Persons and valued at the higher of book
or fair market value) (y) representing more than 25% of the consolidated assets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the then most recent
consolidated annual financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (z) responsible for more than 25% of
the consolidated net revenues or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in the
preceding clause (y).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Banks will not
unreasonably withhold their consent to any sale, lease or other transfer of
assets by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 5.05.  Minimum Consolidated Net Worth.  Consolidated Net Worth will
                    ------------------------------                              
at no time be less than $1,500,000,000.

     SECTION 5.06.  Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, and
                    ----------------------------                             
will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or
for the account of, make any investment (whether by acquisition of stock or
indebtedness, by loan, advance, transfer of property, Guarantee or other
agreement to pay, purchase or service, directly or indirectly, any Debt, or
otherwise) in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets,
tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect any transaction in
connection with any joint enterprise or other joint arrangement with, any
Affiliate; provided, however, that the foregoing provisions of this Section
           --------  -------                                               
shall not prohibit (a) the Borrower from declaring or paying any lawful dividend
to, or repurchasing its common stock from, any Affiliate so long as, after
giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) the
Borrower or any Subsidiary (1) from making sales to or purchases from or leasing
from any Affiliate and, in connection therewith, extending credit or making
payments, or (2) from making payments for services rendered by any Affiliate or
(3) from participating in, or effecting any transaction in connection with, any
joint enterprise or other joint arrangement with any Affiliate if such sales,
purchases or leases are made or such services are rendered or the Borrower or
such Subsidiary participates in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower
or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, in the aggregate during each fiscal
year of the Borrower, the terms and conditions of all such sales, purchases,
leases, rendered services and participations are not materially less favorable
to the similar transactions with Persons who are not Affiliates and (c) the
Borrower or any Subsidiary from making payments of principal, interest and
premium on any Debt of the Borrower

                                      39
<PAGE>
 
or such Subsidiary held by an Affiliate if the terms of such Debt are
substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as the terms which
could have been obtained at the time of the creation of such Debt from a lender
which was not an Affiliate.

     SECTION 5.07.  Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans made under this
                    ---------------                                            
Agreement will be used for general corporate purposes.  None of such proceeds
will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate,
incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" within the
meaning of Regulation U.



                                  ARTICLE VI

                                   DEFAULTS

     SECTION 6.01.  Defaults.  If one or more of the following events (herein
                    --------                                                 
called "Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:

          (a) Non-Payment:  the Borrower shall default in the payment when due
              -----------                                                     
     of any principal of any Loan or shall default in the payment within five
     days of the due date thereof of any interest on any Loan or any other
     amount payable hereunder;

          (b) Certain Covenant Violations:  the Borrower shall fail to perform
              ---------------------------                                     
     or observe any covenant or agreement to be performed or observed by it
     contained in Sections 5.02 to 5.05, inclusive, or Section 5.07;

          (c) Certain Other Covenants:  the Borrower shall fail to perform or
              -----------------------                                        
     observe any covenant or agreement to be performed by it contained in this
     Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a) or (b) above) for 30 days
     (less, in the case of any failure to observe or perform Section 5.01(e),
     the number of days elapsed from the date an officer of the Borrower
     obtained knowledge of any Default to the date the Borrower delivered notice
     thereof to the Banks) after written notice of such failure is given to the
     Borrower by the Agent at the request of any Bank;

          (d) Misrepresentation:  the Borrower shall have made or be deemed to
              -----------------                                               
     have made pursuant to this Agreement any representation or warranty in or
     pursuant to this Agreement, or in any certificate, financial statement or
     other document delivered pursuant hereto, which shall prove to have been
     incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

          (e) Default With Respect to Other Borrowed Funds:  the Borrower or any
              --------------------------------------------                      
     Subsidiary shall fail to repay any Borrowed Funds (other than the Loans)
     payable or guaranteed by it, or any interest or premium thereon, when due
     (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand
     or otherwise) and such failure shall continue after the

                                      40
<PAGE>
 
     applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument
     relating to such Borrowed Funds or guarantee thereof, or any event or
     condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of
     any Borrowed Funds (or guarantee thereof) of the Borrower or any
     Subsidiary; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of such Borrowed Funds
                 --------                                                     
     payable or guaranteed, including any interest or premium thereon, shall
     exceed $50,000,000 (or the Equivalent Amount thereof) and (ii) there shall
     be excluded for purposes of the foregoing any such Borrowed Funds (A) owed
     to any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the
     United States of America or any state thereof in respect of any pollution
     control, industrial revenue bond or other similar type of financing, so
     long as the obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to pay or
     guarantee such Borrowed Funds is being contested in good faith or (B) owed
     to the Borrower by any Subsidiary or owed by the Borrower to any
     Subsidiary;

          (f) Voluntary Bankruptcy:  the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or
              --------------------                                           
     any two or more Subsidiaries which, if combined, would constitute a
     Material Subsidiary, shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding
     seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself
     or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
     hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
     liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial
     part of its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the
     appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary
     case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general
     assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its
     debts as they become due, or shall take any corporate action to authorize
     any of the foregoing;

          (g) Involuntary Bankruptcy:  an involuntary case or other proceeding
              ----------------------                                          
     shall be commenced against the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or any two
     or more Subsidiaries which, if combined, would constitute a Material
     Subsidiary, seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with
     respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other
     similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a
     trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or
     any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other
     proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days;
     or an order for relief shall be entered against the Borrower, any Material
     Subsidiary or any two or more Subsidiaries which, if combined, would
     constitute a Material Subsidiary, under the federal bankruptcy laws as now
     or hereafter in effect;

          (h) Termination of Plan:  any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to
              -------------------                                              
     pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $20,000,000
     which it shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice
     of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded
     Liabilities in excess of $50,000,000 (collectively, a "Material Plan")
     shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group,
     any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC
     shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose
     liability (other than for premiums under

                                      41
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed
     to administer any Material Plan; or a condition shall exist by reason of
     which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any
     Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall occur a complete or
     partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section
     4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which
     could cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a current
     payment obligation in excess of $20,000,000; or

          (i) Judgment Default:  a final, non-appealable judgment or order
              ----------------                                            
     enforceable by the courts of the United States or the United Kingdom or any
     other European Community country for the payment of money in excess of
     $50,000,000 (or the Equivalent Amount thereof) shall be rendered against
     the Borrower or any Subsidiary and such judgment or order shall continue
     unsatisfied for a period of 30 days;

then, and in every such event, the Agent shall (i) if requested by Banks having
at least 66-2/3% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice to the
Borrower terminate the Commitments, and they shall thereupon terminate, and/or
(ii) if requested by Banks holding Notes evidencing at least 66-2/3% in
aggregate principal amount of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the
full unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the Loans and the Notes and all
other amounts payable hereunder to be immediately due and payable, whereupon the
Commitments shall terminate and the Loans and the Notes and such other amounts
shall be immediately due and payable, without further notice, presentment,
demand, protest or other formality of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrower; provided that in the case of the occurrence of
                                  --------                                      
an event referred to in clause (f) or (g) above, the Commitments shall
automatically terminate and the full unpaid principal of and accrued interest on
the Loans and Notes and all other amounts payable hereunder shall automatically
become immediately due and payable, without notice, presentment, demand, protest
or other formality of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the
Borrower.

     SECTION 6.02.  Notice of Default.  The Agent shall give notice to the
                    -----------------                                     
Borrower under Section 6.01(c) promptly upon being requested to do so by any
Bank and shall thereupon notify all the Banks thereof.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                                   THE AGENT

     SECTION 7.01.  Appointment and Authorization.  Each Bank irrevocably
                    -----------------------------                        
appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and
to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the Notes as are delegated to
the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.  The Agent shall not have a fiduciary
relationship in respect of any Bank by reason of this Agreement.

                                      42
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 7.02.  Agent and Affiliates.  The First National Bank of Chicago
                    --------------------                                     
shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and its Notes as any
other Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it
were not the Agent, and The First National Bank of Chicago and its Affiliates
may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate as if it were not
the Agent hereunder.

     SECTION 7.03.  Action by Agent.  The obligations of the Agent hereunder are
                    ---------------                                             
only those expressly set forth herein.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to
any Default, except as expressly provided in Article VI.

     SECTION 7.04.  Employment and Reliance on Agents and Counsel.  The Agent
                    ---------------------------------------------            
may execute any of its duties as Agent hereunder by or through employees,
agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the Banks, except
as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents, for the
default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it
with reasonable care.  In addition, the Agent may consult with legal counsel
(who may be employees of the Agent or counsel for the Borrower), independent
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

     SECTION 7.05.  Liability of Agent.  Neither the Agent, the Arranger, nor
                    ------------------                                       
any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable
for any action taken or not taken by it in connection herewith (i) with the
consent or at the request of the Required Banks or (ii) in the absence of its
own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Neither the Agent, the Arranger,
nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be
responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify (i) any
statement, warranty or representation made in connection with this Agreement or
any Borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of any of the
covenants or agreements of the Borrower; (iii) the satisfaction of any condition
specified in Article III, except receipt of items required to be delivered to
the Agent; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement,
the Notes or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith.
Neither the Agent nor the Arranger shall incur any liability by acting in
reliance upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other
writing (which may be a bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar
writing) believed by it in good faith to be genuine or to be signed by the
proper party or parties.

     SECTION 7.06.  Reimbursement and Indemnification.  The Banks agree to
                    ---------------------------------                     
reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments (i) for any amounts not reimbursed by the Borrower for which the
Agent (for clarity, in its capacity as Agent, not as a Bank) is entitled to
reimbursement by the Borrower under this Agreement, (ii) for any other expenses
incurred by the Agent on behalf of the Banks, in connection with the
administration and enforcement of this Agreement and the Notes and (iii) for any
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or
arising out

                                      43
<PAGE>
 
of this Agreement, the Notes or any other document delivered in connection
herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby, or the enforcement of any of
the terms hereof or of any such other documents, provided that no Bank shall be
liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they arise from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent.

     SECTION 7.07.  Credit Decision.  Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
                    ---------------                                      
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other
Bank, and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrower and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent,
the Arranger or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as
it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions
in taking or not taking any action under this Agreement.

     SECTION 7.08.  Successor Agent.  The Agent may resign at any time by giving
                    ---------------                                             
written notice thereto to the Banks and the Borrower.  Upon any such
resignation, the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a successor
Agent who has been approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed).  If no successor Agent shall have been so
appointed by the Required Banks, and shall have accepted such appointment,
within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving notice of resignation, then the
retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Banks, appoint a successor Agent.  The
successor Agent shall be (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the
United States of America or of any state thereof and having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $100,000,000 and (ii) a Bank, unless the Borrower
consents to the successor Agent not being a Bank, which consent may not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Upon the acceptance by a successor Agent of
its appointment as Agent hereunder, it shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the rights and duties of the retiring Agent and the retiring
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder.  Each
successor Agent shall notify promptly the Borrower of its appointment as Agent
hereunder.  After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the
provisions of this Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent.

     SECTION 7.09.  Co-Agents.  None of the Banks identified on the signature
                    ---------                                                
pages of this Agreement as a "Co-Agent" shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those
applicable to all Banks as such.  Without limiting the foregoing, none of the
Banks so identified as a "Co-Agent" shall have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any Bank.  Each Bank acknowledges that it has not
relied, and will not rely, on any of the Banks identified as Co-Agents in
deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action
hereunder.


                                 ARTICLE VIII

                            CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

                                      44
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 8.01.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.
                    --------------------------------------------------------  
(a) If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Fixed Rate
Borrowing (other than a Money Market Rate Loan):

          (1)  the Agent is advised by the Reference Banks that deposits in the
     applicable currency (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to
     the Reference Banks in the relevant market for such Interest Period, or

          (2)  the Required Banks advise the Agent that the London Interbank
     Offered Rate as determined by the Agent will not adequately and fairly
     reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their Euro-Currency Loans or
     Money Market LIBOR Loans, as the case may be, for such Interest Period,

the Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks,
whereupon until the Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving
rise to such notice no longer exist: (A) the New York Interbank Offered Rate
shall replace the London Interbank Offered Rate for purposes of interest rate
determinations hereunder for Euro-Currency Borrowings and Money Market LIBOR
Borrowings for such Interest Period (and all references herein to the London
interbank market and the London Interbank Offered Rate for such purposes shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to be references to the New
York interbank market and the New York Interbank Offered Rate, respectively), as
the case may be, and (B) unless the Borrower notifies the Agent at least one
Domestic Business Day before the date of any Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a
Notice of Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on
such date or that it elects to borrow in another currency such that clause (1)
or (2) above is not applicable thereto,

          (i)  if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Euro-Currency Borrowing, the
     interest rate for such Euro-Currency Borrowing shall be determined on the
     basis of the New York Interbank Offered Rate if all of the procedures set
     forth herein for a Euro-Currency Borrowing on such basis (including the
     required notice to the Banks) can be complied with at such time or, if
     clause (1) or (2) of this subsection is applicable to the New York
     Interbank Offered Rate at such time, such Euro-Currency Borrowing shall
     instead be made as a Base Rate Borrowing; provided that, if such Euro-
                                               --------                   
     Currency Borrowing was to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars,
     the principal amount of the Base Rate Borrowing shall be the Dollar Amount
     of the principal amount of such Euro-Currency Borrowing, and

          (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Money Market LIBOR Borrowing,
     the interest rate for such Money Market LIBOR Borrowing shall be determined
     on the basis of the New York Interbank Offered Rate if all of the
     procedures set forth herein for a Money Market LIBOR Borrowing on such
     basis (including the required notice to the Banks) can be complied with at
     such time or, if clause (1) or (2) of this subsection is applicable to the
     New York Interbank Offered Rate at such time, the Money Market LIBOR Loans
     comprising such Borrowing shall be made in Dollars in a principal amount
     equal to the Dollar Amount of the principal amount of such Money Market
     LIBOR Borrowing and shall bear interest for each

                                      45
<PAGE>
 
     day from and including the first day to but excluding the last day of the
     Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base Rate for such day.

     (b) If clause (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this Section becomes
applicable when the New York Interbank Offered Rate has replaced the London
Interbank Offered Rate hereunder, then the Agent shall give notice to the
Borrower of such condition and the Borrower and the Agent (in consultation with
the Banks) shall promptly enter into negotiations in good faith with a view to
agreeing upon an alternative basis (a "Substitute Basis") acceptable to the
Borrower and the Banks for determining the interest rate which shall be
applicable to the affected Euro-Currency Borrowings or Money Market LIBOR
Borrowings, which rate shall reflect the cost to the Banks of maintaining such
Euro-Currency Borrowings plus the applicable Syndicated Margin or maintaining
such Money Market LIBOR Loans plus any applicable Money Market Margin, as the
case may be.  If, prior to the expiration of 20 days from the date of such
notice by the Agent, the Borrower and the Banks shall agree upon a Substitute
Basis, interest on such Euro-Currency Borrowings or Money Market LIBOR
Borrowings for the affected Interest Periods commencing during the period
beginning two Euro-Currency Business Days after the date of such notice and
ending on the date three Euro-Currency Business Days after the Agent notifies
the Borrower and the Banks that the condition specified in clause (1) or (2) of
subsection (a) of this Section has ceased to be in effect shall be determined on
such Substitute Basis.  If no such agreement has been reached by the expiration
of such 20-day period, the Agent shall so notify the Banks and each Bank shall,
within ten days after the date of such notice, notify the Borrower (through the
Agent) of the rate (or the basis of determining the rate) at which it is
prepared to maintain such Euro-Currency Borrowings or Money Market LIBOR
Borrowings held by it hereunder for the affected Interest Periods (which rate
shall reflect the cost to such Bank of maintaining such Borrowings plus the
applicable Syndicated Margin or plus any applicable positive Money Market
Margin, as the case may be) and such rate (or basis) shall be applicable to such
Euro-Currency Borrowings or Money Market LIBOR Borrowings, as the case may be,
held by it for the affected Interest Periods applicable thereto referred to in
the preceding sentence.  The Agent shall determine the total amount of interest
payable by the Borrower on each date for the payment of interest hereunder
determined in accordance with this subsection (b) (to the extent it has received
the necessary information from the Banks) and notify the Borrower of such total
amount (provided that no Bank's right to receive any interest payable to it
hereunder shall be impaired by its failure to provide such information to the
Agent).  The Borrower shall have the right at any time to suspend the obligation
of each Bank notifying a rate (or basis) pursuant to the second preceding
sentence of this subsection to make Euro-Currency Loans.

     SECTION 8.02.  Illegality.  If, after July 23, 1997, the adoption of any
                    ----------                                               
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency shall make it unlawful or
impossible for any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) to make, maintain or
fund its Euro-Currency Loans and such Bank shall so notify the Agent, the Agent
shall forthwith give notice thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower,
whereupon until

                                      46
<PAGE>
 
such Bank notifies the Borrower and the Agent that the circumstances giving rise
to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Bank to make Euro-
Currency Loans shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to the Agent
pursuant to this Section, such Bank shall designate a different Applicable
Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice
and will not, in the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise materially
disadvantageous to such Bank.  If such Bank shall determine that it may not
lawfully continue to maintain and fund any of its outstanding Euro-Currency
Loans to maturity and shall so specify in such notice, the Borrower shall
immediately prepay in full the then outstanding principal amount of each such
affected Euro-Currency Loan, together with accrued interest thereon.
Concurrently with prepaying each such affected Euro-Currency Loan, the Borrower
shall borrow a Base Rate Loan (or, subject to Section 2.03 and the willingness
of such Bank in its own discretion to submit a Money Market Quote, a Money
Market Rate Loan) from such Bank in a principal amount equal to the Dollar
Amount of the principal amount of such affected Euro-Currency Loan for an
Interest Period coincident with the remaining term of the Interest Period
applicable to such affected Euro-Currency Loan, and such Bank shall make such a
Base Rate Loan.

     SECTION 8.03.  Increased Cost and Reduced Return.  (a) If on or after (x)
                    ---------------------------------                         
July 23, 1997, in the case of any Syndicated Loan or any obligation to make
Syndicated Loans or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in the case
of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency:

          (i)  shall subject any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) to any
     tax, duty or other charge with respect to its Fixed Rate Loans, its Notes
     or its obligation to make Euro-Currency Loans, or shall change the basis of
     taxation of payments to any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) of the
     principal of or interest on its Fixed Rate Loans or any other amounts due
     under this Agreement in respect of its Fixed Rate Loans or its obligation
     to make Euro-Currency Loans (except for changes in the rate of tax on the
     overall net income of such Bank or its Applicable Lending Office imposed by
     the jurisdiction in which such Bank's principal executive office or
     Applicable Lending Office is located) or

          (ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special
     deposit, deposit insurance assessment or similar requirement (including,
     without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of Governors
     of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding with respect to any Euro-
     Currency Loan or Money Market LIBOR Loan any such requirement included in
     an applicable Euro-Currency Reserve Percentage) against assets of, deposits
     with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Bank (or its
     Applicable Lending Office) or shall impose on any Bank (or its Applicable
     Lending Office) or on the London interbank market any other condition
     affecting its Fixed Rate Loans, its Notes or its obligation to make Euro-
     Currency Loans,

                                      47
<PAGE>
 
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or
its Applicable Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loan, or
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Notes with respect
thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within 15 days
after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to
such Bank (without duplication of amounts otherwise payable hereunder) such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for such increased
cost or reduction with respect to such affected Fixed Rate Loan or such affected
sum.

     (b) If any Bank shall have reasonably determined that, after July 23, 1997,
the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital
adequacy or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or has had the effect of
reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Bank (or its parent) as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Bank
(or its parent) could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance
(taking into consideration such Bank's policies with respect to capital
adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to
time, within 15 days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), the
Borrower shall pay to such Bank (without duplication of amounts otherwise
payable hereunder) such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Bank (or its parent) for such reduction.

     (c) Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of any event
of which it has knowledge, occurring after July 23, 1997, which will entitle
such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section and will designate a
different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for,
or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such
Bank, be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Bank.  A certificate of
any Bank claiming compensation under this Section, setting forth the additional
amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder and setting forth in reasonable
detail a reasonable basis therefor, shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error.  In determining such amount, such Bank may use any reasonable
averaging and attribution methods.

     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower
shall have no obligation to make any payment under this Section 8.03 to the
extent that such payment would not have been required (i) if such Bank's
representation and warranty in Section 2.16(f) had been accurate, or (ii) if
such Bank had complied with its obligations under Section 2.16(g).

     SECTION 8.04.  Substitute Loans.  If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make
                    ----------------                                            
Euro-Currency Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or 8.02 or
(ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03(a) and the Borrower
shall, by at least five Euro-Currency Business Days' prior notice to such Bank
through the Agent, have elected that the provisions of this Section shall apply
to such Bank, then, unless and until such Bank notifies the Borrower that the
circumstances giving rise to such suspension or demand for compensation no
longer apply:

                                      48
<PAGE>
 
          (a) all Loans denominated in Dollars which would otherwise be made by
     such Bank as Euro-Currency Loans shall be made instead as Base Rate Loans,

          (b) all Loans denominated in a currency other than Dollars which would
     otherwise be made by such Bank as Euro-Currency Loans shall be made instead
     as Base Rate Loans in Dollars in a principal amount equal to the Dollar
     Amount of the principal amount of such Euro-Currency Loans, and

          (c) after each of its Euro-Currency Loans has been repaid, all
     payments of principal which would otherwise be applied to repay such Fixed
     Rate Loans shall instead be applied to repay its Loans made pursuant to
     Section 8.02 or clauses (a) or (b) above.

     SECTION 8.05.  Certain Reserve Compensation.  Each Bank may require the
                    ----------------------------                            
Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on the Euro-
Currency Borrowings of the Borrower, additional interest on the related Euro-
Currency Loan of such Bank at a rate per annum equal to the excess of (i)(A) the
applicable London Interbank Offered Rate divided by (B) one minus the Euro-
Currency Reserve Percentage over (ii) the rate specified in clause (i)(A).  In
addition, each Bank may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each
payment of interest on the Euro-Currency Borrowings of the Borrower which are
denominated in pounds sterling, additional interest on the related Euro-Currency
Loan of such Bank at the percentage calculated from time to time by such Bank to
be the percentage required to fully compensate such Bank for all reserve costs,
liabilities, expenses and assessments which have been incurred by such Bank (or
its Applicable Lending Office) in complying with any and all requirements of any
relevant United Kingdom banking authority or authorities applicable to such Bank
(or its Applicable Lending Office) regarding the making, funding or maintaining
of such Euro-Currency Loan  (including, without limitation, any and all liquid
asset maintenance requirements of the Bank of England).  A certificate of any
Bank claiming compensation under the preceding sentence, setting forth the
additional interest to be paid to it thereunder and setting forth in reasonable
detail a reasonable basis therefor, shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error, and in determining the amount of such interest, such Bank may
use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

     Any Bank wishing to require payment of such additional interest (x) shall
so notify the Borrower and the Agent, in which case such additional interest on
the Euro-Currency Loans of such Bank shall be payable in the currency of such
Loan to such Bank at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each
Interest Period commencing at least five Euro-Currency Business Days after the
giving of such notice and (y) shall notify the Borrower at least five Euro-
Currency Business Days prior to each date on which interest is payable on such
Euro-Currency Loans of the amount (and currency thereof) then due it under this
Section.

     SECTION 8.06.  Substitution of Bank.  If (i) the obligation of any Bank to
                    --------------------                                       
make Euro-Currency Loans has been suspended pursuant to either Section 8.01(b)
or Section 8.02 of either this Agreement or the Other Agreement or (ii) any Bank
has demanded compensation under any of Sections 2.16, 8.03 or 8.05 of either
this Agreement or the Other Agreement, the Borrower shall have the right, with
the assistance of the Agent, to seek a mutually satisfactory substitute bank or
banks (which may be one or more of the Banks) to purchase and assume all of the
rights and obligations of such Bank under this Agreement, the Other Agreement
and such Bank's "Notes" (as defined in both this Agreement and the Other
Agreement), all in accordance with the provisions of Section

                                      49
<PAGE>
 
9.07(c) of this Agreement and Section 9.07(c) of the Other Agreement and subject
to such Bank receiving payment in full of all amounts owing to it under this
Agreement, the Other Agreement, and its "Notes" (as defined in both this
Agreement and the Other Agreement).


                                  ARTICLE IX

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 9.01.  Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for
                    -------                                                    
herein shall be in writing (including bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission,
telegraph or similar writing) and shall be given to the intended recipient:  (x)
in the case of the Borrower or the Agent, at its address or telex or telecopy
number set forth on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any Bank, at
its address or telex or telecopy number set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire or (z) in the case of any party, at such other address or telex or
telecopy number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower
and the Agent.  All notices and other communications shall be effective (i) if
given by telex or facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the telex or
telecopy number specified in this Section (and, in the case of telex, when the
appropriate answerback is received), (ii) if given by mail, 72 hours after such
communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid,
addressed as aforesaid, or (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered at
the address specified in this Section; provided that notices to the Agent under
                                       --------                                
Article II or VIII hereof shall not be effective until received.

     SECTION 9.02.  No Waiver.  No failure on the part of the Agent or any Bank
                    ---------                                                  
to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect
to, any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any Note shall operate
as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or privilege under this Agreement or any Note preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law.

     SECTION 9.03.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND THE REQUESTS,
                    -------------                                              
INVITATIONS AND OFFERS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 2.03 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

     SECTION 9.04.  Expenses and Indemnification.  The Borrower agrees to pay,
                    ----------------------------                              
or reimburse each of the Agent and the Arranger for paying, all reasonable costs
and out-of-pocket expenses incurred or paid by each of the Agent and the
Arranger in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery
and syndication of this Agreement and the Notes and the making of the Borrowings
hereunder (including the reasonable fees, time charges and expenses of in-house
or outside counsel to the Agent and the Arranger).  The Borrower agrees to pay,
or reimburse the Agent and the Banks for paying, all reasonable fees, time
charges and expenses of in-house counsel to the Agent and such outside counsel,
if any, as shall have been retained by the Agent or the Required Banks on behalf
of the Banks, in connection with the amendment, modification, consent or waiver
of any of the terms of this Agreement or any of the Notes.  The Borrower agrees
to pay, or reimburse the Agent and the Banks for paying, all reasonable costs,
internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees, time
charges and expenses of in-house or outside counsel to the Agent or any Bank)
paid or incurred by the Agent or any Bank in connection with the enforcement of
this

                                      50
<PAGE>
 
Agreement or any Note and any collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and other
enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom.

     The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent, the Arranger and each
Bank (and  their respective directors, officers and employees) from and hold
each of them harmless against any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties,
judgments, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, all expenses
of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Agent, the Arranger or
any Bank is a party thereto) which any of them may pay or incur arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, the Notes, the transactions contemplated hereby
or the direct or indirect application or proposed application of the proceeds of
any Borrowing, except to the extent any of the foregoing arises from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Person seeking indemnification.  If and
to the extent that the foregoing indemnification is unenforceable for any
reason, the Borrower agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and
satisfaction of each of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses
which is permissible under applicable law.  The obligations of the Borrower
under this Section 9.04 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.05.  Amendments, Etc.  Any provision of this Agreement or the
                    ---------------                                         
Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in
writing and is signed by the Borrower and the Required Banks (and, if the rights
or duties of the Agent are affected thereby, by the Agent); provided that the
                                                            --------         
Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld), specify by notice to the Banks modifications in the procedures set
forth in Section 2.03; and provided further that no such amendment, waiver or
                           -------- -------                                  
modification shall, unless signed by all the Banks, (i) increase or extend the
Commitment of any Bank or subject any Bank to any additional obligation (except
for increases to the Commitment of any Bank pursuant to Section 8.06 to which
such Bank has agreed in writing), (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of
interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or change
the currency of payment thereof, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment
of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder, (iv) change the
definition of "Required Banks", amend this Section 9.05, or otherwise change the
percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Notes, or the number of Banks, which shall be required for the Banks or any of
them to take any action under this Section or any other provision of this
Agreement, or (v) change Section 9.11 or any provision providing for the equal
or ratable treatment of the Banks.

     SECTION 9.06.  Counterparts; Effectiveness; Termination of Existing Credit
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
---------                                                                      
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of
the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.
This Agreement shall become effective when (a) the Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof signed by the Borrower, each Bank listed on the signature
pages hereof and the Agent, and (b) all of the Borrower's obligations under the
Existing Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied (except for any obligations
under Article VIII, Section 2.16 and Section 9.04 therein).  Each Bank that is a
party to the Existing Credit Agreement acknowledges and agrees that,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, upon the effectiveness of this
Agreement, the commitments of the banks under the Existing Credit Agreement to
make loans thereunder shall be automatically terminated and any notice
requirements in respect of such termination or in respect of any prepayment of
loans thereunder shall be waived.  The Agent shall notify the Borrower and the
Banks of the effectiveness of this Agreement by delivery of a notice in the form
of Exhibit H hereto.

                                      51
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.07.  Successors and Assigns.  (a)  The provisions of this
                    ----------------------                              
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of all Banks and the Agent.

     (b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its Commitment or
any or all of its Loans.  In the event of any such grant by a Bank of a
participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the
Borrower and the Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for the performance
of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the Agent shall continue to
deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with such Bank's rights
and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement pursuant to which any Bank
may grant such a participating interest shall provide that such Bank shall
retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the
Borrower hereunder including, without limitation, the right to approve any
amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided
                                                                      --------
that such participation agreement may provide that such Bank will not agree to
any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement described in clause (ii)
or (iii) of Section 9.05 without the consent of the Participant.  The Borrower
agrees that each Participant shall, to the extent provided in its participation
agreement, be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.15, 2.16, 9.04 and
Article VIII to the extent of its participating interest and with such benefits
to be determined as if the related Bank had not granted such participation.  An
assignment or other transfer which is not permitted by subsection (c) or (d)
below shall be given effect for purposes of this Agreement only to the extent of
a participating interest granted in accordance with this subsection (b).

     (c) With (and subject to) the written consent of the Borrower and the Agent
(such consents not to be unreasonably withheld and, in the case of an assignment
to an Affiliate, not to be required), any Bank may at any time assign to one or
more banks or other institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate
part of all, of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Notes,
and such Assignee shall assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G
hereto executed by such Assignee and such transferor Bank; provided, that
simultaneously with each such assignment, the transferor Bank shall assign to
the same Assignee the same proportionate share of all of its rights and
obligations, if any, under the Other Agreement in accordance with the provisions
of Section 9.07(c) of the Other Agreement.  Upon execution and delivery of such
instrument and payment by such Assignee to such transferor Bank of an amount
equal to the purchase price agreed between such transferor Bank and such
Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank party to this Agreement and shall have
all the rights and obligations of a Bank with a Commitment as set forth in such
instrument of assumption, and the transferor Bank shall be released from its
obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent, and no further consent or
action by any party shall be required.  Upon the consummation of any assignment
pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor Bank, the Agent and the Borrower
shall make appropriate arrangements so that, if required, new Notes are issued
to the Assignee.  In connection with any such assignment under this Agreement,
the transferor Bank shall pay to the Agent an administrative fee for processing
such assignment equal to $1,500.

                                      52
<PAGE>
 
     (d) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under
this Agreement and its Notes to a Federal Reserve Bank (without any requirement
to obtain the consent of the Borrower or the Agent thereto).  No such assignment
shall release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.

     (e) No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's rights shall
be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 8.03 or 8.05 than such
Bank would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights transferred,
unless such transfer is (i) made with the Borrower's prior written consent or
(ii) made to either (y) a Bank already party to this Agreement at the time of
such assignment or (z) an affiliate of the transferor Bank.

     (f) If any Reference Bank assigns all of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement and its Notes to an unaffiliated institution, the Agent shall, in
consultation with the Borrower and with the consent of the Required Banks,
appoint another Bank to act as a Reference Bank hereunder.

     SECTION 9.08.  Survival.  The obligations of the Borrower under Article
                    --------                                                
VIII and Sections 2.16 and 9.04 shall survive the repayment of the Loans and the
termination of the Commitments.

     SECTION 9.09.  Acknowledgement.  The Borrower acknowledges that the Banks
                    ---------------                                           
have entered into this Agreement in reliance on the Borrower's assurance that it
does not intend to use the proceeds of any Borrowings hereunder in a manner
which would violate any applicable law or governmental rule or regulation.


     SECTION 9.10.  Headings.  The Table of Contents and Article and Section
                    --------                                                
headings used herein shall not affect the interpretation of any provision of
this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.11.  Sharing of Setoffs.  Each Bank agrees that, if it shall, by
                    ------------------                                         
exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of
a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with respect
to any Note held by it which is greater than the proportion received by any
other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with
respect to any Note held by such other Bank (other than disproportionate
payments to any Bank provided for by this Agreement), the Bank receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the Notes
held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be
required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the
Notes held by the Banks shall be shared by the Banks pro rata; provided that
                                                               --------     
nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right
of setoff or counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount recovered thereby
to the payment of indebtedness of the Borrower other than its indebtedness under
the Notes.  If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law,
any Bank receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section
applies, such Bank shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in
respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the
Banks entitled under this Section to share in the benefits of any recovery on
such secured claim.  The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may
effectively do so under applicable law, that any holder of a participation in a
Note, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements, may
exercise rights of setoff or counterclaim and other rights with respect to such
participation as fully as if such holder of a participation were a direct
creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                                      53
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.12.  Collateral.  Each of the Banks represents to the Agent and
                    ----------                                                
each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not relying upon any "margin
stock" (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in the extension or
maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.13.  Consent to Jurisdiction.  (a)  The Borrower irrevocably
                    -----------------------                                
submits to the jurisdiction of any federal or Illinois state court sitting in
Chicago, Illinois over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement or any Note.  The Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court
and any claim that any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. The Borrower agrees that a final judgment in
any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive
and binding upon the Borrower and may be enforced in any federal or Illinois
state court sitting in Chicago, Illinois (or any other courts to the
jurisdiction of which the Borrower is or may be subject) by a suit upon such
judgment, provided that service of process is effected upon the Borrower in one
of the manners specified in subsection (b) of this Section or as otherwise
permitted by law.

     (b)  Service of Process.  The Borrower hereby consents to process being
          ------------------                                                
served in any suit, action or proceeding referred to in the first sentence of
subsection (a) of this Section in any federal or Illinois state court sitting in
Chicago, Illinois by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified air mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Borrower at its address
specified in Section 9.01 or to any other address of which the Borrower shall
have given written notice to the Agent.  The Borrower irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such
service in any such suit, action or proceeding brought by the Agent or any Bank.
The Borrower agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective
service of process upon the Borrower in any such suit, action or proceeding and
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and
personal service upon and personal delivery to the Borrower.

     (c)  No Limitation on Service or Suit.  Nothing in this Article shall
          --------------------------------                                
affect the right of the Agent or any Bank to serve process in any other manner
permitted by law or limit the right of the Agent or any Bank to bring
proceedings against the Borrower in the courts of the jurisdiction of the Bank's
Applicable Lending Office or the courts of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions in
which the Borrower has any assets.

     SECTION 9.14.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE AGENT, THE BANKS 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 BANK CREDIT DOCUMENT,
OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR
WRITTEN), OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT, THE BANKS, OR THE BORROWER.

                                      54
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                             THE BORROWER

                             ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY


                             By /s/ R. Remick
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                                    Ronald R. Remick
                                    Vice President and Treasurer

                                    Address for Notices:

                                    3801 West Chester Pike
                                    Newtown Square, Pennsylvania  19073
                                    Attn: Assistant Treasurer

                                    Telex No.: 99-0756
                                           (answerback ARCO CHEM NS1)
                                    Telephone No.: 610-359-3362
                                    Telecopier No.: 610-359-3322

                                      S-1
<PAGE>
 
                             THE AGENT

                             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                             By /s/ George R. Schanz
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  GEORGE R. SCHANZ
                                  --------------------------------------
                                    Vice President 

                                    Address for Notices:

                                    The First National Bank of Chicago
                                    One First National Plaza
                                    Chicago, Illinois  60670
                                    Attention:  William P. Laird
                                    Mail Suite 0634
                                    Telex No.: 4330253 (answerback FNBCUI)
                                    Telephone No.: 312-732-5635
                                    Telecopier No.: 312-732-4840

                                    cc: W. Walter Green, III
                                    Mail Suite 0363
                                    Telex No.: 4330253 (answerback FNBCUI)
                                    Telephone No.: 312-732-7235
                                    Telecopier No.: 312-732-3055


                             THE BANKS

Commitment
----------

$22,000,000.00               THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                              as a Bank


                             By /s/ George R. Schanz
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  GEORGE R. SCHANZ
                                  --------------------------------------
                                    Vice President
  
                                     S-2 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$20,000,000.00               BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                              AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                              as a Co-Agent and a Bank


                             By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Vice President
                                  -------------------------------------- 

                                     S-3 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$20,000,000.00               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                              as a Co-Agent and a Bank


                             By /s/ R. T. Sacks
                               -----------------------------------------     
                             Title  ROBERT T. SACKS
                                  --------------------------------------
                                    MANAGING DIRECTOR
 
                                      S-4
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$20,000,000.00               DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK AND/OR
                              CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCHES,
                              as a Co-Agent and a Bank


                             By /s/ Jean Hannigan  /s/ R. Hoffmann
                               -----------------------------------------   
                             Title  Jean M. Hannigan   Ralf Hoffmann
                                  --------------------------------------
                                    Vice President     Vice President

                                     S-5  
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$14,000,000.00               BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY,
                              as a Bank


                             By /s/ M.R. Marron
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  M. R. MARRON
                                  -------------------------------------- 
                                    Vice President


                                      S-6
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$14,000,000.00               CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Bank


                             By /s/ PASCAL POUPELLE
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Executive Vice President
                                  --------------------------------------

                                      S-7
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$14,000,000.00               CORESTATES BANK, N.A. as a Bank


                             By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Vice President
                                  -------------------------------------- 

                                      S-8
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$14,000,000.00               MARINE MIDLAND BANK, as a Bank


                             By /s/ William M. Holland
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  William M. Holland
                                  --------------------------------------
                                    Vice President

                                     S-9 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$14,000,000.00               WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,
                              as a Bank


                             By   /s/ A. T. Ogburn                   
                                 ------------------------------------
                                    ADAM T. OGBURN                   
                                 ------------------------------------
                             Title  VICE PRESIDENT                   
                                 ------------------------------------

                                     S-10
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Bank


                             By /s/ I. K. Stewart
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  IAN K. STEWART
                                  -------------------------------------- 
                                    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
  
                                     S-11
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Bank


                             By  /s/ J. A. Edwards
                                 ------------------------------------ 
                                     J. ALAN EDWARDS                 
                                 ------------------------------------ 
                             Title   AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY            
                                 ------------------------------------

                                     S-12 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                CITIBANK, N.A., as a Bank


                             By  /s/ R. Beldam
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                     RUFUS BELDAM
                                 --------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Managing Director 
                                    399 Park/4th Fl./Zn.4  
                                      (212) 559-1605
                                 --------------------------------------- 

                                     S-13
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                THE DAI-ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD., LOS
                              ANGELES AGENCY, as a Bank


                             By /s/ Mr. Morishita
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  MASATSUGU MORISHITA
                                  -------------------------------------- 
                                    SR. VICE PRESIDENT & 
                                    JOINT GENERAL MANAGER
                                  
                                    S-14  
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as a Bank


                             By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Senior Vice President
                                  --------------------------------------

                                     S-15 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                FUJI BANK, LTD., as a Bank


                             By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                               ----------------------------------------- 
                             Title  Senior Vice President
                                  --------------------------------------

                                     S-16 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                MELLON BANK, N.A., as a Bank


                             By  /s/ John K. Walsh
                                 ------------------------------------
                                     JOHN K WALSH                    
                                 ------------------------------------
                             Title   VICE PRESIDENT                  
                                 ------------------------------------

                                     S-17 
<PAGE>
 
Commitment
----------

$6,000,000.00                THE SAKURA BANK, LTD., as a Bank


                             By /s/ Y. Kikuchi
                               -----------------------------------------    
                             Title  YASUMASA KIKUCHI
                                    Senior Vice President

                                     S-18
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE I

                  Euro-Currency Payment Offices of the Agent


Currency                                Euro-Currency Payment Office
--------                                ----------------------------


Dollars                                 The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 7521-7653
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical


Deutsche Marks                 To:      Swiss Bank Corp.
                                        Frankfurt, Germany

                               For:     The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 103350.50.00
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical


Dutch Guilders                 To:      Rabobank Nederland, N.V.
                                        Utrecht, Netherlands

                               For:     The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 3908.02.042
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical


French Francs                  To:      Credit Commercial De France
                                        Paris, France

                               For:     The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 020350699000
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical



Japanese Yen                   To:      Bank of Tokyo
<PAGE>
 
                                        Tokyo, Japan

                               For:     The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 6530422606
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical


Pounds Sterling                To:      Midland Bank, PLC
                                        London, England

                               For:     The First National Bank of Chicago
                                        Chicago Office
                                        Account No.: 00472803
                                        Ref.: ARCO Chemical
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------

                                      NOTE


                                              Chicago, Illinois
                                              July 23, 1997

   For value received, ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of                    (the "Bank"),
for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal amount of
each Loan made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement
referred to below on the last day of the Interest Period relating to such Loan.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
such Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit
Agreement.  All such payments of principal and interest shall be made (i) if in
Dollars, in lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately
available funds at the main office of The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Agent, in Chicago Illinois or (ii) if in any other currency, in such funds as
may then be customary for the settlement of international transactions in such
other currency at the place specified for payment thereof pursuant to the Credit
Agreement.

   All Loans made by the Bank, the respective maturities thereof and all
repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank and, prior to
any transfer hereof, endorsed by the Bank on the schedule attached hereto, or on
a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof; provided
                                                                    --------
that the failure of the Bank to make any such recordation or endorsement shall
not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Credit
Agreement.

   This note is one of the Notes referred to in Credit Agreement A dated as of
July 23, 1997 among ARCO Chemical Company, the banks listed on the signature
pages thereof and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Agent (as the same may
be amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").  Terms defined in the
Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. Reference is made to
the Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment hereof and the
acceleration of the maturity hereof.

                                 ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY

                                 By:____________________________
                                 Title:__________________
<PAGE>
 
                                 Note (cont'd)


                        LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL


                    Currency and        Amount of
         Type of     Amount of          Principal    Maturity  Notation
Date     Loan         Loan     Repaid       Date     Made by
----     -------    --------   ------     -------    ------- 

                                    Page 2
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B
                                   ---------

                              FORM OF MONEY MARKET
                                 QUOTE REQUEST

                                              [Date]

TO:   The First National Bank of Chicago (the "Agent")
      One First National Plaza
      Chicago, Illinois 60670

From: Arco Chemical Company

Re:   Credit Agreement A dated as of July 23, 1997 (the "Credit Agreement")
      among ARCO Chemical Company, the Banks listed on the signature pages
      thereof and the Agent

      We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement
that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money Market
Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing:__________________

      Currency*         Principal Amount**       Interest Period***
      --------          ----------------         ---------------   


      Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Rate].
[The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

      Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Credit Agreement.

         ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY

         By:__________________
         Title:_______________

____________
*    If pounds sterling, indicate whether euro-sterling or domestic sterling.

**   Amount must be $10,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof)
     or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount
     thereof).

***  Not less than one month (LIBOR Auction) or not less than 7 days (Absolute
     Rate Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest
     Period.
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT C
                                   ---------

                             FORM OF INVITATION FOR
                              MONEY MARKET QUOTES

                                              [Date]

To:   [Name of Bank]
      [address of Bank]

Re:   Invitation for Money Market Quotes
      to Arco Chemical Company (the "Borrower")

      Pursuant to Section 2.03 of Credit Agreement A dated as of July 23, 1997
(the "Credit Agreement") among ARCO Chemical Company, the Banks listed on the
signature pages thereof and the undersigned, as Agent, we are pleased on behalf
of the Borrower to invite you to submit Money Market Quotes to the Borrower for
the following proposed Money Market Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing:________________________

        Currency*          Principal Amount         Business Period
        --------           ----------------         ---------------


      Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Rate].
[The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

      Please respond to this invitation by no later than [3:00 p.m.] [1:00 p.m.]
[9:00 a.m.] [(London time)] [(Chicago time)] on [date].

      Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the
Credit Agreement.

                                 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF 
                                 CHICAGO, as Agent

                                 By:___________________________
                                        Authorized Officer


_________
*    If pounds sterling, indicate whether euro-sterling or domestic sterling.
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT D
                                   ---------

                           FORM OF MONEY MARKET QUOTE

To:   The First National Bank
      of Chicago, as Agent
      One First National Plaza
      Chicago, Illinois 60670

Attention:  Funding Services -- Loan Sale Group

Re:   Money Market Quote to Arco Chemical Company (the "Borrower")

      In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated
___________, ____, we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the
following terms:

1.    Quoting Bank:

2.    Person to contact at Quoting Bank:

3.    Date of Borrowing: *

4.    We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal
      amounts for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:

                 Principal          Interest           Money Market
   Currency**          Amount***        Period****       [Margin+][Rate++]
   --------           -------          -------         -------------------


[provided that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for which
the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $___________]***

__________
*    As specified in the related Invitation.
**   ***[If pounds sterling, indicate whether euro-sterling or domestic
     sterling.]***
***  Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal
     amount requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual
     offers exceeds the amount the Bank is will-ing to lend. Bids must be made
     for $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount thereof) or a larger
     multiple thereof.
**** Not less than 7 days, as specified in the related Invitation for Money
     Market Quotes.
+    Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined for the
     applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (rounded to the nearest
     1/10,000 of 1%) and specify whether "PLUS" or "MINUS".
++   Specify rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th of
     1%).
     We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the
satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Credit Agreement A dated
as of July 23, 1997 (the "Credit
<PAGE>
 
Agreement") among ARCO Chemical Company, the Banks listed on the signature pages
thereof and yourselves, as Agent, irrevocably obligates us to make the Money
Market Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole or in part.
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.

                                 Very truly yours,

                                 [NAME OF BANK]

Dated:_____________________      By:_________________________
                                       Authorized Officer

                                    Page 2
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT E
                                   ---------

                                 CERTIFICATE OF
                                   INCUMBENCY


     I,              , [Secretary/Assistant Secretary] of ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby certify as follows:

     (1)  Each of the following named individuals is an Authorized Officer (as
that term is defined in Credit Agreement A, dated as of July 23, 1997 among ARCO
Chemical Company, the Banks named therein and The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Agent (the "Credit Agreement")) of the Borrower and each has been
duly elected to and is now holding the office indicated, and the signature
appearing opposite each name is the genuine signature of such Authorized
Officer:

     Title                    Name            Signature
     -----                    ----            ---------

__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________


          (2)  Each of the following named individuals has been duly designated
as an "Authorized Representative" (as that term is defined in the Credit
Agreement) of the Borrower, and the signature appearing opposite each name is
the genuine signature of such Authorized Representative:

     Title                    Name            Signature
     -----                    ----            ---------

__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________
 
__________________     ___________________    _____________________

__________________     ___________________    _____________________ 
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the
Borrower this       day of              19  .

          ____________________     
           Secretary/Assistant Secretary

[SEAL]

     I, [name], [Treasurer/Assistant Secretary/Secretary] of ARCO Chemical
Company, do hereby certify that                 is, and at all times since
, 19   has been, the duly elected or appointed, qualified and acting
[Secretary/Assistant Secretary] of the Borrower and that the signature set forth
above is [his][her] genuine signature.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this day of   , 19.

          ____________________
           Treasurer/Assistant Secretary


                                    Page 2
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT F
                                   ---------

                                   OPINION OF
                            COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

                                              [Dated as provided in
                                              Section 3.01 of the
                                              Credit Agreement]

To the Banks and the Agent
  Referred to Below
c/o The First National Bank
  of Chicago, as Agent
One First National Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60670

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am [General Counsel] [Associate General Counsel-Corporate] of ARCO
Chemical Company (the "Borrower") and as such have acted as counsel, or
supervised attorneys who have acted as counsel, for the Borrower in connection
with Credit Agreement A, dated as of July 23, 1997 (the "Credit Agreement"),
among ARCO Chemical Company, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof,
and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Agent. Capitalized terms used but not
otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.

     I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public
officials and other instruments and have conducted such other investigations of
fact and law as I have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this
opinion.

     Upon the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

     1.  (a)  The Borrower (i) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware and (ii) either is
qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of
the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction.

     (b)  The Borrower has all corporate powers and authority, governmental
permits, licenses, consents, authorizations, orders and approvals and other
authorizations as are necessary to carry on its business substantially as
presently conducted except for such of the foregoing the absence of which would
not, in the aggregate, subject the Borrower to any material liability or
disability.
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit
Agreement and the Notes, and Borrowings under the Credit Agreement by the
Borrower, are within the corporate power and authority of the Borrower and have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate proceedings by the Borrower.

     (d)  Neither such authorization nor the execution, delivery and performance
by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement or of the Notes, nor any Borrowing by
the Borrower when made, will conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute
a default under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any law or any
regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental
authority or of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Borrower or
result in the violation or contravention of, or the acceleration of any
obligation under, or cause the creation of any Lien on any of the properties of
the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

     (e)  Assuming its due execution by the Banks and the Agent, the Credit
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and
the Notes, when duly executed on behalf of the Borrower and delivered in
accordance with the Credit Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights
generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity).

     2.  Except as previously disclosed in writing to the Banks prior to July
23, 1997, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to my knowledge,
threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries in any
court or before or by any arbitrator, governmental department, agency or
instrumentality (i) which is likely to have a material adverse effect upon the
Borrower's ability to pay and perform its obligations under the Bank Credit
Documents in accordance with their respective terms or (ii) which in any manner
draws into question the validity of any of the Bank Credit Documents.  In this
regard, the Borrower has brought to your attention the Borrower's annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, and the Borrower's quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1997.

     3.  No consent, authorization, order or approval of (or filing or
registration with) any governmental commission, board or other regulatory
authority (other than routine reporting requirements) is required for the
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement or
the Notes or for Borrowings under the Credit Agreement.

     4.  The Borrower is not an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     5.  The Cross-Indemnification Agreement, as amended to the date hereof, and
the Tax Sharing Agreement are in full force and effect in accordance with their
respective terms.

                                    Page 2
<PAGE>
 
     6.  Each of the Borrower's Subsidiaries that is a corporation is duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate powers and all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its
business as now conducted except for licenses, authorizations, consents or
approvals the absence of which will not materially and adversely affect the
business of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     I am counsel admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  In
giving the foregoing opinion, I express no opinion as to the effect (if any) of
any laws of any jurisdiction other than the general corporate laws of the State
of Delaware and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  I have assumed
for the purposes of this opinion that the applicable laws of the State of
Illinois are the same as the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

                    Very truly yours,

                                    Page 3
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT G
                                   ---------

                      ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT



     AGREEMENT dated as of __________, 19__ among [ASSIGNOR] (the "Assignor"),
[ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee"), ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY (the "Company") and THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Agent (the "Agent").


                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement") relates
to Credit Agreement A dated as of July 23, 1997 among the Company, the Assignor
and the other Banks party thereto, as Banks, and the Agent (the "Credit
Agreement");

     WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a
Commitment to make Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding not to exceed $_______________;

     WHEREAS, Syndicated Loans made by the Assignor under the Credit Agreement
in the aggregate principal amount of $__________ are outstanding at the date
hereof; and

     WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee all of the rights
of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of a portion of its
Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $___________ (the "Assigned
Amount"), together with a corresponding portion of its outstanding Syndicated
Loans, and the Assignee proposes to accept assignment of such rights and assume
the corresponding obligations from the Assignor on such terms;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     SECTION 1.  Definitions.  All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
                 -----------                                              
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 2.  Assignment.  The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
                 ----------                                               
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the
extent of the Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such assignment
from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations of the Assignor under the
Credit Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Amount, including the purchase
from the Assignor of the corresponding portion of the principal amount of the
Syndicated Loans made by the Assignor outstanding at the date hereof.  Upon the
execution and delivery hereof by the Assignor, the Assignee, the Company and the
Agent and the payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 required to be paid
on the date hereof (i) the Assignee shall,
<PAGE>
 
as of the date hereof, succeed to the rights and be obligated to perform the
obligations of a Bank under the Credit Agreement with a Commitment in an amount
equal to the Assigned Amount, and (ii) the Commitment of the Assignor shall, as
of the date hereof, be reduced by a like amount and the Assignor released from
its obligations under the Credit Agreement to the extent such obligations have
been assumed by the Assignee.  The assignment provided for herein shall be
without recourse to the Assignor.

     SECTION 3.  Payments.  As consideration for the assignment and sale
                 --------                                               
contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the
date hereof in Federal funds an amount equal to $__________*.  It is understood
that facility fees with respect to the Assigned Amount accrued to the date
hereof are for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing from and
including the date hereof are for the account of the Assignee.  Each of the
Assignor and the Assignee hereby agrees that if it receives any amount under the
Credit Agreement which is for the account of the other party hereto, it shall
receive the same for the account of such other party to the extent of such other
party's interest therein and shall promptly pay the same to such other party.

     SECTION 4.  Consent of the Company and the Agent.  This Agreement is
                 ------------------------------------                    
conditioned upon the consent of the Company and the Agent pursuant to Section
9.07(c) of the Credit Agreement.  The execution of this Agreement by the Company
and the Agent is evidence of this consent.  Pursuant to Section 9.07(c) the
Company agrees to execute and deliver a Note payable to the order of the
Assignee to evidence the assignment and assumption provided for herein.**



____________
*    Amount should combine principal together with accrued interest and breakage
     compensation, if any, to be paid by the Assignee, net of any portion of any
     upfront fee to be paid by the Assignor to the Assignee. It may be
     preferable in an appropriate case to specify these amounts generically or
     by formula rather than as a fixed sum.

**   Delete this Section 4 if no consent is required pursuant to Section 9.07(c)
     of the Credit Agreement.

                                    Page 2
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 5.  Non-Reliance on Assignor.  The Assignor makes no representation
                 ------------------------                                       
or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility with respect
to, the solvency, financial condition, or statements of the Borrower, or the
validity and enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the
Credit Agreement or any Note.  The Assignee acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance on the Assignor, and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement and will continue to be responsible for
making its own independent appraisal of the business, affairs and financial
condition of the Borrower.  Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents or attorneys shall be liable for any mistake, error
of judgment, or action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any
Loans, Note, Commitment or other interest under the Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 6.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
                 -------------                                          
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

     SECTION 7.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in any number of
                 ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above
written.
 
                         [ASSIGNOR]

                         By:___________________
                         Title:________________

                         [ASSIGNEE]

                         By:___________________
                         Title:________________

                                    Page 3
<PAGE>
 
                         ARCO CHEMICAL COMPANY

                         By:____________________
                         Title:_________________


                         THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                           as Agent

                         By:____________________
                         Title:_________________

                                    Page 4
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT H
                                   ---------

                            NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS

                                              July 23, 1997



ARCO Chemical Company
3801 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania 19073
Attention: Treasurer


Dear Ladies/Gentlemen:

   We hereby notify you that Credit Agreement A dated as of July 23, 1997 among
ARCO Chemical Company, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof and The
First National Bank of Chicago, as Agent, has become effective as of the date
hereof in accordance with Section 9.06 thereof.


                                 Very truly yours,

                                 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                 CHICAGO, as Agent

                                 By:___________________________
                                 Title:________________________
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT I
                                   ---------

                    OPINION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE AGENT

                                                           [Dated as provided in
                                                             Section 3.01 of the
                                                               Credit Agreement]
                                                                               
The First National Bank of Chicago, as
  Agent, and the other financial institutions
  which are parties to each of the Credit
  Agreements referred to below

   Re: ARCO Chemical Company
       ---------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   We have acted as special counsel to The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent"), in connection with Credit Agreement A and
Credit Agreement B (collectively, the "Credit Agreements"), each dated as of
July 23, 1997, among ARCO Chemical Company (the "Borrower"), various financial
institutions, and the Agent.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in each of the Credit
Agreements.

   In connection herewith, we have examined counterparts of each Credit
Agreement executed by the Borrower, each of the Banks and the Agent; and each
Note issued by the Borrower on the date hereof pursuant to the Credit Agreements
(the "Notes").  In connection with such examination, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authority of the persons signing such
documents and the authenticity of such documents.  We also have assumed, without
any independent investigation, that (a) each Credit Agreement and each Note has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto and
(b) each Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each
party thereto other than the Borrower, enforceable against each such party in
accordance with its terms.

   Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth below,
we are of the opinion that, under the laws of the State of Illinois:
 
     (1)  Each Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of
          the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its
          terms.

     (2)  The Notes are the legal, valid and binding obligations of the
          Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their
          terms.
<PAGE>
 
________, 1997
Page 2

   Our opinions are subject to the following qualifications:

   (a) Our opinions are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar law
affecting creditors' rights generally and to the effect of general principles of
equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing.

   (b) We express no opinion as to indemnification or contribution obligations
which contravene public policy.

   (c) We express no opinion as to any provision of either Credit Agreement
purporting to convey rights to Persons other than parties to such Credit
Agreement.

   (d) We express no opinion as to any waiver of (i) the right to a jury trial,
(ii) any objection to venue or (iii) any right to bring legal proceedings in any
court having jurisdiction.

   (e) Our opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Illinois, and we
express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

   This opinion letter is solely for the benefit of the addressees hereof (and
their respective successors and assigns) in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Credit Agreements, and this opinion letter may not be relied
upon by any other Person or for any other purpose.

                             Very truly yours,
 
                             MAYER, BROWN & PLATT

RCB:DTJ

                                    Page 2