<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.23
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                     among

                              THE MAXIM GROUP, INC.

                                  as Borrower,

                                       AND

                    THE DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER

                                 as Guarantors,

                                       AND

                         THE LENDERS IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

                                       AND

                               NATIONSBANK, N.A.,

                             as Administrative Agent

                                       AND

                             SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA

                             as Documentation Agent

                                       AND

                               FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                   as Co-Agent

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 25, 1998



<PAGE>   2




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


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

SECTION 2  CREDIT FACILITIES.....................................................................................26
         2.1 Revolving Loans.....................................................................................26
         2.2 Letter of Credit Subfacility........................................................................28
         2.3 Stand Alone Letter of Credit Facility...............................................................32
         2.4 Indemnification of Issuing Lender...................................................................35
         2.5 Continuations and Conversions.......................................................................36
         2.6 Minimum Amounts.....................................................................................37

SECTION 3  GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT..........................................37
         3.1 Interest............................................................................................37
         3.2 Place and Manner of Payments........................................................................37
         3.3 Prepayments.........................................................................................38
         3.4 Fees................................................................................................39
         3.5 Payment in full at Maturity.........................................................................40
         3.6 Computations of Interest and Fees...................................................................40
         3.7 Pro Rata Treatment..................................................................................41
         3.8 Sharing of Payments.................................................................................42
         3.9 Capital Adequacy....................................................................................43
         3.10 Inability To Determine Interest Rate...............................................................43
         3.11 Illegality.........................................................................................44
         3.12 Requirements of Law................................................................................44
         3.13 Taxes..............................................................................................45
         3.14 Compensation.......................................................................................47
         3.15 Evidence of Debt...................................................................................48
         3.16 Replacement of Lenders.............................................................................48

SECTION 4  GUARANTY..............................................................................................49
         4.1 Guaranty of Payment.................................................................................49
         4.2 Obligations Unconditional...........................................................................49
         4.3 Modifications.......................................................................................50
         4.4 Waiver of Rights....................................................................................51
         4.5 Reinstatement.......................................................................................51
         4.6 Remedies............................................................................................51
         4.7 Limitation of Guaranty..............................................................................51
         4.8 Rights of Contribution..............................................................................52
</TABLE>


                                        i
<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                     <C>
SECTION 5  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..................................................................................52
         5.1 Closing Conditions..................................................................................52
         5.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit..............................................................56

SECTION 6  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................................57
         6.1 Financial Condition.................................................................................57
         6.2 No Material Change..................................................................................57
         6.3 Organization and Good Standing......................................................................57
         6.4 Due Authorization...................................................................................58
         6.5 No Conflicts........................................................................................58
         6.6 Consents............................................................................................58
         6.7 Enforceable Obligations.............................................................................58
         6.8 No Default..........................................................................................59
         6.9 Ownership...........................................................................................59
         6.10 Indebtedness.......................................................................................59
         6.11 Litigation.........................................................................................59
         6.12 Taxes..............................................................................................59
         6.13 Compliance with Law................................................................................59
         6.14 ERISA..............................................................................................60
         6.15 Subsidiaries.......................................................................................61
         6.16 Use of Proceeds....................................................................................61
         6.17 Government Regulation..............................................................................61
         6.18 Environmental Matters..............................................................................62
         6.19 Intellectual Property..............................................................................63
         6.20 Solvency...........................................................................................64
         6.21 Investments........................................................................................64
         6.22 Location of Collateral.............................................................................64
         6.23 Disclosure.........................................................................................64
         6.24 Licenses, etc......................................................................................64
         6.25 Collateral Documents...............................................................................65
         6.26 Burdensome Restrictions............................................................................65

SECTION 7  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.................................................................................66
         7.1 Information Covenants...............................................................................66
         7.2 Financial Covenants.................................................................................70
         7.3 Preservation of Existence and Franchises............................................................70
         7.4 Books and Records...................................................................................70
         7.5 Compliance with Law.................................................................................71
         7.6 Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.............................................................71
         7.7 Insurance...........................................................................................71
         7.8 Maintenance of Property.............................................................................72
         7.9 Performance of Obligations..........................................................................72
         7.10 Collateral.........................................................................................72
         7.11 Use of Proceeds....................................................................................73
         7.12 Audits/Inspections.................................................................................73
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4


<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                                     <C>
         7.13 Additional Credit Parties..........................................................................73
         7.14 Purchase Agreement.................................................................................74
         7.15 Year 2000 Compliance...............................................................................74

SECTION 8  NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................................................74
         8.1 Indebtedness........................................................................................74
         8.2 Liens...............................................................................................76
         8.3 Nature of Business..................................................................................76
         8.4 Consolidation and Merger............................................................................76
         8.5 Sale or Lease of Assets.............................................................................77
         8.6 Sale Leasebacks.....................................................................................77
         8.7 Advances, Investments and Loans.....................................................................78
         8.8 Restricted Payments.................................................................................78
         8.9 Transactions with Affiliates........................................................................78
         8.10 Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents..............................................................78
         8.11 No Limitations.....................................................................................78
         8.12 No Other Negative Pledges..........................................................................79
         8.13 Limitation on Foreign Operations...................................................................79
         8.14 Capital Expenditures...............................................................................79
         8.15 Prepayments of Indebtedness........................................................................79
         8.16 Subordinated Debt..................................................................................80
         8.17 Limitation on Store Openings.......................................................................80

SECTION 9  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.....................................................................................80
         9.1 Events of Default...................................................................................80
         9.2 Acceleration; Remedies..............................................................................83
         9.3 Allocation of Payments After Event of Default.......................................................84

SECTION 10  AGENCY PROVISIONS....................................................................................85
         10.1 Appointment........................................................................................85
         10.2 Delegation of Duties...............................................................................86
         10.3 Exculpatory Provisions.............................................................................86
         10.4 Reliance on Communications.........................................................................87
         10.5 Notice of Default..................................................................................87
         10.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.............................................88
         10.7 Indemnification....................................................................................88
         10.8 Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity....................................................89
         10.9 Successor Administrative Agent.....................................................................89

SECTION 11  MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................................89
         11.1 Notices............................................................................................89
         11.2 Right of Set-Off...................................................................................90
         11.3 Benefit of Agreement...............................................................................90
         11.4 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.....................................................................93
         11.5 Payment of Expenses; Indemnification...............................................................93
</TABLE>


                                      iii
<PAGE>   5


<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                                                     <C>
         11.6 Amendments, Waivers and Consents...................................................................94
         11.7 Counterparts/Telecopy..............................................................................95
         11.8 Headings...........................................................................................95
         11.9 Defaulting Lender..................................................................................96
         11.10 Survival of Indemnification and Representations and Warranties....................................96
         11.11 Governing Law; Jurisdiction.......................................................................96
         11.12 Waiver of Jury Trial..............................................................................97
         11.13 Time..............................................................................................97
         11.14 Severability......................................................................................97
         11.15 Further Assurances................................................................................97
         11.16 Confidentiality...................................................................................97
         11.17 Entirety..........................................................................................98
         11.18 Binding Effect; Continuing Agreement..............................................................98
</TABLE>


SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.1(a)   Commitment Percentages
Schedule 1.1(b)   Indenture Default
Schedule 1.1(c)   Permitted Liens
Schedule 2.2(c)   Existing Revolving Letters of Credit
Schedule 2.3(c)   Existing Stand Alone Letter of Credit
Schedule 6.10     Indebtedness
Schedule 6.15     Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.19     Intellectual Property
Schedule 6.22(a)  Real Property Locations
Schedule 6.22(b)  Personal Property Locations
Schedule 6.22(c)  Chief Executive Offices
Schedule 7.7      Insurance
Schedule 11.1     Notices



EXHIBITS

Exhibit 2.1(b)    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit 2.1(f)    Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit 2.5       Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
Exhibit 7.1(c)    Form of Officer's Certificate
Exhibit 7.13      Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit 10.1(b)   Form of Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit 11.3(b)   Form of Assignment Agreement



                                       iv
<PAGE>   6



                                CREDIT AGREEMENT



         THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Credit Agreement"), is entered into as of
November 25, 1998 among THE MAXIM GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), each of the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower (individually a
"Guarantor" and collectively the "Guarantors"), the Lenders (as defined herein)
and NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such
capacity, the "Administrative Agent"), SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, as Documentation
Agent (in such capacity, the "Documentation Agent") and FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as
Co-Agent (in such capacity, the "Co-Agent").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Guarantors have requested the Lenders to
provide a senior secured credit facility in an amount up to $126 million; and

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

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


                                    SECTION 1

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

         1.1      Definitions.

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

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

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

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

                  "Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such
         term in the heading hereof (or any successor thereto) or any successor
         agent appointed pursuant to Section 10.9.




<PAGE>   7


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

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

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
                                                                                                      Applicable Percentage
                                         Applicable          Applicable       Applicable Percentage    for Commitment Fees
  Pricing           Leverage           Percentage for      Percentage for     for Standby Letter of    and Trade Letter of
   Level             Ratio            Eurodollar Loans    Base Rate Loans          Credit Fees             Credit Fees
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
<S>                 <C>               <C>                 <C>                 <C>                     <C>
     I              <2.25 to 1.0            .75%                 0%                   .75%                     .20%
                    =
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
     II             <2.75 to 1.0 but        1.0%                 0%                   1.0%                     .25%
                    =
                    >2.25 to 1.0
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
    III             <3.25 to 1.0 but       1.25%                 0%                   1.25%                    .25%
                    =
                    >2.75 to 1.0
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
     IV             <3.75 to 1.0 but       1.50%                 0%                   1.50%                   .375%
                    =
                    >3.25 to 1.0
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
     V              >3.75 to 1.0           1.75%                .25%                  1.75%                   .375%
------------- ---------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------
</TABLE>

                  The Applicable Percentage for Loans, the Standby Letter of
         Credit Fees, the Trade Letter of Credit Fees and the Commitment Fees
         shall, in each case, be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date
         (each a "Calculation Date") five Business Days after the date by which
         the Borrower is required to provide the officer's certificate in
         accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1(c); provided that the
         initial Applicable Percentage for Loans, the Letter of Credit Fees and
         the Commitment Fees shall be based on Pricing Level V (as shown above)
         and shall remain at Pricing Level V until the first Calculation Date
         subsequent to the Closing Date, and, thereafter, the Applicable
         Percentage shall be determined by the Leverage Ratio calculated as of
         the most recent Calculation Date; and provided further that if the
         Borrower fails to provide the officer's certificate required by Section
         7.1(c) on or before the most recent Calculation Date, the Applicable
         Percentage for Loans, the Standby Letter of Credit Fees, the Trade
         Letter of Credit Fees and the Commitment Fees from such Calculation
         Date shall be based on Pricing Level V until such time that an
         appropriate officer's certificate is provided whereupon the Applicable



                                       2
<PAGE>   8


         Percentage shall be determined by the then current Leverage Ratio. Each
         Applicable Percentage shall be effective from one Calculation Date
         until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Applicable
         Percentage shall be applicable to all existing Loans and Letters of
         Credit as well as any new Loans made or Letters of Credit issued.

                  The Borrower shall promptly deliver to the Administrative
         Agent, at the address set forth on Schedule 11.1 and at the Agency
         Services Address, at the time the officer's certificate is required to
         be delivered by Section 7.1(c), information regarding any change in the
         Leverage Ratio that would change the existing Applicable Percentage
         pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

                  "Asset Coverage Ratio" means with respect to the Maxim Group
         Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of each fiscal quarter
         of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) the sum of Eligible Receivables plus
         Eligible Inventory on such date to (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate
         amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date plus (ii) the
         aggregate amount available to be drawn under trade Revolving Letters of
         Credit on such date.

                  "Asset Disposition" means the disposition of any or all of the
         assets of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries whether by sale,
         lease, transfer or otherwise, other than (a) transfers of assets
         permitted by Section 8.5 and (b) losses of assets or destroyed assets
         permitted by clauses (a) and (b) of Section 7.7.

                  "Bankruptcy Code" means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the
         United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from
         time to time.

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

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

                  "Bonds" means those Revenue Bonds (Image Industries, Inc.,
         Project), Series 1997 in the original aggregate principal amount of
         $30,000,000 issued by Development Authority of the City of Summerville,
         Georgia.




                                       3
<PAGE>   9


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

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

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

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

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

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





                                       4
<PAGE>   10


         the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character
         described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

                  "Change of Control" means either of the following: (a) any
         "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of
         the Exchange Act), has become, directly or indirectly, the "beneficial
         owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act,
         except that a Person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of
         all shares that any such Person has the right to acquire, whether such
         right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), by
         way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, of 25% or more of the Voting
         Stock of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis, after giving effect to
         the conversion and exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and
         other securities of the Borrower (whether or not such securities are
         then currently convertible or exercisable); or (b) during any period of
         two consecutive calendar years, individuals who at the beginning of
         such period constituted the board of directors of the Borrower cease
         for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors of the
         Borrower then in office unless such new directors were elected by the
         directors of the Borrower who constituted the board of directors of the
         Borrower at the beginning of such period.

                  "Closing Date" means the date hereof.

                  "Co-Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
         heading hereof, together with any successors and assigns.

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

                  "Collateral" means all assets of the Credit Parties in which,
         pursuant to the Collateral Documents, a Lien has been granted in favor
         of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders.

                  "Collateral Documents" means the Security Agreements, the
         Pledge Agreements, and such other documents executed and delivered in
         connection with the attachment and perfection of the Administrative
         Agent's security interests in the assets of the Credit Parties,
         including without limitation, the UCC financing statements.

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

                  "Commitments" means (i) with respect to each Lender, the
         Revolving Loan Commitment and (ii) with respect to the Issuing Lender,
         the LOC Commitment and the Stand Alone LOC Commitment.

                  "Credit Documents" means this Credit Agreement, the Notes, any
         Joinder Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the LOC Documents, and all
         other related





                                       5
<PAGE>   11


         agreements and documents issued or delivered hereunder or thereunder or
         pursuant hereto or thereto.

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

                  "Credit Party Obligations" means, without duplication, (a) all
         of the obligations of the Credit Parties to the Lenders (including the
         Issuing Lender) and the Administrative Agent, whenever arising, under
         this Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Documents or any of
         the other Credit Documents to which any Credit Party is a party and (b)
         all liabilities and obligations owing from such Credit Party to any
         Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, arising under Hedging Agreements.

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

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

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

                  "Documentation Agent" shall have the meaning assigned to such
         term in the heading hereof, together with any successors or assigns.

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

                  "Domestic Subsidiary" means each direct and indirect
         Subsidiary of the Borrower that is domiciled, incorporated or organized
         under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of
         Columbia whether existing as of the date hereof or hereafter created or
         acquired. As of the Closing Date, the Domestic Subsidiaries are as set
         forth on Schedule 6.15.

                  "EBITDA" means, for any period, with respect to the Maxim
         Group Parties on a consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of
         (a) Net Income for such period (excluding the effect of any
         extraordinary or other non-recurring gains (including any gain from the
         sale of property) or non-cash losses) plus (b) an amount which, in the
         determination of Net Income for such period has been deducted for (i)
         Interest Expense for such period, (ii) total Federal, state, foreign or
         other income or franchise taxes for such period and (iii) all
         depreciation and amortization for such period, all as determined in




                                       6
<PAGE>   12


         accordance with GAAP plus (c) for the fiscal quarter ending July 31,
         1998, $33,000,000 in non-cash charges of the Maxim Group Parties for
         such period.

                  "EBITDAR" means, for any period, with respect to the Maxim
         Group Parties on a consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of
         (a) Net Income for such period (excluding the effect of any
         extraordinary or other non-recurring gains (including any gain from the
         sale of property) or non-cash losses) plus (b) an amount which, in the
         determination of Net Income for such period has been deducted for (i)
         Interest Expense for such period, (ii) total Federal, state, foreign or
         other income or franchise taxes for such period, (iii) all depreciation
         and amortization for such period, and (iv) Rent Expense for such
         period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP plus (c) for the
         fiscal quarter ending July 31, 1998, $33,000,000 in non-cash charges of
         the Maxim Group Parties for such period.

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

                  "Eligible Assignee" means (a) any Lender; (b) an Affiliate of
         a Lender; and (c) any other Person approved by the Administrative Agent
         and the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or
         delayed); provided that (i) the Borrower's consent is not required
         during the existence and continuation of an Event of Default, (ii)
         approval by the Borrower shall be deemed given if no objection is
         received by the assigning Lender and the Administrative Agent from the
         Borrower within two Business Days after notice of such proposed
         assignment has been received by the Borrower; and (iii) neither the
         Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible
         Assignee.

                  "Eligible Inventory" means, as of any date of determination
         and without duplication, the lower of (a) the aggregate book value
         (based on a FIFO or a moving average cost valuation, consistently
         applied) or (b) fair market value of all raw materials and finished
         goods inventory owned by any Maxim Group Party and in which
         NationsBank, in its capacity as agent for the benefit of the Lenders
         and the TROL Lenders has a first priority security interest, in either
         case, less appropriate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP, but
         excluding in any event (a) inventory subject to any Lien other than
         liens in favor of NationsBank, in its capacity as agent for the benefit
         of the Lenders and the TROL Lenders, (b) inventory which is not in good
         condition or fails to meet standards for sale or use imposed by
         governmental agencies, departments or divisions having regulatory
         authority over such goods, (c) inventory which is discontinued or not
         useable or saleable at prices approximating their cost in the ordinary
         course of the applicable Maxim Group Party's business (including
         without duplication the amount of any reserves for obsolescence,
         unsalability or decline in value), (d) inventory located outside of the
         United States, (e) inventory located at a location not owned or leased
         by the applicable Maxim Group Party unless the Administrative Agent has
         received a waiver and estoppel agreement, reasonably satisfactory to
         the Administrative Agent, from the owner/operator of such location,
         and, if deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent, a UCC financing




                                       7
<PAGE>   13


         statement has been filed with respect to such location, (f) inventory
         located at a location leased by the applicable Maxim Group Party at
         which such Maxim Group Party maintains in excess of $400,000 of
         inventory and with respect to which the Administrative Agent shall not
         have received a landlord's waiver and estoppel agreement in a form
         reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (g) inventory
         which is leased or on consignment.

                  "Eligible Receivables" means, at any time, the aggregate book
         value of all accounts receivable, receivables, and obligations for
         payment created or arising from the sale of inventory or the rendering
         of services in the ordinary course of business (collectively, the
         "Receivables") owned by or owing to the Maxim Group Parties, net of
         allowances and reserves for doubtful or uncollectible accounts and
         sales adjustments consistent with the Borrower's internal policies and
         in any event in accordance with GAAP but excluding in any event (i)
         Receivables subject to any Lien, other than Liens securing Credit Party
         Obligations and Liens in favor of NationsBank, in its capacity as agent
         for the benefit of the TROL Lenders, (ii) Receivables which are more
         than 90 days past due (net of reserves for bad debts in connection with
         any such Receivables), (iii) Receivables for which any Maxim Retail
         Party is the account debtor and (iv) Receivables owing by an account
         debtor located outside of the United States (unless payment for the
         goods shipped is secured by an irrevocable letter of credit in a form
         and from an institution acceptable to the Administrative Agent). It is
         specifically understood and agreed that the accounts receivable and
         receivables purchased or established by GE Capital under the GE Capital
         Program and accounts receivable and receivables purchased or
         established by Monogram under the Monogram Program are not owned or
         owing to the Credit Parties, and therefore will not be included in the
         definition of Eligible Receivables.

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

                  "Environmental Laws" means any current or future legal
         requirement of any Governmental Authority pertaining to (a) the
         protection of health, safety, and the indoor or outdoor environment,
         (b) the conservation, management, or use of natural resources and
         wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water and groundwater or
         (d) the management, manufacture, possession, presence, use, generation,
         transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release, threatened
         release, abatement, removal, remediation or handling of, or exposure
         to, any hazardous or toxic substance or material or (e) pollution
         (including any release to land surface water and groundwater) and
         includes, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
         Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as



                                       8
<PAGE>   14


         amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42
         USC 9601 et seq., Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource
         Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and Hazardous and Solid Waste
         Amendments of 1984, 42 USC 6901 et seq., Federal Water Pollution
         Control Act, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 USC 1251 et
         seq., Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended, 42 USC 7401 et seq., Toxic
         Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 USC 2601 et seq., Hazardous
         Materials Transportation Act, 49 USC App. 1801 et seq., Occupational
         Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 USC 651 et seq., Oil
         Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC 2701 et seq., Emergency Planning and
         Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 USC 11001 et seq., National
         Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 et seq., Safe Drinking
         Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 USC 300(f) et seq., any analogous
         implementing or successor law, and any amendment, rule, regulation,
         order, or directive issued thereunder.

                  "Equity Issuance" means any issuance by a Credit Party to any
         Person of (a) shares of its capital stock or other equity interests,
         (b) any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests pursuant
         to the exercise of options or warrants or (c) any shares of its capital
         stock or other equity interests pursuant to the conversion of any debt
         securities to equity.

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

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

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

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

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

                  "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day, that
         percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect from time to
         time under Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
         Reserve System (or any successor), as such regulation may be amended
         from time to time or any successor regulation, as the maximum reserve
         requirement (including, without limitation, any basic, supplemental,
         emergency, special, or marginal reserves) applicable with respect to
         Eurocurrency liabilities as that term is defined in Regulation D




                                       9
<PAGE>   15


         (or against any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by
         reference to which the interest rate of Eurodollar Loans is
         determined), whether or not a Lender has any Eurocurrency liabilities
         subject to such reserve requirement at that time. Eurodollar Loans
         shall be deemed to constitute Eurocurrency liabilities and as such
         shall be deemed subject to reserve requirements without benefits of
         credits for proration, exceptions or offsets that may be available from
         time to time to a Lender. The Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted
         automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the
         Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

                  "Event of Default" means any of the events or circumstances
         specified in Section 9.1.

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

                  "Executive Officer" means any chief executive officer, chief
         operating officer, executive vice president of finance, chief financial
         officer, president, vice president or treasurer of the Borrower.

                  "Existing Revolving Letters of Credit" means the letters of
         credit described on Schedule 2.2(c).

                  "Existing Stand Alone Letter of Credit" means the letter of
         credit described on Schedule 2.3(c).

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

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

                  "Fee Letter" means that certain letter agreement among the
         Borrower, NMS and the Administrative Agent dated as of August 4, 1998.



                                       10
<PAGE>   16


                  "First Tier Foreign Subsidiary" means each Foreign Subsidiary
         which is owned directly by a Credit Party.

                  "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Borrower or
         any other Credit Party that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

                  "Funded Debt" means, with respect to any Person without
         duplication, the sum of (a) all Indebtedness of such Person for
         borrowed money, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness of such Person, (c)
         the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Capital
         Leases, (d) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the
         face amount of all letters of credit (other than letters of credit
         supporting inventory purchases in the ordinary course of business),
         whether or not drawn, and banker's acceptances issued for the account
         of such Person (it being understood that, to the extent an undrawn
         letter of credit supports another obligation consisting of
         Indebtedness, in calculating aggregated Indebtedness only such other
         obligation shall be included), (e) all Guaranty Obligations of such
         Person with respect to Funded Debt of another Person, (f) all Funded
         Debt of another entity secured by a Lien on any property of such Person
         whether or not such Funded Debt has been assumed by such Person, (g)
         all Funded Debt of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture to
         the extent such Person is legally obligated or has a reasonable
         expectation of being liable with respect thereto, net of any assets of
         such partnership or joint venture and (h) the principal portion of all
         obligations of such Person under Synthetic Leases (including without
         limitation the principal portion of obligations due under the
         Participation Agreement and the Operative Agreements (as defined in the
         Participation Agreement)).

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

                  "GE Capital" means General Electric Capital Corporation, a
         New York corporation.

                  "GE Capital Dealer Agreement" means any Shaw Business
         Revolving Credit Card Program Business Revolving Charge Dealer
         Agreement by and among Maxim Retail, C&S Textiles, Inc., the Borrower
         and GE Capital and any other credit card program revolving charge
         dealer agreement entered into by and among Maxim Retail, C&S Textiles,
         Borrower and GE Capital.

                  "GE Capital Program" means any program established by GE
         Capital under which GE Capital extends credit to certain customers of
         Maxim Retail and C&S Textiles, Inc. for the purchase of goods, services
         and other products from Maxim Retail and C&S Textiles, Inc.

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


                                       11
<PAGE>   17


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

                  "Guaranty Obligations" means, with respect to any Person,
         without duplication, any obligations (other than endorsements in the
         ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or
         collection) guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person in any
         manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation
         any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such
         Indebtedness or other obligation or any property constituting security
         therefor, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the
         payment or purchase of such Indebtedness or obligation or to maintain
         working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such
         other Person (including, without limitation, maintenance agreements,
         comfort letters, take or pay arrangements, put agreements or similar
         agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of the holder of
         Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or purchase property,
         securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner
         of such Indebtedness or (d) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the
         owner of such Indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect
         thereof. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject
         to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal
         to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if
         larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty
         Obligation is made.

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

                  "Hedging Agreements" means any interest rate protection
         agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements, or other interest or
         exchange rate hedging agreements, in each case, entered into or
         purchased by a Credit Party by or from any Lender or any Affiliate of
         any Lender.

                  "Image Industries" means Image Industries, Inc., a Delaware
         corporation.

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a)
         all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations
         of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
         instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made (c)
         all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
         retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to
         the extent of the value of such property (other than customary
         reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers
         entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations,
         other than intercompany items, of such Person issued or assumed as the
         deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such
         Person which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such
         Person, (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the
         holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
         otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the
         proceeds of production from, property owned or acquired by such Person,
         whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f)
         all



                                       12
<PAGE>   18


         Guaranty Obligations of such Person, (g) the principal portion of all
         obligations of such Person under (i) Capital Leases and (ii) Synthetic
         Leases, (h) all net obligations of such Person in respect of hedging
         agreements, foreign currency exchange obligations, and commodity
         futures agreements, (i) the maximum amount of all performance and
         standby letters of credit issued or bankers' acceptances facilities
         created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all
         drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (j) all preferred
         stock issued by such Person and required by the terms thereof to be
         redeemed, or for which mandatory sinking fund payments are due by a
         fixed date, (k) the aggregate amount of uncollected accounts receivable
         of such Person subject at such time to a sale of receivables (or
         similar transaction) regardless of whether such transaction is effected
         without recourse to such Person or in a manner that would not be
         reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP,
         and (l) all obligations of such Person to repurchase any securities
         which repurchase obligation is related to the issuance thereof,
         including, without limitation, obligations commonly known as residual
         equity appreciation potential shares. The Indebtedness of any Person
         shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated
         joint venture in which such Person is legally obligated. The
         Indebtedness of any Person shall not include any obligations of such
         Person under Operating Leases which are not Capital Leases or Synthetic
         Leases.

                  "Indenture" means that certain Indenture dated as of October
         16, 1997 among the Borrower, as issuer, the Borrower and certain
         Subsidiaries of the Borrower, as guarantors and State Street Bank and
         Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be modified, supplemented or
         amended from time to time.

                  "Indenture Default" means the existing default by the Credit
         Parties in the performance or observance of Section 1009 of the
         Indenture described in Schedule 1.1(b), which default has been
         disclosed to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date.

                  "Intercreditor Agreement" means that certain Intercreditor
         Subordination Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the
         Administrative Agent, NationsBank, in its capacity as agent under the
         Participation Agreement, NationsBank, in its capacity as agent under
         the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement, NationsBank, in its capacity as
         collateral agent for the Lenders and TROL Lenders under the Pledge
         Agreements and Security Agreements.

                  "Interest Coverage Ratio" means with respect to the Maxim
         Group Parties on a consolidated basis for the twelve month period
         ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio
         of (a) EBITDAR to (b) the sum of Interest Expense plus Rent Expense.

                  "Interest Expense" means, for any period, with respect to the
         Maxim Group Parties on a consolidated basis, all interest expense,
         including the interest component under Capital Leases, as determined in
         accordance with GAAP.

                  "Interest Payment Date" means (a) as to Base Rate Loans, the
         last day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date and (b) as to
         Eurodollar Loans, the last day of each



                                       13
<PAGE>   19


         applicable Interest Period and the Maturity Date, and in addition where
         the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan is greater than
         three months, then also the date three months from the beginning of the
         Interest Period and each three months thereafter.

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

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

                  "Issuing Lender" means NationsBank, N.A. or any successor
         Administrative Agent.

                  "Issuing Lender Fees" has the meaning set forth in Section
         3.4(d).

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

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

                  "Letter of Credit" means any standby or trade Letter of Credit
         (including without limitation the Revolving Letters of Credit and Stand
         Alone Letter of Credit) issued for the account of a Credit Party by the
         Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2 or 2.4 hereof or any Existing
         Letter of Credit, as such letter of credit may be amended, modified,
         extended, renewed or replaced.

                  "Leverage Ratio" means, with respect to the Maxim Group
         Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of each fiscal quarter
         of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) total Funded Debt on such date to (b)
         EBITDA for the twelve month period ending on such date.


                                       14
<PAGE>   20


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

                  "Loan" or "Loans" means the Revolving Loans (or a portion of
         any Revolving Loan), individually or collectively, as appropriate.

                  "LOC Committed Amount" means FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
         ($5,000,000).

                  "LOC Commitment" means the commitment of the Issuing Lender to
         issue Letters of Credit for the account of a Credit Party in an
         aggregate face amount any time outstanding (together with the amounts
         of any unreimbursed drawings thereon) of up to the LOC Committed
         Amount.

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

                  "LOC Obligations" means the Stand Alone LOC Obligations and
         the Revolving LOC Obligations.

                  "LOC Participants" means the Lenders.

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


                                       15
<PAGE>   21


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

                  "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on
         (a) the operations, financial condition, business or prospects of the
         Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability
         of a Credit Party to perform its obligations under this Credit
         Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, or (c) the validity or
         enforceability of this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit
         Documents, or the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder or
         thereunder taken as a whole.

                  "Maturity Date" means November 25, 2003.

                  "Maxim Group Parties" means a collective reference to the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Maxim Retail and its
         Subsidiaries) and "Maxim Group Party" means any one of them.

                  "Maxim Retail" means Maxim Retail Stores, Inc., a Georgia
         corporation.

                  "Maxim Retail Credit Agreement" that certain Credit Agreement,
         dated as of the date hereof, among Maxim Retail, certain subsidiaries
         of Maxim Retail, the lenders party thereto and NationsBank, as agent,
         as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

                  "Maxim Retail Committed Amount" means the Revolving Committed
         Amount (as defined in the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement).

                  "Maxim Retail Lenders" means the Lenders (as defined in the
         Maxim Retail Credit Agreement).

                  "Maxim Retail Loans" means the Loans (as defined in the Maxim
         Retail Credit Agreement).

                  "Maxim Retail LOC Obligations" means the LOC Obligations (as
         defined in the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement).

                  "Maxim Retail Parties" means a collective reference to Maxim
         Retail and its Subsidiaries and "Maxim Retail Party" means any one of
         them.

                  "Monogram" means Monogram Credit Card Bank of Georgia.

                  "Monogram Program" means any program established by Monogram
         under which Monogram may extend credit to certain customers of Maxim
         Retail and C&S Textiles, Inc. for the purchase of goods, services and
         other products from Maxim Retail and C&S Textiles, Inc.


                                       16
<PAGE>   22


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

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

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

                  "NationsBank" means NationsBank, N.A. or any successor
         thereto.

                  "Net Cash Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received
         from an Asset Disposition, an Equity Issuance or a Debt Issuance net of
         (a) reasonable transaction costs payable to third parties, and (b)
         taxes paid or a good faith estimate of the taxes payable with respect
         to such proceeds.

                  "Net Income" means, for any period, the net income after taxes
         for such period of the Maxim Group Parties on a consolidated basis, as
         determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Net Worth" means, as of any date, shareholders' equity or net
         worth of the Maxim Group Parties on a consolidated basis, as determined
         in accordance with GAAP.

                  "NMS" means NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC.

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

                  "Note" or "Notes" means the Revolving Notes, individually or
         collectively, as appropriate.

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

                  "Notice of Continuation/Conversion" means a request by the
         Borrower to continue an existing Eurodollar Loan to a new Interest
         Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan or a Base
         Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, in the form of Exhibit 2.5.

                  "Operating Lease" means, as applied to any Person, any lease
         (including, without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the
         lessee at any time) of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed)
         which is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease in which that
         Person is the lessor.

                  "Participation Agreement" means that certain Participation
         Agreement dated as of November 25, 1998 among the Borrower, as
         construction agent and lessee, the guarantors



                                       17
<PAGE>   23


         party thereto, First Security Bank, National Association, as owner
         trustee, the lenders identified therein, as holders, the lenders
         identified therein, as lenders and NationsBank, as agent, as amended or
         modified from time to time.

                  "Participation Interest" means the Extension of Credit by a
         Lender by way of a purchase of a participation in Letters of Credit or
         LOC Obligations as provided in Section 2.2 or in any Loans as provided
         in Section 2.3 or Section 3.8.

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

                  "Permitted Acquisition" means the acquisition by a Maxim Group
         Party of all or a majority of the capital stock of another Person or
         all or substantially all of the business or a line of business of
         another Person, provided that each of the following conditions are
         satisfied: (a) prior to such acquisition, the Borrower shall deliver to
         the Administrative Agent and Lenders evidence reasonably satisfactory
         to the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders demonstrating that
         after giving effect to such acquisition, including without limitation,
         any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by such Maxim Group Party as a
         result of such acquisition, on a pro forma basis, as if such
         acquisition had occurred on the first day of the twelve month period
         ending on the last day of the Borrower's most recently completed fiscal
         quarter, the Maxim Group Parties would have been in compliance with all
         the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.2, (b) simultaneously
         with any such acquisition, the Borrower shall have taken all action
         required under applicable law, or reasonably requested by the
         Administrative Agent, to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the
         benefit of the Lenders, a valid and perfected first-priority security
         interest in all the assets acquired pursuant to such acquisition, (c)
         the acquisition is consummated pursuant to a negotiated acquisition
         agreement and involves the purchase of a company, business or property
         in the same line of business as the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
         Borrower, (d) the cash consideration paid in any single acquisition
         does not exceed $10,000,000 and the cash consideration paid in the
         aggregate for all such acquisitions in any fiscal year of the Borrower
         does not exceed $20,000,000, (e) the total cash and non-cash
         consideration (including, without limitation, Indebtedness assumed in
         connection with any single acquisition) paid in any single acquisition
         does not exceed $20,000,000 and the total cash and non-cash
         consideration (including, without limitation, Indebtedness assumed in
         connection with any single acquisition) paid in the aggregate for all
         such acquisitions in any fiscal year of the Borrower does not exceed
         $40,000,000, (f) after giving effect to the acquisition, the
         representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 hereof shall be
         true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such
         acquisition with the same effect as though made on and as of such date,
         (g) no Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing or would
         result from such acquisition.

                  "Permitted Investments" means Investments which are (a) cash
         or Cash Equivalents, (b) accounts receivable created, acquired or made
         in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in
         accordance with customary trade terms, (c) inventory, raw materials,
         furniture, fixtures, equipment and general intangibles acquired in the
         ordinary



                                       18
<PAGE>   24


         course of business, (d) subject to the terms of Section 8.14 and
         Section 8.17, leasehold improvements acquired in the ordinary course of
         business, (e) Investments by a Credit Party in any Maxim Group Party,
         (f) loans to directors, officers or employees (i) of any Maxim Group
         Party in the ordinary course of business for reasonable business
         expenses, not to exceed, in the aggregate, $1,000,000 at any one time
         and (ii) of any Maxim Retail Party in the ordinary course of business
         for reasonable business expenses, not to exceed, in the aggregate,
         $250,000 at any one time, (g) Permitted Acquisitions, (h) the purchase,
         redemption, acquisition or retirement by the Borrower of any shares of
         its capital stock of any class or any warrants or options to purchase
         any such shares in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, the sum
         of (i) $10,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of Net Income earned subsequent to
         January 31, 1999, (i) loans to franchisees so long as (after giving
         effect to such proposed loan) (i) the amount of any single such loan by
         the Borrower or any Subsidiary does not exceed $2,000,000 and (ii) the
         aggregate amount of such loans to franchisees by the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries does not exceed $12,000,000 in the aggregate during the
         term of this Credit Agreement; (j) other Investments (in addition to
         those set forth above) not to exceed, in the aggregate, $500,000 at any
         one time.

                  "Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens securing Credit Party
         Obligations, (b) Liens securing the obligations of the Maxim Retail
         Parties under the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement and the Credit
         Documents (as defined in the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement), (c) Liens
         securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(j), (d) Liens for taxes
         not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by
         appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in
         accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the
         property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure,
         sale, collection, levy or loss on account thereof), (e) Liens in
         respect of property imposed by law arising in the ordinary course of
         business such as materialmen's, mechanics', warehousemen's, carrier's,
         landlords' and other nonconsensual statutory Liens which are not yet
         due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by
         appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in
         accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the
         property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure,
         sale or loss on account thereof), (f) pledges or deposits made in the
         ordinary course of business to secure payment of worker's compensation
         insurance, unemployment insurance, pensions or social security
         programs, (g) Liens arising from good faith deposits in connection with
         or to secure performance of tenders, bids, leases, government
         contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar
         obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than
         obligations in respect of the payment of borrowed money), (h) Liens
         arising from good faith deposits in connection with or to secure
         performance of statutory obligations and surety and appeal bonds, (i)
         easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions),
         matters of plat, minor defects or irregularities in title and other
         similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing
         the use of the encumbered property for its intended purposes, (j)
         judgment Liens that would not constitute an Event of Default, (k) Liens
         in connection with Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(e), (l) Liens
         arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to
         banker's liens, rights of setoff or similar rights as to deposit
         accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository
         institution and (m) Liens existing on



                                       19
<PAGE>   25


         the date hereof and identified on Schedule 1.1(c); provided that no
         such Lien shall extend to any property other than the property subject
         thereto on the Closing Date.

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

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

                  "Pledge Agreements" means any pledge agreement executed and
         delivered by a Credit Party in favor of NationsBank, in its capacity as
         agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the TROL Lenders, to secure
         its obligations under the Credit Documents, the Participation Agreement
         and Operative Agreements (as defined in the Participation Agreement) as
         amended, modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

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

                  "Prior Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement,
         dated as of August 26, 1997, by and among the Borrower and certain of
         its subsidiaries, as borrowers, the lenders referred to therein and
         NationsBank, N.A., as administrative agent (as assignee in interest of
         First Union National Bank), as amended or modified from time to time.

                  "Purchase Agreement" means that certain Agreement and Plan of
         Merger dated as of June 23, 1998 between the Borrower, CMAX
         Acquisition, Inc., a Georgia corporation, Shaw Industries, Inc., a
         Georgia corporation and Shaw Carpet Showplace, Inc., a Georgia
         corporation.

                  "Real Properties" means the real properties that the Credit
         Parties may own or lease (as lessee or sublessee) from third parties
         from time to time.

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


                                       20
<PAGE>   26


                  "Rent Expense" means, for any period, with respect to the
         Maxim Group Parties on a consolidated basis, all rent payable under an
         Operating Lease (whether a lease of real property, personal property or
         mixed), as determined in accordance with GAAP.

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

                  "Required Lenders" means Lenders whose aggregate Credit
         Exposure (as hereinafter defined) constitutes more than 50% of the
         Credit Exposure of all Lenders at such time; provided, however, that if
         any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time then there shall
         be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders the aggregate
         principal amount of Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time. For
         purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "Credit Exposure" as
         applied to each Lender shall mean (a) at any time prior to the
         termination of the Commitments, the sum of (i) the Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage of such Lender multiplied by the Revolving
         Committed Amount plus (ii) the Stand Alone LOC Commitment Percentage of
         such Lender multiplied by the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount and (b)
         at any time after the termination of the Commitments, the sum of (i)
         the principal balance of the outstanding Loans of such Lender plus (ii)
         such Lender's Participation Interests in the face amount of the
         outstanding Letters of Credit.

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

                  "Revolving Committed Amount" means NINETY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
         ($95,000,000) or such lesser amount as the Revolving Committed Amount
         may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.1(d) or 3.3(c).

                  "Revolving Letters of Credit" means the Existing Revolving
         Letters of Credit and any Revolving Letter of Credit issued for the
         account of a Credit Party by the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2
         hereof, as such Revolving Letters of Credit may be amended, modified,
         extended, renewed or replaced.

                  "Revolving Loan Commitment" means, with respect to each
         Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make its portion of the
         Revolving Loans in a principal amount equal to such Lender's Revolving
         Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount.

                  "Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage" means, for each Lender,
         the percentage identified as its Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage
         on Schedule 1.1(a), as such




                                       21
<PAGE>   27


         percentage may be modified in connection with any assignment made in
         accordance with the provisions of Section 11.3.

                  "Revolving Loan Unused Commitment" means, for any period, the
         amount by which (a) the then applicable aggregate Revolving Committed
         Amount exceeds (b) the daily average sum for such period of the
         outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus the
         aggregate amount of Revolving LOC Obligations outstanding.

                  "Revolving Loans" means the Revolving Loans made to the
         Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.

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

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

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

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

                  "Security Agreements" means any security agreement executed
         and delivered by a Credit Party in favor of NationsBank, in its
         capacity as agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the TROL Lenders
         to secure its obligations under the Credit Documents, the Participation
         Agreement and the Operative Agreements (as defined in the Participation
         Agreement) as such may be amended, modified, extended, renewed,
         restated or replaced from time to time.

                  "Shaw Merger Agreement" means that certain Agreement and Plan
         of Merger dated as of June 23, 1998 by and among the Borrower, CMAX
         Acquisition, Inc., a Georgia corporation, Shaw Industries, Inc., a
         Georgia corporation and Shaw Carpet Showplace, Inc., a Georgia
         corporation.


                                       22
<PAGE>   28


                  "Shaw Promissory Note" means that certain Subordinated
         Promissory Note dated August 9, 1998 issued by the Borrower in favor of
         Shaw Industries, Inc. in the amount of $18,048,000.

                  "Shaw Transaction" means the merger of CMAX Acquisition, Inc.,
         a Subsidiary of the Borrower, with and into Shaw Carpet Showplace, Inc.
         in accordance with the Shaw Merger Agreement and the Georgia Business
         Corporation Code.

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

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

                  "Stand Alone Letter of Credit" means (a) the Existing Stand
         Alone Letter of Credit or (b) any letter of credit issued for the
         account of the Borrower or Image Industries by the Issuing Lender
         pursuant to Section 2.3, as such Stand Alone Letter of Credit may be
         amended, modified, extended, renewed or replaced.

                  "Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount" means THIRTY ONE MILLION
         DOLLARS ($31,000,000).

                  "Stand Alone LOC Commitment" means the commitment of the
         Issuing Lender to issue the Stand Alone Letter of Credit in an amount
         at any time outstanding (together with the amounts of unreimbursed
         drawings thereon) of up to the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount.

                  "Stand Alone LOC Commitment Percentage" means, for each
         Lender, the percentage identified as its Stand Alone LOC Commitment
         Percentage on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto, as such percentage may
         be modified in connection with any assignment made in accordance with
         the terms of Section 11.3 hereof.


                                       23
<PAGE>   29


                  "Stand Alone LOC Obligations" means, at any time, the sum of
         (i) the maximum amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become,
         available to be drawn under the Stand Alone Letter of Credit then
         outstanding, assuming compliance with all requirements for drawings
         referred to in such Stand Alone Letter of Credit plus (ii) the
         aggregate amount of all drawings under the Stand Alone Letter of Credit
         honored by the Issuing Lender but not theretofore reimbursed.

                  "Stand Alone LOC Unused Commitment" means, for any period, the
         amount by which (i) the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount exceeds (ii)
         the daily average sum for such period of outstanding Stand Alone LOC
         Obligations.

                  "Standby Letter of Credit Fees" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 3.4(b).

                  "Subordinated Debt" means the Indebtedness evidenced by the
         Indenture or by the guarantees thereof in an aggregate amount not to
         exceed $100,000,000.

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

                  "Synthetic Lease" means any synthetic lease, tax retention
         operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet
         financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money
         indebtedness for tax purposes, but is classified as an Operating Lease.

                  "Synthetic Lease Obligations" means any and all obligations of
         the Borrower, non-existing or hereafter arising under the Participation
         Agreement and/or any other Operative Agreement (as defined in the
         Participation Agreement).

                  "Termination Event" means (a) with respect to any Single
         Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial
         cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of
         ERISA); (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan
         during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term
         is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a
         Multiple Employer Plan; (c) the distribution of a notice of intent to
         terminate or the actual termination of a Plan pursuant to Section
         4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA; (d) the institution of proceedings to
         terminate or the actual termination of a Plan by the PBGC under Section
         4042 of ERISA; (e) any event or condition which might reasonably
         constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of,
         or the




                                       24
<PAGE>   30


         appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; or (f) the complete
         or partial withdrawal of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or
         any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan.

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

                  "TROL Lenders" means the lenders, holders and other Financing
         Parties (as defined in the Participation Agreement) from time to time
         party to the Participation Agreement.

                  "UCP" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(g).

                  "Trade Letter of Credit Fees" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 3.4(c).

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

                  "Year 2000 Problem" means any risk that any computer hardware,
         software or other equipment used by a Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries will not function as effectively and reliably on and after
         January 1, 2000 as it does prior to January 1, 2000, to the extent such
         risk would cause or be reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse
         Effect.

         1.2      Computation of Time Periods and Other Definitional Provisions.

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

         1.3      Accounting Terms.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms
used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates
and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Lenders
hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent
basis. All calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with
this Credit Agreement shall (except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be
made by application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent
annual or quarterly financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 (or,
prior to the delivery of the first financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1,
consistent with the financial statements described in Section 5.1(d); provided,
however, if (a) the Borrower shall object to determining such compliance on such
basis at the time of delivery of such financial statements due to any change in
GAAP or the rules promulgated with respect thereto or (b) the Administrative
Agent or the Required Lenders shall so object in writing within 30 days after
delivery of such financial statements, then such calculations shall be made on a
basis consistent with GAAP as in effect as



                                       25
<PAGE>   31


of the date of the most recent financial statements delivered by the Borrower to
the Lenders to which no such objection shall have been made.


                                    SECTION 2

                                CREDIT FACILITIES

         2.1      Revolving Loans.

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

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

                  (c) Funding of Revolving Loans. Upon receipt of a Notice of
         Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly inform the Lenders
         as to the terms thereof. Each Lender shall make its Revolving Loan
         Commitment Percentage of the requested Revolving Loans available to the
         Administrative Agent by 1:00 p.m. on the date specified in the Notice
         of Borrowing by deposit, in Dollars, of immediately available funds at
         the offices of the Administrative Agent at its principal office in
         Charlotte, North Carolina or at such other




                                       26
<PAGE>   32


         address as the Administrative Agent may designate in writing. The
         amount of the requested Revolving Loans will then be made available to
         the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by crediting the account of
         the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent,
         to the extent the amount of such Revolving Loans are made available to
         the Administrative Agent.

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

                  (d) Reductions of Revolving Committed Amount. Upon at least
         three Business Days' notice, the Borrower shall have the right to
         permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, all or part of the
         aggregate unused amount of the Revolving Committed Amount at any time
         or from time to time; provided that (i) each partial reduction shall be
         in an aggregate amount at least equal to $1,000,000 and in integral
         multiples of $500,000 above such amount and (ii) no reduction shall be
         made which would reduce the Revolving Committed Amount to an amount
         less than the aggregate amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus the
         aggregate amount of outstanding Revolving LOC Obligations plus the
         aggregate amount of outstanding Synthetic Lease Obligations. Any
         reduction in (or termination of) the Revolving Committed Amount shall
         be permanent and may not be reinstated. The Administrative Agent shall
         immediately notify the Lenders of any reduction in the Revolving
         Committed Amount.

                  (e)      Interest.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1,



                                       27
<PAGE>   33


                           (i) Base Rate Loans. During such periods as Revolving
                  Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of Base Rate
                  Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall bear interest at a per annum
                  rate equal to the Adjusted Base Rate.

                           (ii) Eurodollar Loans. During such periods as
                  Revolving Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of
                  Eurodollar Loans, such Eurodollar Loans shall bear interest at
                  a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

                  (f) Revolving Notes. The Revolving Loans made by each Lender
         shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower
         to such Lender in an original principal amount equal to such Lender's
         Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount
         and in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(f).

         2.2      Letter of Credit Subfacility.

                  (a) Issuance. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and
         of the LOC Documents, if any, and any other terms and conditions which
         the Issuing Lender may reasonably require and in reliance upon the
         representations and warranties set forth herein, the Issuing Lender
         shall from time to time upon request issue (from the Effective Date to
         the Maturity Date and in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuing
         Lender), in Dollars, and the LOC Participants shall participate in,
         Revolving Letters of Credit for the account of a Maxim Group Party;
         provided, however, that (i) the aggregate amount of LOC Obligations
         shall not at any time exceed the LOC Committed Amount, (ii) the sum of
         the aggregate amount of Revolving LOC Obligations outstanding plus the
         Revolving Loans outstanding plus the Synthetic Lease Obligations
         outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and (iii)
         with respect to each individual LOC Participant, the LOC Participant's
         pro rata share of outstanding Revolving Loans plus its pro rata share
         of outstanding Revolving LOC Obligations plus its pro rata share of
         Synthetic Lease Obligations shall not exceed such LOC Participant's
         Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Committed Amount.
         The Issuing Lender may require the issuance and expiry date of each
         Revolving Letter of Credit to be a Business Day. Each Revolving Letter
         of Credit shall be a standby letter of credit issued to support the
         obligations (including pension or insurance obligations), contingent or
         otherwise, of a Maxim Group Party or a commercial trade letter of
         credit in respect of the purchase of goods and services by a Maxim
         Group Party in the ordinary course of business. Except as otherwise
         expressly agreed upon by all the LOC Participants, no Revolving Letter
         of Credit shall have an original expiry date more than one year from
         the date of issuance, or as extended, shall have an expiry date
         extending beyond the Maturity Date. Each Revolving Letter of Credit
         shall comply with the related LOC Documents.

                  (b) Notice and Reports. The request for the issuance of a
         Revolving Letter of Credit shall be submitted to the Issuing Lender at
         least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance. The
         Issuing Lender will, at least quarterly and more frequently upon
         request, provide to the Administrative Agent for dissemination to the
         Lenders a detailed report specifying the Revolving Letters of Credit
         which are then issued and



                                       28
<PAGE>   34


         outstanding and any activity with respect thereto which may have
         occurred since the date of the prior report, and including therein,
         among other things, the account party, the beneficiary, the face
         amount, and the expiry date as well as any payments or expirations
         which may have occurred. The Issuing Lender will further provide to the
         Administrative Agent, promptly upon request, copies of the Revolving
         Letters of Credit and the other LOC Documents. Notwithstanding anything
         to the contrary set forth in this Credit Agreement, with respect to any
         Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Maxim Group Party other
         than the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the actual account party for
         all purposes of this Credit Agreement for such Letter of Credit and the
         Borrower shall have the reimbursement obligations hereunder with
         respect to such Letter of Credit.

                  (c)      Participations.

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

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


                                       29
<PAGE>   35


                  (d) Reimbursement. In the event of any drawing under any
         Revolving Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the
         Borrower. Unless the Borrower shall immediately notify the Issuing
         Lender of its intent to otherwise reimburse the Issuing Lender, the
         Borrower shall be deemed to have requested that the Lenders make a
         Revolving Loan in the amount of the drawing as provided in subsection
         (e) below on the related Revolving Letter of Credit, the proceeds of
         which will be used to satisfy the related reimbursement obligations.
         The Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender on the day of drawing
         under any Revolving Letter of Credit with the proceeds of such
         Revolving Loan obtained hereunder or otherwise in same day funds as
         provided herein or in the LOC Documents. If the Borrower shall fail to
         reimburse the Issuing Lender as provided hereinabove, the unreimbursed
         amount of such drawing shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to
         the Base Rate plus the Applicable Percentage for the Base Rate Loans
         that are Revolving Loans plus two percent (2%). The Borrower's
         reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional
         under all circumstances irrespective of (but without waiver of) any
         rights of set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment the applicable
         account party or the Borrower may claim or have against an Issuing
         Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the beneficiary of the
         Revolving Letter of Credit drawn upon or any other Person, including
         without limitation, any defense based on any failure of the applicable
         account party, the Borrower or any other Credit Party to receive
         consideration or the legality, validity, regularity or unenforceability
         of the Revolving Letter of Credit. The Issuing Lender will promptly
         notify the LOC Participants of the amount of any unreimbursed drawing
         and each LOC Participant shall promptly pay to the Issuing Lender, in
         Dollars and in immediately available funds, the amount of such LOC
         Participant's Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of such unreimbursed
         drawing. Such payment shall be made on the day such notice is received
         by such Lender from the Issuing Lender if such notice is received at or
         before 12:00 Noon, otherwise such payment shall be made at or before
         12:00 Noon on the Business Day next succeeding the day such notice is
         received. If such LOC Participant does not pay such amount to the
         Issuing Lender in full upon such request, such LOC Participant shall,
         on demand, pay to the Issuing Lender interest on the unpaid amount
         during the period from the date the LOC Participant received the notice
         regarding the unreimbursed drawing until such LOC Participant pays such
         amount to the Issuing Lender in full at a rate per annum equal to, if
         paid within two Business Days of the date of drawing, the Federal Funds
         Rate and thereafter at a rate equal to the Base Rate. Each LOC
         Participant's obligation to make such payment to the Issuing Lender,
         and the right of the Issuing Lender to receive the same, shall be
         absolute and unconditional, shall not be affected by any circumstance
         whatsoever and without regard to the termination of this Credit
         Agreement or the Commitments hereunder, the existence of a Default or
         Event of Default or the acceleration of the obligations hereunder and
         shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction
         whatsoever. Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a
         LOC Participant to the Issuing Lender, such LOC Participant shall,
         automatically and without any further action on the part of the Issuing
         Lender or such LOC Participant, acquire a participation in an amount
         equal to such payment (excluding the portion of such payment
         constituting interest owing to the Issuing Lender) in the related
         unreimbursed drawing portion of the LOC Obligation and in the



                                       30
<PAGE>   36


         interest thereon and in the related LOC Documents, and shall have a
         claim against the Borrower and the other Credit Parties with respect
         thereto.

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

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

                  (g) Uniform Customs and Practices. The Issuing Lender may have
         the Revolving Letters of Credit be subject to The Uniform Customs and
         Practice for Documentary Credits, as published as of the date of issue
         by the International Chamber of



                                       31
<PAGE>   37


         Commerce (Publication No. 500 or the most recent publication, the
         "UCP"), in which case the UCP may be incorporated therein and deemed in
         all respects to be a part thereof.

                  (h) Responsibility of Issuing Lender. It is expressly
         understood and agreed as between the Lenders that the obligations of
         the Issuing Lender hereunder to the LOC Participants are only those
         expressly set forth in this Credit Agreement and that the Issuing
         Lender shall be entitled to assume that the conditions precedent set
         forth in Section 5.2 have been satisfied unless it shall have acquired
         actual knowledge that any such condition precedent has not been
         satisfied; provided, however, that nothing set forth in this Section
         2.2 shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any LOC Participant to
         recover from the Issuing Lender any amounts made available by such LOC
         Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.2 in the
         event that it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that
         the payment with respect to a Revolving Letter of Credit constituted
         gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing
         Lender.

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

         2.3      Stand Alone Letter of Credit Facility.

                  (a) Issuance. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and
         of the LOC Documents, if any, and any other terms and conditions which
         the Issuing Lender may reasonably require and in reliance upon the
         representations and warranties set forth herein (and subject to the
         provisions of Section 2.3(c)(i) below), the Issuing Lender shall issue
         (from the Effective Date to the Maturity Date and in a form reasonably
         acceptable to the Issuing Lender), in Dollars and the Lenders shall
         participate in, the Stand Alone Letter of Credit for the account of the
         Borrower and Image Industries; provided, however, that the aggregate
         amount of the Stand Alone LOC Obligations shall not at any time exceed
         the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount. The Stand Alone Letter of Credit
         shall be issued to provide a liquidity facility for payment of the
         principal and interest on the Bonds. Except as otherwise expressly
         agreed upon by all the LOC Participants, the Stand Alone Letter of
         Credit shall not have an expiry date extending beyond 30 days prior to
         the Maturity Date. The Stand Alone Letter of Credit shall comply with
         the related LOC Documents. The issuance and expiry date of the Stand
         Alone Letter of Credit shall be a Business Day.

                  (b) Request and Reports. The request for the issuance of the
         Stand Alone Letter of Credit shall be submitted to the Issuing Lender
         at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance.
         The Issuing Lender will, at least quarterly and more frequently upon
         request, provide to the Administrative Agent for dissemination to the
         Lenders a detailed report specifying the activity with respect to the
         Stand Alone Letter of Credit which may have occurred since the date of
         the prior report, and including therein, among other things, the
         account party, the beneficiary, the outstanding balance, and the expiry
         date as well as any payments or expirations which may have occurred.



                                       32
<PAGE>   38


         The Issuing Lender will further provide to the Administrative Agent,
         promptly upon request, copies of the Stand Alone Letter of Credit and
         the other LOC Documents.

                  (c)      Participations.

                                    (i) Each LOC Participant acknowledges and
                  confirms that it has a Participation Interest in the liability
                  of the Issuing Lender under the Stand Alone Letter of Credit
                  in an amount equal to such Lender's Stand Alone LOC Commitment
                  Percentage of the Stand Alone Committed Amount. The Stand
                  Alone Letter of Credit shall be governed by the terms of this
                  Credit Agreement.

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

                  (d) Reimbursement. In the event of any drawing under the Stand
         Alone Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender will promptly notify the
         Borrower. The Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender on the day
         the Issuing Lender pays a drawing under the Stand Alone Letter of
         Credit in same day funds as provided herein or in the LOC Documents;
         provided, however, if, pursuant to the terms of the corresponding LOC
         Documents, any reimbursement obligation with respect to a draw under
         the Stand Alone Letter of Credit is not required to be immediately
         paid, such reimbursement obligation will be payable in accordance with
         the related LOC Documents and will accrue interest, fees, and other
         charges as if such




                                       33
<PAGE>   39


         reimbursement obligation constituted a Base Rate Loan in accordance
         with the terms of this Credit Agreement; and provided further that,
         notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such LOC Documents, if any
         such reimbursement obligation is not immediately due and payable, the
         same shall nonetheless be paid in full on or before the Maturity Date.
         If the Borrower shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender as provided
         hereinabove, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear
         interest at a per annum rate equal to the Base Rate plus four percent
         (4%) and shall constitute an Event of Default. The Borrower's
         reimbursement obligations hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional
         under all circumstances irrespective of any rights of set-off,
         counterclaim or defense to payment the Borrower may claim or have
         against the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the
         beneficiary of the Stand Alone Letter of Credit drawn upon or any other
         Person, including without limitation any defense based on any failure
         of the Borrower to receive consideration or the legality, validity,
         regularity or unenforceability of the Stand Alone Letter of Credit;
         provided, however, that the Borrower may have a claim against the
         Issuing Lender, and the Issuing Lender may be liable to the Borrower,
         to the extent of any actual damages suffered by the Borrower as a
         result of the Issuing Lender's gross negligence or willful misconduct
         in failing to pay a drawing under the Stand Alone Letter of Credit
         presented in strict conformity therewith. The Issuing Lender will
         promptly notify the other LOC Participants of the amount of any
         unreimbursed drawing and each LOC Participant shall promptly pay to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender in Dollars
         and in immediately available funds, the amount of such LOC
         Participant's Stand Alone LOC Commitment Percentage of such
         unreimbursed drawing. Such payment shall be made on the day such notice
         is received by such LOC Participant from the Issuing Lender if such
         notice is received at or before 2:00 p.m., otherwise such payment shall
         be made at or before 12:00 Noon on the Business Day next succeeding the
         day such notice is received. If such LOC Participant does not pay such
         amount to the Issuing Lender in full upon such request, such LOC
         Participant shall, on demand, pay to the Administrative Agent for the
         account of the Issuing Lender interest on the unpaid amount during the
         period from the date of payment by the Issuing Lender of such drawing
         until such Lender pays such amount to the Issuing Lender in full at a
         rate per annum equal to, if paid within two Business Days of the date
         of payment of such drawing, the Federal Funds Rate and thereafter at a
         rate equal to the Base Rate. Each LOC Participant's obligation to make
         such payment to the Issuing Lender, and the right of the Issuing Lender
         to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be
         affected by any circumstance whatsoever and without regard to the
         termination of this Credit Agreement or the Commitments hereunder, the
         existence of a Default or Event of Default or the acceleration of the
         obligations hereunder and shall be made without any offset, abatement,
         withholding or reduction whatsoever.

                  (e) Modification, Extension. The issuance of any supplement,
         modification, amendment, renewal, or extensions to the Stand Alone
         Letter of Credit shall, for purposes hereof, be treated in all respects
         the same as the issuance of a new Stand Alone Letter of Credit
         hereunder.

                  (f) Uniform Customs and Practices. The Issuing Lender may have
         the Stand Alone Letter of Credit be subject to the UCP, in which case
         the UCP may be incorporated therein and deemed in all respects to be a
         part thereof.


                                       34
<PAGE>   40


         2.4      Indemnification of Issuing Lender.

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

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

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



                                       35
<PAGE>   41


                  drawing under any Letter of Credit as a result of any
                  Government Acts or any other cause beyond the control of the
                  Issuing Lender.

                           (d) Nothing in this Section 2.4 is intended to limit
                  the reimbursement obligation of the Borrower contained in
                  Sections 2.2 or 2.3. The obligations of the Borrower under
                  this Section 2.4 shall survive the termination of this Credit
                  Agreement. No act or omission of any current or prior
                  beneficiary of a Letter of Credit shall in any way affect or
                  impair the rights of the Issuing Lender to enforce any right,
                  power or benefit under this Credit Agreement.

                           (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
                  contained in this Section 2.4, the Borrower shall have no
                  obligation to indemnify the Issuing Lender in respect of any
                  liability incurred by the Issuing Lender arising solely out of
                  the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing
                  Lender, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

                           (f) To the extent the Borrower does not fulfill any
                  or all of its obligations under this Section 2.4, each LOC
                  Participant agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender for any
                  losses incurred thereby ratably in accordance with each such
                  LOC Participant's Stand Alone LOC Commitment Percentage and
                  Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage, as applicable.

         2.5      Continuations and Conversions.

         The Borrower shall have the option, on any Business Day, to continue
existing Eurodollar Loans for a subsequent Interest Period, to convert Base Rate
Loans into Eurodollar Loans or to convert Eurodollar Loans into Base Rate Loans;
provided, however, that (i) each such continuation or conversion must be
requested by the Borrower pursuant to a written Notice of
Continuation/Conversion, in the form of Exhibit 2.5, in compliance with the
terms set forth below, (ii) except as provided in Section 3.11, Eurodollar Loans
may only be continued or converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) Eurodollar Loans may not be continued
nor may Base Rate Loans be converted into Eurodollar Loans during the existence
and continuation of a Default or an Event of Default and (iv) any request to
continue a Eurodollar Loan that fails to comply with the terms hereof or any
failure to request a continuation of a Eurodollar Loan at the end of an Interest
Period shall constitute a conversion to a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period. Each continuation or conversion must be requested by
the Borrower no later than 11:00 a.m. (A) on the date for a requested conversion
of a Eurodollar Loan to a Base Rate Loan or (B) three Business Days prior to the
date for a requested continuation of a Eurodollar Loan or conversion of a Base
Rate Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, in each case pursuant to a written Notice of
Continuation/Conversion submitted to the Administrative Agent which shall set
forth (x) whether the Borrower wishes to continue or convert such Loans and (y)
if the request is to continue a Eurodollar Loan or convert a Base Rate Loan to a
Eurodollar Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto.


                                       36
<PAGE>   42


         2.6      Minimum Amounts.

         Each request for a borrowing, conversion or continuation shall be
subject to the requirements that (a) each Eurodollar Loan shall be in a minimum
amount of $3,000,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof,
(b) each Base Rate Loan shall be in a minimum amount of the lesser of $500,000
(and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof) or the remaining amount
available under the Revolving Committed Amount and (c) no more than six (6)
Eurodollar Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any one time. For the
purposes of this Section, all Eurodollar Loans with the same Interest Periods
that begin and end on the same date shall be considered as one Eurodollar Loan,
but Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods, even if they begin on the
same date, shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans.


                                    SECTION 3

          GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

         3.1      Interest.

                  (a) Default Rate of Interest. Upon the occurrence, and during
         the continuance, of an Event of Default, the principal of and, to the
         extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and any other amounts
         owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (including without
         limitation fees and expenses) shall bear interest, payable on demand,
         at a per annum rate equal to 2% plus the rate which would otherwise be
         applicable (or if no rate is applicable, then the rate for Revolving
         Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%) per annum).

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

         3.2      Place and Manner of Payments.

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



                                       37
<PAGE>   43


distribute such payments to the applicable Lenders on the same Business Day if
any such payment is received prior to 2:00 p.m.; otherwise the Administrative
Agent will distribute such payment to the applicable Lenders on the next
succeeding Business Day. Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be
due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day (subject to accrual of interest and fees for
the period of such extension), except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, if
the extension would cause the payment to be made in the next following calendar
month, then such payment shall instead be made on the next preceding Business
Day.

         3.3      Prepayments.

                  (a) Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right
         to prepay Loans in whole or in part from time to time without premium
         or penalty; provided, however, that (i) Eurodollar Loans may only be
         prepaid on three Business Days' prior written notice to the
         Administrative Agent and (ii) each such partial prepayment of Loans
         shall be in the minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral
         multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof. All prepayments under this
         Section shall be subject to Section 3.14 and be accompanied by interest
         on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

                  (b)      Mandatory Prepayments.

                           (i)      Revolving Committed Amount. If at any time
                  the sum of the aggregate amount of Revolving Loans outstanding
                  plus Revolving LOC Obligations outstanding plus the Synthetic
                  Lease Obligations outstanding exceeds the Revolving Committed
                  Amount, the Borrower shall immediately make a principal
                  payment to the Administrative Agent in the manner and in an
                  amount such that the sum of the aggregate amount of Revolving
                  Loans outstanding plus Revolving LOC Obligations outstanding
                  plus the Synthetic Lease Obligations outstanding is less than
                  or equal to the Revolving Committed Amount (to be applied as
                  set forth in Section 3.3(c) below).

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

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


                                       38
<PAGE>   44


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

                  (c) Application of Prepayments. All amounts required to be
         paid pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i) shall be applied first to Revolving
         Loans and second to a cash collateral account in respect of Revolving
         LOC Obligations. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to Sections
         3.3(b)(ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall be applied first pro rata among
         to the Revolving Loans (with a corresponding permanent reduction in the
         Revolving Committed Amount) and the Maxim Retail Loans (with a
         corresponding permanent reduction in the Maxim Retail Committed
         Amount), and second, pro rata to a cash collateral account in respect
         of Revolving LOC Obligations and the Stand Alone LOC Obligations and a
         cash collateral account in respect of the Maxim Retail LOC Obligations.
         Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments
         shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans
         in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments
         hereunder shall be subject to Section 3.14 and shall be accompanied by
         interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of
         prepayment.

         3.4      Fees.

                  (a) Commitment Fees. In consideration of the Revolving
         Committed Amount and the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount being made
         available by the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the
         Administrative Agent, for the pro rata benefit of each Lender (based on
         each Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the Revolving
         Committed Amount and each Lender's Stand Alone LOC Commitment
         Percentage of the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount), a per annum fee
         equal to the Applicable Percentage for Commitment Fees multiplied by
         the Revolving Loan Unused Commitment and a fee equal to the Applicable
         Percentage for Commitment Fees multiplied by the Stand Alone LOC Unused
         Commitment (the "Commitment Fees"). The Commitment Fees shall commence
         to accrue on the Effective Date and shall be due and payable in arrears
         on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower (as well as on
         the Maturity Date and on any date that the Revolving Committed Amount
         or the Stand Alone LOC Committed Amount is reduced) for the immediately
         preceding fiscal quarter (or portion thereof), beginning with the first
         of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.

                  (b) Standby Letter of Credit Fee. In consideration of the
         issuance of standby Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower agrees to
         pay to the Issuing Lender for the pro rata benefit of each Lender
         (based on each Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage of the
         Revolving Committed Amount), a per annum fee (the "Standby Letter of
         Credit Fees") equal to the Applicable Percentage for the Standby Letter
         of Credit Fees on the average daily maximum amount available to be
         drawn under each such Letter of Credit from the date of issuance to the
         date of expiration. The Standby Letter of Credit Fees will



                                       39
<PAGE>   45


         be payable in arrears on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
         Borrower (as well as on the Maturity Date) for the immediately
         preceding fiscal quarter (or portion thereof), beginning with the first
         of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.

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

                  (d) Issuing Lender Fees. In addition to the Standby Letter of
         Credit Fees payable pursuant to clause (b) above and the Trade Letter
         of Credit Fees payable pursuant to clause (c) above, the Borrower shall
         pay to the Issuing Lender for its own account, without sharing by the
         other Lenders, (i) the customary charges from time to time to the
         Issuing Lender for its services in connection with the issuance,
         amendment, payment, transfer, administration, cancellation and
         conversion of, and drawings under, Letters of Credit, and (ii) a letter
         of credit fronting fee of 0.125% of the face amount of each Letter of
         Credit (collectively, the "Issuing Lender Fees").

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

         3.5      Payment in full at Maturity.

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

         3.6      Computations of Interest and Fees.

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

                  (b) It is the intent of the Lenders and the Credit Parties to
         conform to and contract in strict compliance with applicable usury law
         from time to time in effect. All agreements between the Lenders and the
         Credit Parties are hereby limited by the provisions of this paragraph
         which shall override and control all such agreements, whether now


                                       40
<PAGE>   46


         existing or hereafter arising and whether written or oral. In no way,
         nor in any event or contingency (including but not limited to
         prepayment or acceleration of the maturity of any obligation), shall
         the interest taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, or received
         under this Credit Agreement, under the Notes or otherwise, exceed the
         maximum nonusurious amount permissible under applicable law. If, from
         any possible construction of any of the Credit Documents or any other
         document, interest would otherwise be payable in excess of the maximum
         nonusurious amount, any such construction shall be subject to the
         provisions of this paragraph and such documents shall be automatically
         reduced to the maximum nonusurious amount permitted under applicable
         law, without the necessity of execution of any amendment or new
         document. If any Lender shall ever receive anything of value which is
         characterized as interest on the Loans under applicable law and which
         would, apart from this provision, be in excess of the maximum lawful
         amount, an amount equal to the amount which would have been excessive
         interest shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the
         principal amount owing on the Loans and not to the payment of interest,
         or refunded to the Borrower or the other payor thereof if and to the
         extent such amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid
         principal amount of the Loans. The right to demand payment of the Loans
         or any other indebtedness evidenced by any of the Credit Documents does
         not include the right to accelerate the payment of any interest which
         has not otherwise accrued on the date of such demand, and the Lenders
         do not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event
         of such demand. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to the Lenders
         with respect to the Loans shall, to the extent permitted by applicable
         law, be amortized, prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the full
         stated term (including any renewal or extension) of the Loans so that
         the amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed
         the maximum nonusurious amount permitted by applicable law.

         3.7      Pro Rata Treatment.

         Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:

                  (a) Loans. Each Revolving Loan borrowing (including, without
         limitation, each Mandatory Borrowing), each payment or prepayment of
         principal of any Loan, each payment of fees (other than the Issuing
         Lender Fees retained by the Issuing Lender for its own account and the
         fees retained by the Administrative Agent for its own account), each
         reduction of the Revolving Committed Amount and/or Stand Alone LOC
         Committed Amount, and each conversion or continuation of any Loan,
         shall (except as otherwise provided in Section 3.11) be allocated pro
         rata among the relevant Lenders in accordance with the respective
         Revolving Loan Commitment Percentages of such Lenders (or, if the
         Commitments of such Lenders have expired or been terminated, in
         accordance with the respective principal amounts of the outstanding
         Loans and Participation Interests of such Lenders); provided that, if
         any Lender shall have failed to pay its applicable pro rata share of
         any Revolving Loan, then any amount to which such Lender would
         otherwise be entitled pursuant to this subsection (a) shall instead be
         payable to the Administrative Agent until the share of such Loan not
         funded by such Lender has been repaid; provided further, that in the
         event any amount paid to any Lender pursuant to this subsection (a) is
         rescinded or must



                                       41
<PAGE>   47


         otherwise be returned by the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall,
         upon the request of the Administrative Agent, repay to the
         Administrative Agent the amount so paid to such Lender, with interest
         for the period commencing on the date such payment is returned by the
         Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative Agent receives
         such repayment at a rate per annum equal to, during the period to but
         excluding the date two Business Days after such request, the Federal
         Funds Rate, and thereafter, the Base Rate plus two percent (2%) per
         annum; and

                  (b) Letters of Credit. Each payment of unreimbursed drawings
         in respect of Revolving LOC Obligations and Stand Alone LOC Obligations
         shall be allocated to each LOC Participant pro rata in accordance with
         its Revolving Loan Commitment Percentage or Stand Alone LOC Commitment
         Percentage, as applicable; provided that, if any LOC Participant shall
         have failed to pay its applicable pro rata share of any drawing under
         any Letter of Credit, then any amount to which such LOC Participant
         would otherwise be entitled pursuant to this subsection (b) shall
         instead be payable to the Issuing Lender until the share of such
         unreimbursed drawing not funded by such Lender has been repaid;
         provided further, that in the event any amount paid to any LOC
         Participant pursuant to this subsection (b) is rescinded or must
         otherwise be returned by the Issuing Lender, each LOC Participant
         shall, upon the request of the Issuing Lender, repay to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender the amount
         so paid to such LOC Participant, with interest for the period
         commencing on the date such payment is returned by the Issuing Lender
         until the date the Issuing Lender receives such repayment at a rate per
         annum equal to, during the period to but excluding the date two
         Business Days after such request, the Federal Funds Rate, and
         thereafter, the Base Rate plus two percent (2%) per annum.

         3.8      Sharing of Payments.

         The Lenders agree among themselves that, except to the extent otherwise
provided herein, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of
any Loan, unreimbursed drawing with respect to any LOC Obligations or any other
obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement through the exercise
of a right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim, or pursuant to a secured
claim under Section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code or other security or interest
arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by
any other means, in excess of its pro rata share of such payment as provided for
in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall promptly pay in cash or purchase
from the other Lenders a participation in such Loans, LOC Obligations, and other
obligations in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time,
as shall be equitable to the end that all Lenders share such payment in
accordance with their respective ratable shares as provided for in this Credit
Agreement. The Lenders further agree among themselves that if payment to a
Lender obtained by such Lender through the exercise of a right of setoff,
banker's lien, counterclaim or other event as aforesaid shall be rescinded or
must otherwise be restored, each Lender which shall have shared the benefit of
such payment shall, by payment in cash or a repurchase of a participation
theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit (together with its share of
any accrued interest payable with respect thereto) to each Lender whose payment
shall have been rescinded or otherwise restored. The Borrower agrees that any
Lender so purchasing such a


                                       42
<PAGE>   48


participation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights
of payment, including setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim, with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Loan, LOC
Obligation or other obligation in the amount of such participation. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender or the
Administrative Agent shall fail to remit to the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender an amount payable by such Lender or such Administrative Agent to
the Administrative Agent or such other Lender pursuant to this Credit Agreement
on the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be made together with
interest thereon for each date from the date such amount is due until the date
such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent or such other Lender at a rate
per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. If under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of
a setoff to which this Section 3.8 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent
practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner
consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.8 to share in the
benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

         3.9      Capital Adequacy.

         If, after the date hereof, any Lender has determined that the adoption
or the becoming effective of, or any change in, or any change by any
Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof in the interpretation or administration
of, any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or
compliance by such Lender, or its parent corporation, with any request or
directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of
any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the
effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's (or parent corporation's)
capital or assets as a consequence of its commitments or obligations hereunder
to a level below that which such Lender, or its parent corporation, could have
achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, change or compliance (taking into
consideration such Lender's (or parent corporation's) policies with respect to
capital adequacy), then, upon notice from such Lender to the Borrower, the
Borrower shall be obligated to pay to such Lender such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender on an after-tax basis (after taking into
account applicable deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified)
for such reduction. Each determination by any such Lender of amounts owing under
this Section shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
parties hereto. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Credit
Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

         3.10     Inability To Determine Interest Rate.

         If prior to the first day of any Interest Period, the Administrative
Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances
affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, the Administrative
Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter, and will also give prompt written
notice to the Borrower when such conditions no longer exist. If such notice is
given (a) any Eurodollar Loans requested to be made on the first day of such
Interest Period shall be made as Base Rate Loans, (b) any Loans that were


                                       43
<PAGE>   49


to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to or continued
as Eurodollar Loans shall be converted to or continued as Base Rate Loans and
(c) any outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be converted, on the first day of
such Interest Period, to Base Rate Loans. Until such notice is withdrawn by the
Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans shall be made or continued as
such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert Base Rate Loans to
Eurodollar Loans.

         3.11     Illegality.

         Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any
change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof
occurring after the Closing Date shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make
or maintain Eurodollar Loans as contemplated by this Credit Agreement, (a) such
Lender shall promptly give written notice of such circumstances to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever such
circumstances no longer exist), (b) the commitment of such Lender hereunder to
make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and convert a Base Rate
Loan to Eurodollar Loans shall forthwith be canceled and, until such time as it
shall no longer be unlawful for such Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar
Loans, such Lender shall then have a commitment only to make a Base Rate Loan
when a Eurodollar Loan is requested and (c) such Lender's Loans then outstanding
as Eurodollar Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Base Rate Loans
on the respective last days or the then current Interest Periods with respect to
such Loans or within such earlier period as required by law. If any such
conversion of a Eurodollar Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the
then current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to
such Lender such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.14.

         3.12     Requirements of Law.

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

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

                  (b) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve,
         special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets
         held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of,
         advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other



                                       44
<PAGE>   50


         acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender which is not
         otherwise included in the determination of the Eurodollar Rate
         hereunder; or

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

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or issuing or participating in
Letters of Credit or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect
thereof, then, in any such case, upon notice to the Borrower from such Lender,
through the Administrative Agent, in accordance herewith, the Borrower shall be
obligated to promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts
necessary to compensate such Lender on an after-tax basis (after taking into
account applicable deductions and credits in respect of the amount indemnified)
for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable, provided that, in any such
case, the Borrower may elect to convert the Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender
hereunder to Base Rate Loans by giving the Administrative Agent at least one
Business Day's notice of such election, in which case the Borrower shall
promptly pay to such Lender, upon demand, without duplication, such amounts, if
any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.14. If any Lender becomes entitled
to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.12, it shall provide
prompt notice thereof to the Borrower, through the Administrative Agent,
certifying (x) that one of the events described in this Section 3.12 has
occurred and describing in reasonable detail the nature of such event, (y) as to
the increased cost or reduced amount resulting from such event and (z) as to the
additional amount demanded by such Lender and a reasonably detailed explanation
of the calculation thereof. Such a certificate as to any additional amounts
payable pursuant to this Section 3.12 submitted by such Lender, through the
Administrative Agent, to the Borrower shall be conclusive and binding on the
parties hereto in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the
termination of this Credit Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other
amounts payable hereunder.

         3.13     Taxes.

                  (a) Except as provided below in this Section 3.13, all
         payments made by the Borrower under this Credit Agreement and any Notes
         shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding
         for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other
         taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or
         withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or
         assessed by any court, or governmental body, agency or other official,
         excluding taxes measured by or imposed upon the net income of any
         Lender or its applicable lending office, or any branch or affiliate
         thereof, and all franchise taxes, branch taxes, taxes on doing business
         or taxes on the capital or net worth of any Lender or its applicable
         lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, in each case
         imposed in lieu of net income taxes: (i) by the jurisdiction under the
         laws of which such Lender, applicable lending office, branch or
         affiliate is organized or is located, or in which its principal
         executive office is located, or any nation within which such
         jurisdiction is located or any political subdivision thereof; or (ii)
         by reason of any connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax
         and such Lender, applicable lending office, branch or 


                                       45
<PAGE>   51


         affiliate other than a connection arising solely from such Lender
         having executed, delivered or performed its obligations, or received
         payment under or enforced, this Credit Agreement or any Notes. If any
         such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
         deductions or withholdings ("Non-Excluded Taxes") are required to be
         withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any
         Lender hereunder or under any Notes, (A) the amounts so payable to the
         Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent
         necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after
         payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes) interest or any such other amounts
         payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this
         Credit Agreement and any Notes, provided, however, that the Borrower
         shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Non-Excluded Taxes and
         shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any
         Lender that is not organized under the laws of the United States of
         America or a state thereof if such Lender fails to comply with the
         requirements of paragraph (b) of this Section 3.13 whenever any
         Non-Excluded Taxes are payable by the Borrower, and (B) as promptly as
         possible after requested the Borrower shall send to the Administrative
         Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the
         case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received
         by the Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay
         any Non-Excluded Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or
         fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or
         other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the
         Administrative Agent and any Lender for any incremental Non-Excluded
         Taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the
         Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure. The
         agreements in this subsection shall survive the termination of this
         Credit Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts
         payable hereunder.

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

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

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


                                       46
<PAGE>   52


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

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

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

         3.14     Compensation.

         The Borrower promises to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender
harmless from any loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion
into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice
requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Credit



                                       47
<PAGE>   53


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

         3.15     Evidence of Debt.

         (a) Each Lender shall maintain an account or accounts evidencing each
Loan made by such Lender to the Borrower from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to
time under this Credit Agreement. Each Lender will make reasonable efforts to
maintain the accuracy of its account or accounts and to promptly update its
account or accounts from time to time, as necessary.

         (b) The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to
Section 11.3(c), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and
subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount, type and Interest
Period of each such Loan hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and payable or to become due and payable to each Lender hereunder, and (iii)
the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from or for
the account of the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof, if any. The
Administrative Agent will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of
the subaccounts referred to in the preceding sentence and to promptly update
such subaccounts from time to time, as necessary.

         (c) The entries made in the accounts, Register and subaccounts
maintained pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 3.16 (and, if consistent
with the entries of the Administrative Agent, subsection (a)) shall be prima
facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower
therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the
Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register, or such
subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect
the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans made by such Lender in
accordance with the terms hereof.

         3.16     Replacement of Lenders.

         In the event any Lender delivers to the Borrower any notice in
accordance with Section 3.9, 3.11 or 3.12, then the Borrower shall have the
right, if no Default or Event of Default then exists, to replace such Lender
(the "Replaced Lender") with one or more additional banks


                                       48
<PAGE>   54


or financial institutions (collectively, the "Replacement Lender"), provided,
that (a) the Replacement Lender is acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (b)
at the time of any replacement pursuant to this Section 3.16, the Replacement
Lender shall enter into one or more Assignment and Acceptance agreements
pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, Section 11.3(b) (and with all
processing and recordation fees payable pursuant to said Section 11.3(b) to be
paid by the Replacement Lender or, at its option, the Borrower) pursuant to
which the Replacement Lender shall acquire all of the rights and obligations of
the Replaced Lender hereunder and, in connection therewith, shall pay to the
Replaced Lender in respect thereof an amount equal to the sum of (i) the
principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding Loans of the Replaced
Lender, and (ii) all accrued, but theretofore unpaid, fees owing to the Replaced
Lender pursuant to Section 3.4, (c) all other obligations of the Borrower owing
to the Replaced Lender (including all other obligations, if any, owing pursuant
to Sections 3.9, 3.11 and 3.12) shall be paid in full to such Replaced Lender
concurrently with such replacement and (d) the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall not be obligated to assist the Borrower in identifying any
Replacement Lender.


                                    SECTION 4

                                    GUARANTY

         4.1      Guaranty of Payment.

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

         4.2      Obligations Unconditional.

         The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder are absolute and
unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or
enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or the Hedging Agreements, or any
other agreement or instrument referred to therein, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety or guarantor. Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty may be enforced by
the Lenders without the necessity at any time of resorting to or exhausting any
other security or collateral and without the necessity at any time of having
recourse to the Notes or any other of the Credit Documents or any collateral, if
any, hereafter securing the Credit Party Obligations or otherwise and each
Guarantor hereby waives the right to require the Lenders to proceed against the
Borrower or any other Person (including a co-guarantor) or to require the
Lenders to pursue any other remedy or enforce any other right. Each Guarantor
further agrees that it shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity,
reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor of the
Credit Party Obligations for


                                       49
<PAGE>   55


amounts paid under this Guaranty until such time as the Lenders (and any
Affiliates of Lenders entering into Hedging Agreements) have been paid in full,
all Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated and no Person or
Governmental Authority shall have any right to request any return or
reimbursement of funds from the Lenders in connection with monies received under
the Credit Documents. Each Guarantor further agrees that nothing contained
herein shall prevent the Lenders from suing on the Notes or any of the other
Credit Documents or any of the Hedging Agreements or foreclosing its security
interest in or Lien on any collateral, if any, securing the Credit Party
Obligations or from exercising any other rights available to it under this
Credit Agreement, the Notes, any other of the Credit Documents, or any other
instrument of security, if any, and the exercise of any of the aforesaid rights
and the completion of any foreclosure proceedings shall not constitute a
discharge of any of any Guarantor's obligations hereunder; it being the purpose
and intent of each Guarantor that its obligations hereunder shall be absolute,
independent and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Neither any
Guarantor's obligations under this Guaranty nor any remedy for the enforcement
thereof shall be impaired, modified, changed or released in any manner
whatsoever by an impairment, modification, change, release or limitation of the
liability of the Borrower or by reason of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the
Borrower. Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal,
extension or accrual of any of the Credit Party Obligations and notice of or
proof of reliance of by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon this
Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee. The Credit Party Obligations, and any
of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or
incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this
Guarantee. All dealings between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the
one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand,
likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in
reliance upon this Guarantee. The Guarantors further agree to all rights of
set-off as set forth in Section 11.2.

         4.3      Modifications.

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


                                       50
<PAGE>   56


         4.4      Waiver of Rights.

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

         4.5      Reinstatement.

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

         4.6      Remedies.

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

         4.7      Limitation of Guaranty.

         Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in
any of the other Credit Documents, to the extent the obligations of any
Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or



                                       51
<PAGE>   57


unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of any
applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers)
then the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum
amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and
including, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code).

         4.8      Rights of Contribution.

         The Credit Parties agree among themselves that, in connection with
payments made hereunder, each Credit Party shall have contribution rights
against the other Credit Parties as permitted under applicable law. Such
contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the
obligations of the Credit Parties under the Credit Documents and no Credit Party
shall exercise such rights of contribution until all Credit Party Obligations
have been paid in full and the Commitments terminated.


                                    SECTION 5

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         5.1      Closing Conditions.

         The obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and
make the initial Extension of Credit is subject to satisfaction (or waiver by
each of the Lenders) of the following conditions:

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

                  (b) Corporate Documents. With respect to each Credit Party
         that is a corporation, receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
         following:

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

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

                           (iii) Resolutions. Copies of resolutions of the Board
                  of Directors of each Credit Party approving and adopting the
                  Credit Documents to which it is a party, the



                                       52
<PAGE>   58


                  transactions contemplated therein and authorizing execution
                  and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or assistant
                  secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct and in
                  force and effect as of the Effective Date.

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

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

                  (c) Partnership Documents. With respect to each Credit Party
         that is a partnership, receipt by the Administrative Agent of the
         following:

                           (i) Authorization. Authorization of the general
                  partner(s) of such Credit Party, as of the Closing Date,
                  approving and adopting the Credit Documents to be executed by
                  such Credit Party and authorizing the execution and delivery
                  thereof.

                           (ii) Partnership Agreements. Certified copies of the
                  partnership agreement of such Credit Party, together with all
                  amendments thereto.

                           (iii) Certificates of Good Standing or Existence.
                  Certificate of good standing or existence for such Credit
                  Party issued as of a recent date by its state of organization
                  and each other state where the failure to qualify or be in
                  good standing could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                           (iv) Incumbency. An incumbency certificate of the
                  general partner(s) of such Credit Party, certified by a
                  secretary or assistant secretary of such general partner to be
                  true and correct as of the Closing Date.

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

                  (e) Financial Statements. Receipt by the Lenders of such
         financial information regarding the Maxim Group Parties as they may
         request, including, but not limited to, (i) the consolidated financial
         statements of the Maxim Group Parties for the fiscal years 1997 and
         1998, including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow
         statements audited by



                                       53
<PAGE>   59


         independent public accountants of recognized national standing and
         prepared in accordance with GAAP, (ii) interim unaudited monthly
         financial statements for the Maxim Group Parties, prepared in
         accordance with GAAP, and (iii) monthly working capital detail for the
         trailing twelve months of the Maxim Group Parties and the first
         projected year for the Maxim Group Parties.

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

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

                           (ii) duly executed UCC financing statements for each
                  appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the
                  Administrative Agent's sole discretion, to perfect the
                  Administrative Agent's security interest in the Collateral;

                           (iii) searches of ownership of intellectual property
                  in the appropriate governmental offices as requested by the
                  Administrative Agent and such patent, trademark and copyright
                  filings as requested by the Administrative Agent;

                           (iv) all stock certificates evidencing the stock
                  pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Pledge
                  Agreements, together with duly executed in blank undated stock
                  powers attached thereto; and

                           (v) all instruments and chattel paper in the
                  possession of a Credit Party, as required by the Security
                  Agreements, together with allonges or assignments as may be
                  necessary to perfect the Administrative Agent's security
                  interest in such Collateral.

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

                  (h) Material Adverse Effect. No material adverse change shall
         have occurred since January 31, 1998 in the condition (financial or
         otherwise), business, management or prospects of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (i) Litigation. There shall not exist any pending or, to the
         knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened action, suit, investigation
         or proceeding against a Credit Party or



                                       54
<PAGE>   60


         any of their Subsidiaries that would have or would reasonably be
         expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (j) Landlord Waiver. With respect to each leased location of a
         Credit Party (i) on which such Credit Party maintains in excess of
         $400,000 of inventory and (ii) for which the Administrative Agent in
         its sole discretion determines that a landlord consent is required,
         receipt by the Administrative Agent of a landlord consent from the
         respective landlord in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent.

                  (k) Officer's Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall
         have received a certificate or certificates executed by an Executive
         Officer of the Borrower as of the Effective Date stating that (i)
         except for the Indenture Default under the Indenture, the Borrower and
         each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all existing financial
         obligations, (ii) no action, suit, investigation or proceeding is
         pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened in any
         court or before any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that
         purports to effect the Borrower, any of the its Subsidiaries or any
         transaction contemplated by the Credit Documents, if such action, suit,
         investigation or proceeding would have or might reasonably be expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) the financial statements and
         information delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the
         Effective Date were prepared in good faith and in accordance with GAAP
         and (iv) immediately after giving effect to this Credit Agreement, the
         other Credit Documents and all the transactions contemplated therein to
         occur on such date, (A) the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is
         Solvent, (B) no Default or Event of Default exists, (C) all
         representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit
         Documents are true and correct in all material respects, and (D) the
         Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants
         set forth in Section 7.2.

                  (l) Prior Credit Agreement. Receipt by the Administrative
         Agent of evidence that: (i) Prior Credit Agreement and all documents
         executed or delivered in connection therewith, have been terminated,
         and (ii) all amounts owing in connection with the Prior Credit
         Agreement have been paid in full and all liens granted in connection
         therewith have been or are agreed to be released.

                  (m) Fees and Expenses. Payment by the Credit Parties of the
         fees and expenses owed by them to the Administrative Agent, as set
         forth in the Fee Letter.

                  (n) Priority of Liens. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received satisfactory evidence that none of the Collateral is subject
         to any Liens other than Permitted Liens.

                  (o) Year 2000. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of evidence
         that (a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are taking all necessary and
         appropriate steps to ascertain the extent of, and to quantify and
         successfully address, business and financial risks facing the Borrower
         and such Subsidiary as a result of what is commonly referred to as the
         `Year 2000 problem' (i.e., the inability of certain computer
         applications to recognize correctly and perform date-sensitive
         functions involving certain dates prior to and after December 31,


                                       55
<PAGE>   61


         1999), including risks resulting from the failure of key vendors and
         customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to successfully address the
         Year 2000 problem, and (b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary's material
         computer applications and those of its key vendors and customers will,
         on a timely basis, adequately address the Year 2000 problem in all
         material respects.

                  (p) Maxim Retail. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of
         evidence that all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the
         Maxim Retail Credit Agreement shall have been satisfied.

                  (q) Synthetic Lease. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of
         evidence that all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of the
         Participation Agreement shall have been satisfied.

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

         5.2      Conditions to All Extensions of Credit.

         In addition to the conditions precedent stated elsewhere herein, the
Lenders shall not be obligated to make Loans nor shall an Issuing Lender be
required to issue or extend a Letter of Credit unless:

                  (a) Notice. The Borrower shall have delivered (i) in the case
         of any new Revolving Loan, a Notice of Borrowing, duly executed and
         completed, by the time specified in Section 2.1 and (ii) in the case of
         any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall have received an
         appropriate request for issuance in accordance with the provisions of
         Section 2.2 or Section 2.3, as applicable;

                  (b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
         warranties made by the Credit Parties in any Credit Document are true
         and correct in all material respects at and as if made as of such date
         except to the extent they expressly relate to an earlier date;

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

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


                                       56
<PAGE>   62


         exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and the Stand Alone LOC
         Obligations outstanding shall not exceed the Stand Alone LOC Committed
         Amount.

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


                                    SECTION 6

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Credit Parties hereby represent to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender that:

         6.1      Financial Condition.

                  (a) The financial statements delivered to the Lenders prior to
         the Effective Date and pursuant to Section 7.1(a) and (b): (i) have
         been prepared in accordance with GAAP and (ii) present fairly the
         consolidated and consolidating (as applicable) financial condition,
         results of operations and cash flows of the Credit Parties and their
         Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods.

                  (b) Since January 31, 1998, (i) there has been no sale,
         transfer or other disposition by any Credit Party or any of their
         Subsidiaries of any material part of the business or property of the
         Credit Parties, taken as a whole, and (ii) other than the Shaw
         Transaction, there has been no purchase or other acquisition by any
         Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries of any business or property
         (including any capital stock of any other Person) material in relation
         to the consolidated financial condition of the Credit Parties, taken as
         a whole, in each case, which, is not (A) reflected in the most recent
         financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1
         or in the notes thereto or (B) otherwise permitted by the terms of this
         Credit Agreement and communicated to the Administrative Agent.

         6.2      No Material Change.

         Since the Effective Date, there has been no development or event
relating to or affecting a Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries which has
had or would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of any Credit Party, since January 31, 1998, there has been no
development or event relating to or affecting a Credit Party or any of their
Subsidiaries which has had or would be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         6.3      Organization and Good Standing.

         Each Credit Party (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State (or other jurisdiction) of its
incorporation or formation, (b) is duly qualified and in



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<PAGE>   63


good standing and authorized to do business in every jurisdiction unless the
failure to be so qualified, in good standing or authorized would have a Material
Adverse Effect and (c) has the right, power and authority to own its properties
and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

         6.4      Due Authorization.

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

         6.5      No Conflicts.

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

         6.6      Consents.

         Except for consents, approvals and authorizations which have been
obtained, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing,
registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third
party in respect of any Credit Party is required in connection with the
execution, delivery or performance of this Credit Agreement or any of the other
Credit Documents by such Credit Party.

         6.7      Enforceable Obligations.

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


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<PAGE>   64


         6.8      No Default.

         Except for the Indenture Default, no Credit Party, nor any of their
Subsidiaries, is in default in any respect under any contract, lease, loan
agreement, indenture, mortgage, security agreement or other agreement or
obligation to which it is a party or by which any of its properties is bound
which default would have or would be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default exists except as previously
disclosed in writing to the Lenders.

         6.9      Ownership.

         Each Credit Party, and each of its Subsidiaries, is the owner of, and
has good and marketable title to, or has a valid license to use all of its
respective assets and none of such assets is subject to any Lien other than
Permitted Liens.

         6.10     Indebtedness.

         The Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries have no Indebtedness except
(a) as disclosed in the financial statements referenced in Section 6.1, (b) as
set forth on Schedule 6.10 and (c) as otherwise permitted by this Credit
Agreement.

         6.11     Litigation.

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

         6.12     Taxes.

         Each Credit Party, and each of its Subsidiaries, has filed, or caused
to be filed, all material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign)
required to be filed and paid (a) all material amounts of taxes shown thereon to
be due and payable (including interest and penalties) and (b) all material other
taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including documentary
stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) that are due and payable, except for such
taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good
faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being
maintained in accordance with GAAP. To the knowledge of the Credit Parties,
there are no material amounts claimed to be due against any of them by any
Governmental Authority.

         6.13     Compliance with Law.

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


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<PAGE>   65


         6.14     ERISA.

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

                  (a) During the five-year period prior to the date on which
         this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no Termination Event
         has occurred, and, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, no event or
         condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any Termination
         Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect to any Plan;
         (ii) no "accumulated funding deficiency," as such term is defined in
         Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, whether or not
         waived, has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) each Plan has been
         maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and
         in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any
         other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv) no lien in favor or
         the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise on
         account of any Plan.

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

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

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

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


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<PAGE>   66


         benefits, are reflected on the Financial Statements in accordance with
         FASB 106.

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

         6.15     Subsidiaries.

         Set forth on Schedule 6.15 is a complete and accurate list of all
Subsidiaries of each Credit Party. Information on Schedule 6.15 includes
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, the number of shares of each
class of capital stock or other equity interests outstanding, the number and
percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by
such Credit Party; and the number and effect, if exercised, of all outstanding
options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and all other similar rights
with respect thereto. The outstanding capital stock and other equity interests
of all such Subsidiaries is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and is
owned by each such Credit Party, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all
Liens (other than those arising under or contemplated in connection with the
Credit Documents). Other than as set forth in Schedule 6.15, neither any Credit
Party nor any Subsidiary thereof has outstanding any securities convertible into
or exchangeable for its capital stock nor does any such Person have outstanding
any rights to subscribe for or to purchase or any options for the purchase of,
or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or
any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to its capital stock.
Schedule 6.15 may be updated from time to time by the Borrower by giving written
notice thereof to the Administrative Agent. As of the Closing Date, none of the
Credit Parties owns any shares of capital stock in any Foreign Subsidiaries.

         6.16     Use of Proceeds.

         The proceeds of the Loans hereunder will be used solely for the
purposes specified in Section 7.11. No proceeds of the Loans hereunder have been
or will be used (a) to acquire, directly or indirectly, any security in any
transaction which is subject to Sections 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, (including, without limitation, Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof) or to refinance any Indebtedness used to acquire any such securities or
(b) for the acquisition of another Person unless the board of directors (or
other comparable governing body) or stockholders, as appropriate, of such Person
has approved such acquisition.

         6.17     Government Regulation.

                  (a) No part of the Letters of Credit or proceeds of the Loans
         will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or
         carrying any "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulation U, or for
         the purpose of purchasing or carrying or trading in any securities. If
         requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will
         furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the
         foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1
         referred to in Regulation U. No Indebtedness being reduced or retired
         out of the proceeds of the Loans was or will be


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<PAGE>   67


         incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock
         within the meaning of Regulation U or any "margin security" within the
         meaning of Regulation T. "Margin stock" within the meaning of
         Regulation U does not constitute more than 25% of the value of the
         consolidated assets of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries. None
         of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents (including,
         without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the
         Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act of
         1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
         or regulations issued pursuant thereto, or Regulation T, U or X.

                  (b) No Credit Party, nor any of their Subsidiaries, is subject
         to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the
         Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940, each as
         amended. In addition, no Credit Party, nor any of their Subsidiaries,
         is (i) an "investment company" registered or required to be registered
         under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not
         controlled by such a company, or (ii) a "holding company", or a
         "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of a
         "holding company" or of a "subsidiary" of a "holding company", within
         the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
         amended.

                  (c) No director, executive officer or principal shareholder of
         any Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries is a director, executive
         officer or principal shareholder of any Lender. For the purposes hereof
         the terms "director", "executive officer" and "principal shareholder"
         (when used with reference to any Lender) have the respective meanings
         assigned thereto in Regulation O issued by the Board of Governors of
         the Federal Reserve System.

         6.18     Environmental Matters.

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

                           (i) Each of the Real Properties and all operations at
                  the Real Properties are in compliance with all applicable
                  Environmental Laws, and there is no violation of any
                  Environmental Law with respect to the Real Properties or the
                  businesses operated by the Credit Parties or any of their
                  Subsidiaries (the "Businesses"), and there are no conditions
                  relating to the Businesses or Real Properties that would
                  reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any
                  applicable Environmental Laws.

                           (ii) No Credit Party has received any written notice
                  of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority regarding, any
                  violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or
                  potential liability regarding Hazardous Materials or
                  compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the
                  Real Properties or the Businesses, nor, to the knowledge of a
                  Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, is any such notice
                  being threatened.


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<PAGE>   68


                           (iii) Hazardous Materials have not been transported
                  or disposed of from the Real Properties, or generated,
                  treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Real
                  Properties or any other location, in each case by, or on
                  behalf or with the permission of, a Credit Party or any of its
                  Subsidiaries in a manner that would give rise to liability
                  under any applicable Environmental Laws.

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

                           (v) There has been no release (including, without
                  limitation, disposal) or threat of release of Hazardous
                  Materials at or from the Real Properties, or arising from or
                  related to the operations of a Credit Party or any of its
                  Subsidiaries in connection with the Real Properties or
                  otherwise in connection with the Businesses where such release
                  constituted a violation of, or would give rise to liability
                  under, any applicable Environmental Laws.

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

                           (vii) No Credit Party, nor any of its Subsidiaries,
                  has assumed any liability of any Person (other than another
                  Credit Party, or one of its Subsidiaries) under any
                  Environmental Law.

                  (b) The Credit Parties have adopted procedures that are
         designed to (i) ensure that each Credit Party, any of its operations
         and each of the properties owned or leased by each Credit Party
         complies with applicable Environmental Laws and (ii) minimize any
         liabilities or potential liabilities that each Credit Party, any of its
         operations and each of the properties owned or leased by each Credit
         Party may have under applicable Environmental Laws.

         6.19     Intellectual Property.

         Each Credit Party owns, or has the legal right to use, all patents,
trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes (the
"Intellectual Property") necessary for each of them to conduct its business as
currently conducted except for those the failure to own or have such legal right
to use would not have or be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Set forth on Schedule 6.19 is a list of all patents, registered and
material unregistered trademarks,


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<PAGE>   69


tradenames and registered copyrights owned by each Credit Party or that any
Credit Party has the right to use. Except as provided on Schedule 6.19, none of
the Intellectual Property is subject to any licensing or franchise agreement.
Furthermore, except as provided on Schedule 6.19, no claim been asserted against
any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries in writing and is pending by any Person
challenging or questioning the use of any Intellectual Property owned by a
Credit Party or that any Credit Party has a right to use or the validity or
effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property, nor does any Credit Party have
knowledge of any such claim, and to the Credit Parties' knowledge the use of any
Intellectual Property by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries does
not infringe on the rights of any Person, except for such claims and
infringements that in the aggregate, would not have or be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect. Image Industries does not own, or have the legal
right to use, any registered copyrights. Schedule 6.19 may be updated from time
to time by the Borrower by giving written notice thereof to the Administrative
Agent.

         6.20     Solvency.

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

         6.21     Investments.

         All Investments of each Credit Party and its Subsidiaries are Permitted
Investments.

         6.22     Location of Collateral.

         Set forth on Schedule 6.22(a) is a list of all Real Properties with
street address, county and state where located. Set forth on Schedule 6.22(b) is
a list of all locations where any personal property of a Credit Party is
located, including county and state where located. Set forth on Schedule 6.22(c)
is the chief executive office and principal place of business of each Credit
Party. Schedules 6.22(a), 6.22(b) and 6.22(c) may be updated from time to time
by the Borrower by giving written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent.

         6.23     Disclosure.

         Neither this Credit Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to
the Lenders nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the
Lenders by or on behalf of any Credit Party in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
therein or herein, taken as a whole, not misleading.

         6.24     Licenses, etc.

         The Credit Parties have obtained and hold in full force and effect, all
franchises, licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, qualifications,
accreditations, easements, rights of way and other rights, consents and
approvals which are necessary for the operation of their respective



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businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to obtain same would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.25     Collateral Documents.

         The Collateral Documents create valid security interests in, and Liens
on, the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, which security interests and
Liens are prior to all other Liens other than Permitted Liens.

         6.26     Burdensome Restrictions.

         No Credit Party, nor any of this Subsidiaries, is a party to any
agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or
corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation
which, individually or in the aggregate, would have or be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.27     Year 2000 Compliance.

                  Each Credit Party has (i) initiated a review and assessment of
all areas within its and each of its Subsidiaries' business and operations
(including those affected by suppliers, vendors and customers) that could be
adversely affected by the "Year 2000 Problem" (that is, the risk that computer
applications used by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries may be unable
to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions involving certain
dates prior to and any date after December 31, 1999), (ii) developed a plan and
timeline for addressing the Year 2000 Problem on a timely basis, and (iii) to
date, implemented that plan in accordance with the timetable. Based on the
foregoing, each Credit Party believes that all computer applications (including
those of its suppliers, vendors and customers) that are material to its and any
of its Subsidiaries' business and operations are reasonably expected on a timely
basis to be able to perform properly date-sensitive functions for all dates
before and after January 1, 2000 (that is, be "Year 2000 Compliant"), except to
the extent that a failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have
Material Adverse Effect.

         6.28     Labor Contracts and Disputes.

         (i) There is no collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract
covering employees of any Credit Party; (ii) no union or other labor
organization is seeking to organize, or be recognized as, a collective
bargaining unit of employees of any Credit Party; (iii) there is no pending, or
to any Credit Party's knowledge, threatened, strike, work stoppage, material
unfair lease practice claim or other material labor dispute against or effecting
any Credit Party or its employees.


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                                    SECTION 7

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that so long as this
Credit Agreement is in effect and until the Loans and LOC Obligations, together
with interest and fees and other obligations then due and payable hereunder,
have been paid in full and the Commitments and Letters of Credit hereunder shall
have terminated:

         7.1      Information Covenants.

         The Credit Parties will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the
Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

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

                  (b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and
         in any event within 45 days after the close of each fiscal quarter of
         the Borrower, (i) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and
         income statement of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the end of
         such fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated and
         consolidating statements of operations and retained earnings and of
         cash flows for such fiscal quarter in each case setting forth in
         comparative form consolidated and consolidating figures for the
         corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such financial
         information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and
         reasonably acceptable to the Administrative



                                       66
<PAGE>   72


         Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of the chief financial officer
         of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements
         fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the
         Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with
         GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit
         adjustments and (ii) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and
         income statement of the Maxim Group Parties, as of the end of such
         fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated and consolidating
         statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for
         such fiscal quarter in each case setting forth in comparative form
         consolidated and consolidating figures for the corresponding period of
         the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described
         above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to
         the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of the chief
         financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly
         financial statements fairly present in all material respects the
         financial condition of the Maxim Group Parties and have been prepared
         in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and
         normal year-end audit adjustments.

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

                  (d) Annual Business Plan and Budgets. Prior to the end of each
         fiscal year of the Borrower, (i) an annual business plan and budget of
         the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis containing,
         among other things, pro forma financial projections (including without
         limitation, income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash
         flows) for the next fiscal year and (ii) an annual business plan and
         budget of the Maxim Group Parties on a consolidated basis containing,
         among other things, pro forma financial projections (including without
         limitation income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows)
         for the next fiscal year.

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

                  (f) Auditor's Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy
         of any "management letter" submitted by independent accountants to the
         Borrower or any of its



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<PAGE>   73


         Subsidiaries in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of
         the books of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

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

                  (h) Notices. Upon an officer of a Credit Party obtaining
         knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written notice to the
         Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within two Business
         Days) of (a) the occurrence of an event or condition consisting of a
         Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence
         thereof and what action the Borrower proposes to take with respect
         thereto, and (b) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to
         the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) the pendency or
         commencement of any litigation, arbitral or governmental proceeding
         against a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries which if adversely
         determined would have or would be reasonably expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the institution of any proceedings
         against a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to, or
         the receipt of written notice by such Person of potential liability or
         responsibility for violation, or alleged violation of any federal,
         state or local law, rule or regulation, (including but not limited to,
         Environmental Laws) the violation of which would have or would be
         reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) any
         information that a Credit Party may have a Year 2000 Problem on or
         after January 1, 2000.

                  (i) ERISA. Upon any of the Credit Parties or any ERISA
         Affiliate obtaining knowledge thereof, the Borrower will give written
         notice to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within
         two Business Days) of: (i) any event or condition, including, but not
         limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or might reasonably
         lead to, a Termination Event; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer
         Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any
         withdrawal liability assessed against the Credit Parties or any of
         their ERISA Affiliates, or of a determination that any Multiemployer
         Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of
         Title IV of ERISA); (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before
         the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which a
         Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates is required
         to contribute to each Plan pursuant to its terms and as required to
         meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with
         respect thereto; or (iv) any change in the funding status of any Plan
         that could have a Material Adverse Effect; together, with a description
         of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a
         statement by the principal financial officer of the Borrower briefly
         setting forth the details



                                       68
<PAGE>   74


         regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any,
         which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the
         Credit Parties with respect thereto. Promptly upon request, a Credit
         Party shall furnish the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders
         with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be
         reasonably requested, including, but not limited to, copies of each
         annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and
         attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor
         and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code,
         respectively, for each "plan year" (within the meaning of Section 3(39)
         of ERISA).

                  (j)      Environmental.

                           (i) Subsequent to a notice from any Governmental
                  Authority where the subject matter of such notice would
                  reasonably cause concern, or during the existence of an Event
                  of Default, and upon the written request of Administrative
                  Agent, the Credit Parties will furnish or cause to be
                  furnished to the Administrative Agent, at the Credit Parties'
                  expense, a report of an environmental assessment of reasonable
                  scope, form and depth, including, where appropriate, invasive
                  soil or groundwater sampling, by a consultant reasonably
                  acceptable to the Administrative Agent addressing the subject
                  of such notice or, if during the existence of an Event of
                  Default, regarding any release or threat of release of
                  Hazardous Materials on any property owned, leased or operated
                  by a Credit Party and the compliance by the Credit Parties
                  with Environmental Laws. If the Credit Parties fail to deliver
                  such an environmental report within sixty (60) days after
                  receipt of such written request, then the Administrative Agent
                  may arrange for same, and the Credit Parties hereby grant to
                  the Administrative Agent and its representatives access to the
                  Real Properties and a license of a scope reasonably necessary
                  to undertake such an assessment (including, where appropriate,
                  invasive soil or groundwater sampling). The reasonable cost of
                  any assessment arranged for by the Administrative Agent
                  pursuant to this provision will be payable by the Credit
                  Parties on demand and added to the obligations secured by the
                  Collateral Documents.

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

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


                                       69
<PAGE>   75


         7.2      Financial Covenants.

                  (a) Leverage Ratio. The Leverage Ratio, measured as of the
         last day of each fiscal quarter of the Maxim Group Parties, shall be
         less than or equal to:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Period                                                                 Leverage Ratio
                  ------                                                                 --------------
                  <S>                                                                    <C>
                  October 31, 1998 through and including January 30, 1999                 4.75 to 1.0
                  January 31, 1999 through and including April 29, 1999                   4.50 to 1.0
                  April 30, 1999 through and including July 30, 1999                      4.25 to 1.0
                  July 31, 1999 through and including October 30, 1999                    4.0  to 1.0
                  October 31, 1999 and thereafter                                         3.75 to 1.0
</TABLE>

                  (b) Interest Coverage Ratio. The Interest Coverage Ratio,
         measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Maxim Group
         Parties, shall be greater than or equal to 2.25 to 1.0.

                  (c) Net Worth. As of the last day of each fiscal quarter of
         the Maxim Group Parties, the Net Worth shall be greater than or equal
         to the sum of (i) $150 million plus (ii) 50% of the cumulative Net
         Income (without deduction for losses) earned for each completed fiscal
         quarter subsequent to the Closing Date to the date of determination
         plus (iii) 100% of the amount of Net Cash Proceeds from any Equity
         Issuance.

                  (d) Asset Coverage Ratio. The Asset Coverage Ratio, measured
         as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Maxim Group Parties,
         shall be greater than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0.

         7.3      Preservation of Existence and Franchises.

         Each of the Credit Parties will do all things necessary to (a) preserve
and keep in full force and effect its existence and (b) take all reasonable
action to maintain all rights, franchises and authority necessary or desirable
in the normal conduct of its business, except as permitted by Section 8.4.

         7.4      Books and Records.

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


                                       70
<PAGE>   76


         7.5      Compliance with Law.

         Each of the Credit Parties will, and cause its Subsidiaries to, comply
with all material laws, rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable
material restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it
and its property (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws).

         7.6      Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.

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

         7.7      Insurance.

         Each of the Credit Parties will at all times maintain in full force and
effect insurance (including worker's compensation insurance, liability
insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) in such
amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or
self-insurance retentions as are in accordance with normal industry practice.
All policies shall have the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders,
named as an additional insured and loss payee.

In the event there occurs any material loss, damage to or destruction of the
Collateral of any Credit Party or any part thereof, such Credit Party shall
promptly give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent generally
describing the nature and extent of such damage or destruction. Subsequent to
any loss, damage to or destruction of the Collateral of any Credit Party or any
part thereof, such Credit Party, whether or not the insurance proceeds, if any,
received on account of such damage or destruction shall be sufficient for that
purpose, at such Credit Party's cost and expense, will promptly repair or
replace the Collateral of such Credit Party so lost, damaged or destroyed;
provided, however, that such Credit Party need not repair or replace the
Collateral of such Credit Party so lost, damaged or destroyed to the extent the
failure to make such repair or replacement (a) is desirable to the proper
conduct of the business of such Credit Party in the ordinary course and
otherwise is in the best interest of such Credit Party and (b) would not
materially impair the rights and benefits of the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document. In the event a
Credit Party shall receive any insurance proceeds, as a result of any loss,
damage or destruction of Collateral, in a net amount in excess of $1,000,000,
such Credit Party will immediately pay over such proceeds to the Administrative
Agent as cash collateral for the Credit Party Obligations. The Administrative
Agent



                                       71
<PAGE>   77


agrees to release such insurance proceeds to such Credit Party for replacement
or restoration of the portion of the Collateral of such Credit Party lost,
damaged or destroyed if (A) within 30 days from the date the Administrative
Agent receives such insurance proceeds, the Administrative Agent has received
written application for such release from such Credit Party together with
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Collateral lost, damaged or
destroyed has been or will be replaced or restored to its condition (or by
Collateral having a value at least equal to the condition of the asset subject
to the loss, damage or destruction) immediately prior to the loss, destruction
or other event giving rise to the payment of such insurance proceeds and (B) on
the date of such release no Default or Event of Default exists. If the
conditions in the preceding sentence are not met, the Administrative Agent may
or, upon the request of the Required Lenders, shall at any time after the first
Business Day subsequent to the date 30 days after it received such insurance
proceeds, apply such insurance proceeds as a mandatory prepayment of the Credit
Party Obligations for application in accordance with the terms of Section
3.3(b)(iii). All insurance proceeds shall be subject to the security interest of
the Lenders under the Collateral Documents.

The present insurance coverage of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries is
outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type and amount on
Schedule 7.7. Schedule 7.7 shall be amended and updated by the Credit Parties on
an at least annual basis or upon the request of the Administrative Agent.

         7.8      Maintenance of Property.

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

         7.9      Performance of Obligations.

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

         7.10     Collateral.

         If, subsequent to the Closing Date, a Credit Party shall (a) acquire
any patented, registered or applied for intellectual property or any securities
or (b) acquire any other personal property required to be delivered to the
Administrative Agent as Collateral hereunder or under any of the Collateral
Documents, the Borrower shall immediately notify the Administrative Agent of
same. Each Credit Party shall take such action (including, but not limited to,
the actions set forth in Sections 5.1(f)), as reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent and at its own expense, to ensure that the Administrative
Agent has a perfected Lien in all owned personal property of the Credit Parties
as set forth in the Security Agreements and the Pledge Agreements (whether now


                                       72
<PAGE>   78


owned or hereafter acquired), subject only to Permitted Liens. Each Credit Party
shall adhere to the covenants regarding the location of personal property as set
forth in the Security Agreements.

         7.11     Use of Proceeds.

         The Maxim Group Parties will use the proceeds of the Loans solely (a)
to repay Indebtedness owing under the Prior Credit Agreement, (b) to provide
working capital, (c) to make Capital Expenditures, (d) to make Permitted
Acquisitions and (e) for general corporate purposes. The Maxim Group Parties
will use the Revolving Letters of Credit solely for the purposes set forth in
Section 2.2(a). The Stand Alone Letter of Credit shall be used solely for the
purposes set forth in Section 2.3(a).

         7.12     Audits/Inspections.

         Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, each Credit
Party will permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents,
attorneys and appraisers to visit and inspect such Credit Party's property,
including its books and records, its accounts receivable and inventory, its
facilities and its other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs
thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains
and shall permit the Administrative Agent or its representatives or any Lender
or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of information
provided to the Lenders, and to discuss all such matters with the officers,
employees and representatives of the Credit Parties. The Credit Parties agree
that the Administrative Agent may conduct such collateral reviews, at the Credit
Parties' expense, as it reasonably deems appropriate.

         7.13     Additional Credit Parties.

         At the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary of a Credit Party, the
Borrower shall so notify the Administrative Agent and promptly thereafter (but
in any event within 30 days after the date thereof) shall cause such Person to
(a) if it is a Domestic Subsidiary, execute a Joinder Agreement in substantially
the same form as Exhibit 7.13, (b) cause all of the capital stock of such Person
(if it is a Domestic Subsidiary) or 65% of the capital stock of such Person (if
it is a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary) to be delivered to the Administrative
Agent (together with undated stock powers signed in blank) and pledged to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to an appropriate pledge agreement in
substantially the form of the Pledge Agreement (or a joinder to the existing
Pledge Agreement) and otherwise in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, (c) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary, pledge all of
its assets to the Administrative Agent pursuant to a security agreement in
substantially the form of the Security Agreement (or a joinder to the existing
Security Agreement) and otherwise in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, and (d) if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary and has
any Subsidiaries, (A) deliver all of the capital stock of such Domestic
Subsidiaries owned by it and 65% of the stock of the First Tier Foreign
Subsidiaries owned by it (together with undated stock powers signed in blank) to
the Administrative Agent and (B) execute a pledge agreement in substantially the
form of the Pledge Agreement (or a joinder to the existing Pledge Agreement)



                                       73
<PAGE>   79


and otherwise in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (e) if such
Person is a Domestic Subsidiary and leases any real property, cause to be
delivered in a commercially reasonable manner a landlord waiver or estoppel
letter with respect thereto in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent)
and (f) deliver such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request in connection with the foregoing, including, without
limitation, appropriate UCC-1 financing statements, environmental reports,
landlord's waivers, certified resolutions and other organizational and
authorizing documents of such Person and favorable opinions of counsel to such
Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding
effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to above), all in form,
content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         7.14     Purchase Agreement.

         The Credit Parties agree to diligently enforce their rights with
respect to the indemnification provisions set forth in the Purchase Agreement in
accordance with prudent business practices.

         7.15     Year 2000 Compliance.

         Each Credit Party will promptly notify the Administrative Agent in the
event such Credit Party discovers or determines that any computer application
that is material to its or any of its Subsidiaries' business and operations will
not be Year 2000 Compliant, except to the extent that such failure could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


                                    SECTION 8

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that so long as this
Credit Agreement is in effect and until the Loans and LOC Obligations, together
with interest, fees and other obligations then due and payable hereunder, have
been paid in full and the Commitments and Letters of Credit hereunder shall have
terminated:

         8.1      Indebtedness.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

                  (a) Indebtedness arising (i) under this Credit Agreement and
         the other Credit Documents and (ii) under the Maxim Retail Credit
         Agreement and the other Credit Documents (as defined in the Maxim
         Retail Credit Agreement);

                  (b) Indebtedness existing as of the Closing Date as referenced
         in Section 6.10 (and renewals, refinancings, replacements or extensions
         thereof on terms and conditions no more favorable, in the aggregate, to
         such creditor than such existing Indebtedness and in a



                                       74
<PAGE>   80


         principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of
         such renewal, refinancing, replacement or extension);

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

                  (d) Indebtedness owing (i) by a Maxim Group Party to another
         Maxim Group Party, (ii) by a Maxim Retail Party to another Maxim Retail
         Party and (iii) by one or more of the Maxim Group Parties to one or
         more of the Maxim Retail Parties in an amount not to exceed, in the
         aggregate, $5,000,000 at any one time;

                  (e) purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in
         respect of Capital Leases or Synthetic Leases) to finance the purchase
         of fixed assets (including equipment); provided that (i) the total of
         all such Indebtedness (including any such Indebtedness referred to in
         subsection (b) above) for all such Persons taken together shall not
         exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of (A) an aggregate
         principal amount of $5,000,000 plus (B) the principal amount of
         Indebtedness outstanding under the Participation Agreement and
         Operative Agreements; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not
         exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed; and (iii) no such
         Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of
         the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such
         refinancing;

                  (f) Indebtedness assumed in connection with Permitted
         Acquisitions permitted by Section 8.7 (so long as such Indebtedness was
         not incurred in anticipation of the respective Permitted Acquisition);

                  (g) Indebtedness arising from Hedging Agreements entered into
         in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

                  (h) the Subordinated Debt;

                  (i) the Bonds;

                  (j) Indebtedness up to $10,000,000 under the Participation
         Agreement and the Operative Agreements (as defined in the Participation
         Agreement);

                  (k) Indebtedness up to $18,048,000 under the Shaw Promissory
         Note; and

                  (l) other unsecured Indebtedness up to $2,000,000, in the
         aggregate, at any one time outstanding.


                                       75
<PAGE>   81


         8.2      Liens.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, contract,
create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its
property or assets of any kind (whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible), whether now owned or after acquired, except for Permitted Liens.

         8.3      Nature of Business.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, alter the
character of its business from that conducted as of the Effective Date or engage
in any business other than the business conducted as of the Effective Date and
activities which are substantially similar or related thereto or logical
extensions thereof.

         8.4      Consolidation and Merger.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into
any transaction of merger or consolidation or liquidate, wind up or dissolve
itself; provided that (i) any Maxim Group Party may merge or consolidate with or
into another Maxim Group Party and (ii) any Maxim Retail Party may merge or
consolidate with or into another Maxim Retail Party, if the following conditions
are satisfied:

                  (a)      the Administrative Agent is given prior written
         notice of such action;

                  (b) (i) if the merger or consolidation involves a Maxim Group
         Party, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which a Maxim
         Group Party is merged shall either (A) be such Maxim Group Party or (B)
         be a Domestic Subsidiary of such Maxim Group Party and expressly assume
         in writing all of the obligations of such Maxim Group Party under the
         Credit Documents; provided that if the transaction is between the
         Borrower and another Person, the Borrower must be the surviving entity
         or (ii) if a merger or consolidation involves a Maxim Retail Party, the
         Person formed by such consolidation or into which a Maxim Retail Party
         is merged shall either (A) be such Maxim Retail Party or (B) be a
         Domestic Subsidiary of such Maxim Retail Party and expressly assume in
         writing all of the obligations of such Maxim Retail Party under the
         Credit Documents; provided that if the transaction is between Maxim
         Retail and another Person, Maxim Retail must be the surviving entity;

                  (c) the Credit Parties execute and deliver such documents,
         instruments and certificates as the Administrative Agent may request
         (including, if necessary, to maintain its perfection and priority in
         the Collateral pledged pursuant to the Collateral Documents);

                  (d) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
         Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and


                                       76
<PAGE>   82


                  (e) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent an
         officer's certificate demonstrating compliance with clause (b) or (c)
         above, as applicable, and an opinion of counsel stating that such
         consolidation or merger and any written agreement entered into in
         connection therewith, comply with this Section 8.4.

         8.5      Sale or Lease of Assets.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, convey,
sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, all or any part of its business or assets whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, including, without limitation, inventory, receivables,
equipment, real property interests (whether owned or leasehold), and securities,
other than (a) any inventory sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business; (b) (i) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposal by a
Maxim Group Party (other than the Borrower) of any or all of its assets to
another Maxim Group Party and (ii) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposal
by a Maxim Retail Party (other than Maxim Retail) of any or all of its assets to
another Maxim Retail Party; (c) obsolete, slow-moving, idle or worn-out assets
no longer used or useful in its business or the trade in of equipment for
equipment in better condition or of better quality; (d) the transfer of assets
which constitute a Permitted Investment; (e) the lease or sublease of real
property interests in the ordinary course of business; (f) accounts receivable
and related rights and interests sold to GE Capital pursuant to the terms of the
GE Capital Dealer Agreement; (g) the sale by the Maxim Group Parties of assets
in an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 pursuant to a sale leaseback transaction
on terms and conditions satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative
Agent and (h) other sales of assets not to exceed $2,500,000, in the aggregate,
during the term of this Credit Agreement in connection with the closing and
liquidation of retail stores.

         Upon a sale of assets permitted by this Section 8.5, the Administrative
Agent shall promptly deliver to the Borrower, upon the Borrower's request and at
the Borrower's expense, such documentation as is reasonably necessary to
evidence the release of the Administrative Agent's security interest in such
assets, including, without limitation, amendments or terminations of UCC
financing statements.

         8.6      Sale Leasebacks.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety
with respect to any lease of any property (whether real or personal or mixed),
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which such Credit Party or its
Subsidiary has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to any other Person
other than (i) with respect to any Maxim Group Party, another Maxim Group Party
and (ii) with respect to any Maxim Retail Party, another Maxim Retail Party or
(b) which such Credit Party or its Subsidiary intends to use for substantially
the same purpose as any other property which has been sold or is to be sold or
transferred by such Credit Party to any Person in connection with such lease;
provided, however, that the Maxim Group Parties may enter into a sale leaseback
transaction on terms and conditions satisfactory in form and substance to the
Administrative Agent; provided, further, such sale leaseback transaction does
not exceed $35,000,000 in the aggregate.


                                       77
<PAGE>   83


         8.7      Advances, Investments and Loans.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, make any
Investments except for Permitted Investments.

         8.8      Restricted Payments.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, (a) declare or pay any dividends or make any other distribution
upon any shares of its capital stock of any class other than payment of
dividends by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to its parent or (b) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire or make any provisions for redemption,
acquisition or retirement of any shares of its capital stock of any class or any
warrants or options to purchase any such shares other than the purchase of
shares by the Borrower permitted pursuant to clause (g) of the definition of
Permitted Investments.

         8.9      Transactions with Affiliates.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, enter
into any transaction or series of transactions, whether or not in the ordinary
course of business, with any officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or
Affiliate other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would
be obtainable in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person other than
an officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate; it being understood
and agreed by the Credit Parties that any transaction between a Maxim Group
Party and a Maxim Retail Party shall be an arm's length transaction and
otherwise on terms and conditions substantially similar as would be obtainable
in a comparable non-affiliated transaction. Furthermore, the Maxim Group Parties
hereby agree that the aggregate book value of all Receivables owned by or owing
to any Maxim Group Party for which any Maxim Retail Party is the account debtor
shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time.

         8.10     Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, (a)
change its fiscal year or (b) in any manner that would reasonably be likely to
adversely affect the rights of the Lenders, change its articles or certificate
of incorporation or its bylaws.

         8.11     No Limitations.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, directly
or indirectly, create or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to
exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind
on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other
distribution on any of such Person's capital stock, (b) pay any Indebtedness
owed to any other Credit Party, (c) make loans or advances to any other Credit
Party or (d) transfer any of its property to any other Credit Party, except for
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) customary
non-assignment or net worth provisions in any lease governing a leasehold
interest, (ii) any agreement or other instrument of a Person existing at the
time it becomes a



                                       78
<PAGE>   84


Subsidiary of a Credit Party; provided that such encumbrance or restriction is
not applicable to any other Person, or any property of any other Person, other
than such Person becoming a Subsidiary of a Credit Party and was not entered
into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of a Credit Party,
(iii) this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (iv) the Maxim
Retail Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents (as defined in the Maxim
Retail Credit Agreement) and (v) the Indenture.

         8.12     No Other Negative Pledges.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit its Subsidiaries to, enter
into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise
restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any
security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation
except as set forth in (a) the Credit Documents, (b) the Credit Documents (as
defined in the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement) and (c) the Indenture.

         8.13     Limitation on Foreign Operations.

         The Credit Parties will not, nor will they permit any of their
Subsidiaries to, allow the Foreign Subsidiaries to have assets which in the
aggregate constitute more than 5% of Total Assets at any time.

         8.14     Capital Expenditures.

         The Maxim Group Parties shall not make Capital Expenditures of more
than (i) $50,000,000 in the aggregate in fiscal year 1999, (ii) $50,000,000 in
the aggregate in fiscal year 2000 and (iii) $40,000,000 in the aggregate in any
fiscal year of the Borrower subsequent to fiscal year 2000. The Maxim Retail
Parties shall not make any Capital Expenditures of more than (i) $15,000,000 in
the aggregate in fiscal year 1999, (ii) $15,000,000 in the aggregate in fiscal
year 2000 and (iii) $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Maxim
Retail subsequent to fiscal year 2000.

         8.15     Prepayments of Indebtedness.

         No Credit Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
(a) amend or modify (or permit the amendment or modification of) any of the
terms of any Indebtedness if such amendment or modification would add or change
any terms in a manner adverse to the Lenders, including but not limited to,
shortening final maturity or average life to maturity of such Indebtedness or
requiring any payment to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increasing
the interest rate applicable thereto or change any subordination provision
thereof, (b) during the existence of a Default or Event of Default, or if a
Default or Event of Default would be caused as a result thereof make (or give
any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment
or redemption or acquisition for value of (including, without limitation, by way
of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before
due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any
other Indebtedness.


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<PAGE>   85


         8.16     Subordinated Debt.

         No Credit Party will (a) make or offer to make any principal payments
with respect to the Subordinated Debt, (b) redeem or offer to redeem any of the
Subordinated Debt, or (c) deposit any funds intended to discharge or defease any
or all of the Subordinated Debt. The Subordinated Debt may not be amended or
modified in any material manner without the prior written consent of the
Required Lenders.

         8.17     Limitation on Store Openings.

         The Credit Parties will not, nor will they permit their Subsidiaries
to, open or start up, in the aggregate, more than fifty (50) new stores in any
fiscal year of the Borrower.


                                    SECTION 9

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         9.1      Events of Default.

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

                  (a) Payment. Any Credit Party shall default in the payment (i)
         when due of any principal of any of the Loans or any reimbursement
         obligation arising from drawings under Letters of Credit or (ii) within
         three Business Days of when due of any interest on the Loans or any
         fees or other amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit
         Documents or in connection herewith.

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

                  (c) Covenants. Any Credit Party shall:

                           (i) default in the due performance or observance of
                  any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.2,
                  7.3, 7.5, 7.11, 7.12, or 8.1 through 8.17 inclusive;

                           (ii) default in the due performance or observance by
                  it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections
                  7.1 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of
                  five Business Days;


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<PAGE>   86


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

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

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

                  (f) Bankruptcy, etc. The occurrence of any of the following:
         (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises
         shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of any Credit Party
         or any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
         or appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
         sequestrator or similar official of any Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property or ordering
         the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) an involuntary
         case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law
         now or hereafter in effect is commenced against any Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries and such petition remains unstayed and in effect
         for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (iii) any Credit Party or any
         of its Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case under any
         applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter
         in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an
         involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or
         taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
         trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or any
         substantial part of its property or make any general assignment for the
         benefit of creditors; or (iv) any Credit Party or any of its
         Subsidiaries shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
         generally as they become due or any action shall be taken by such
         Person in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes.

                  (g)      Defaults under Other Agreements.

                           (i) Except for the Indenture Default, a Credit Party
                  or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in the due
                  performance or observance (beyond the



                                       81
<PAGE>   87


                  applicable grace period with respect thereto) of any material
                  obligation or condition of any contract or lease to which it
                  is a party; or

                           (ii) With respect to any Indebtedness in excess of
                  $2,000,000 (other than Indebtedness outstanding under this
                  Credit Agreement) of a Credit Party or any of their
                  Subsidiaries (i) such Person shall (A) default in any payment
                  (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if
                  any) with respect to any such Indebtedness, or (B) except for
                  the Indenture Default, default (after giving effect to any
                  applicable grace period) in the observance or performance
                  relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument
                  or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any
                  other event or condition shall occur or condition exist, the
                  effect of which default or other event or condition is to
                  cause, or permit, the holder or holders of such Indebtedness
                  (or trustee or agent on behalf of such holders) to cause
                  (determined without regard to whether any notice or lapse of
                  time is required) any such Indebtedness to become due prior to
                  its stated maturity; or (ii) any such Indebtedness shall be
                  declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than
                  by a regularly scheduled required prepayment prior to the
                  stated maturity thereof; or (iii) any such Indebtedness shall
                  mature and remain unpaid.

                  (h) Judgments. One or more judgments, orders, or decrees shall
         be entered against any one or more of the Credit Parties and its
         Subsidiaries involving a liability of $2,000,000 or more, in the
         aggregate, (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance provided by
         a carrier who has acknowledged coverage) and such judgments, orders or
         decrees (i) are the subject of any enforcement proceeding commenced by
         any creditor or (ii) shall continue unsatisfied, undischarged and
         unstayed for a period ending on the first to occur of (A) the last day
         on which such judgment, order or decree becomes final and unappealable
         or (B) 60 days.

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


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<PAGE>   88


         ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person
         against any such liability.

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

                  (k) Maxim Retail Credit Agreement. There shall occur an Event
         of Default (as defined in the Maxim Retail Credit Agreement) under the
         Maxim Retail Credit Agreement.

                  (l) Synthetic Lease. There shall occur an Event of Default (as
         defined in the Participation Agreement) under the Participation
         Agreement.

                  (m) Subordinated Debt. Any holder of the Subordinated Debt
         alleges in writing (or any Governmental Authority with applicable
         jurisdiction determines) (i) that the Lenders are not holders of Senior
         Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) or (ii) the subordinated
         provisions in the Indenture shall, in whole or part, terminate, cease
         to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable
         against any holder of the Subordinated Debt.

                  (n) Default on Subordinated Debt. There shall occur (i) (other
         than the Indenture Default) an Event of Default (as defined in the
         Indenture) under the Indenture or (ii) a Change of Control (as defined
         in the Indenture) under the Indenture.

                  (o) Shaw Promissory Note. There shall occur a default or event
         of default under the Shaw Promissory Note.

                  (p) Indenture Default. The failure of the Credit Parties to
         receive a written waiver of the Indenture Default in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on or before January 31, 1999.

                  (q) Action by Subordinated Debt Holders. The holders of the
         Subordinated Debt or any Person acting on behalf of the holders of the
         Subordinated Debt shall take any remedial action (whether affirmative
         or by omission) with respect to the Indenture Default (other than the
         waiver thereof), including but not limited to, acceleration of the
         Subordinated Debt, written demand with respect to the Subordinated Debt
         or the pursuit of any assets of the Credit Parties in connection
         therewith.

         9.2      Acceleration; Remedies.

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


                                       83
<PAGE>   89


                  (a) Termination of Commitments. Declare the Commitments
         terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

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

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

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

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

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

         9.3      Allocation of Payments After Event of Default.

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

                  FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
         and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees)
         of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders in connection with
         enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit


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<PAGE>   90


         Documents and any protective advances made by the Administrative Agent
         or any of the Lenders with respect to the Collateral under or pursuant
         to the terms of the Collateral Documents;

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

                  THIRD, to the payment of all accrued interest payable to the
         Lenders hereunder and all other obligations which shall have become due
         and payable under the Credit Documents and not repaid pursuant to
         clauses "FIRST" and "SECOND" above;

                  FOURTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of
         the Loans and unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit, to the
         payment or cash collateralization of the outstanding Revolving LOC
         Obligations and Stand Alone LOC Obligations, pro rata as set forth
         below;

                  FIFTH, to any principal amounts outstanding under Hedging
         Agreements between a Credit Party and a Lender, pro rata, as set forth
         below; and

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

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


                                   SECTION 10

                                AGENCY PROVISIONS

         10.1     Appointment.

                  (a) Each Lender hereby designates and appoints NationsBank,
N.A. as Administrative Agent of such Lender to act as specified herein and the
other Credit Documents, and


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<PAGE>   91


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

         (b) Each Lender hereby consents to and approves the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1(b).
By execution hereof, the Lenders acknowledge the terms of the Intercreditor
Agreement and agree to be bound by the terms thereof and further authorize and
direct the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on
behalf of the Lenders.

         10.2     Delegation of Duties.

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

         10.3     Exculpatory Provisions.

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



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

         10.4     Reliance on Communications.

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

         10.5     Notice of Default.

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


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         10.6     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

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

         10.7     Indemnification.

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



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furnished. The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the
Credit Party Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the
other Credit Documents.

         10.8     Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity.

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

         10.9     Successor Administrative Agent.

                  (a) The Administrative Agent may, at any time, resign upon 20
days written notice to the Lenders. Upon any such resignation, the Required
Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no
successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required
Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 60 days after the
notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent shall select a
successor Administrative Agent, provided such successor is an Eligible Assignee.
Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by
a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and
become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring
Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations as the Administrative Agent, as appropriate,
under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the provisions of
this Section 10.9 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted
to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent under this Credit
Agreement.

                  (b) SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, in its capacity as Documentation
Agent and Fleet National Bank, in its capacity as Co-Agent shall have no duties
or obligations whatsoever under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit
Documents.


                                   SECTION 11

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         11.1     Notices.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other
communications shall have been duly given and shall be effective (a) when
delivered, (b) when transmitted via telecopy (or other facsimile device) to the
number set out below, (c) the Business Day following the day on which the same
has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier
service, or (d) the third Business Day following the day on which the same is
sent by certified or registered



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mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the respective parties at the address or
telecopy numbers set forth on Schedule 11.1, or at such other address as such
party may specify by written notice to the other parties hereto.

         11.2     Right of Set-Off.

         In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law
or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default and the commencement of remedies described in
Section 9.2, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time,
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind (all of which
rights being hereby expressly waived), to set-off and to appropriate and apply
any and all deposits (general or special) and any other indebtedness at any time
held or owing by such Lender (including, without limitation, branches, agencies
or Affiliates of such Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the
account of any Credit Party against obligations and liabilities of such Credit
Party to the Lenders hereunder, under the Notes, the other Credit Documents or
otherwise, irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall
have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations, liabilities or
claims, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured, and any such set-off
shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default even though such charge is made or entered on the books of such Lender
subsequent thereto. The Credit Parties hereby agree that any Person purchasing a
participation in the Loans and Commitments hereunder pursuant to Section 11.3(c)
or 3.8 may exercise all rights of set-off with respect to its participation
interest as fully as if such Person were a Lender hereunder.

         11.3     Benefit of Agreement.

                  (a) Generally. This Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and
         inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors
         and assigns of the parties hereto; provided that none of the Credit
         Parties may assign and transfer any of its interests (except as
         permitted by Section 8.4 or 8.5) without the prior written consent of
         the Lenders; and provided further that the rights of each Lender to
         transfer, assign or grant participations in its rights and/or
         obligations hereunder shall be limited as set forth below in this
         Section 11.3.

                  (b) Assignments. Each Lender may assign to one or more
         Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under
         this Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion
         of its Loans, its Notes, and its Commitments); provided, however, that:

                           (i)  each such assignment shall be to an Eligible
                  Assignee;

                           (ii) except in the case of an assignment to another
                  Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender's rights and
                  obligations under this Credit Agreement, any such partial
                  assignment shall be in an amount at least equal to



                                       90
<PAGE>   96


                  $5,000,000 (or, if less, the remaining amount of the
                  Commitment being assigned by such Lender) or an integral
                  multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

                           (iii) each such assignment by a Lender shall be of a
                  constant, and not varying, percentage of all of its rights and
                  obligations under this Credit Agreement and the Notes;

                           (iv) unless otherwise agreed to by the Borrower and
                  the Administrative Agent, such Lender proposing to assign a
                  portion of its Commitment shall be required to assign to such
                  Eligible Assignee (A) an identical percentage of its
                  Commitment (as defined in Appendix A to the Participation
                  Agreement) and (B) an identical percentage of its Holder
                  Commitment (as defined in Appendix A to the Participation
                  Agreement); provided that to the extent an Affiliate of any
                  Lender holds any portion of such Commitment or Holder
                  Commitment, such Lender shall cause such Affiliate to assign
                  to such Eligible Assignee (C) an identical percentage of its
                  Commitment (as defined in the Appendix A to the Participation
                  Agreement) and (D) an identical percentage of its Holder
                  Commitment (as defined in Appendix A to the Participation
                  Agreement);

                           (v) the parties to such assignment shall execute and
                  deliver to the Administrative Agent for its acceptance an
                  Assignment Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit
                  11.3(b), together with a processing fee from the assignor of
                  $3,500.

         Upon execution, delivery, and acceptance of such Assignment Agreement,
         the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of
         such assignment, have the obligations, rights, and benefits of a Lender
         hereunder and the assigning Lender shall, to the extent of such
         assignment, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations
         under this Credit Agreement. Upon the consummation of any assignment
         pursuant to this Section 11.3(b), the assignor, the Administrative
         Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements so that, if
         required, new Notes are issued to the assignor and the assignee. If the
         assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of
         America or a state thereof, it shall deliver to the Borrower and the
         Administrative Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or
         withholding of taxes in accordance with Section 3.13.

         By executing and delivering an assignment agreement in accordance with
         this Section 11.3(b), the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee
         thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and
         the other parties hereto as follows: (A) such assigning Lender warrants
         that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being
         assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and the assignee
         warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee; (B) except as set forth in
         clause (A) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or
         warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
         warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Credit
         Agreement, any of the other Credit Documents or any other instrument or
         document furnished pursuant hereto



                                       91
<PAGE>   97


         or thereto, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
         genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Credit Agreement, any of the
         other Credit Documents or any other instrument or document furnished
         pursuant hereto or thereto or the financial condition of any Credit
         Party or the performance or observance by any Credit Party of any of
         its obligations under this Credit Agreement, any of the other Credit
         Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto
         or thereto; (C) such assignee represents and warrants that it is
         legally authorized to enter into such assignment agreement; (D) such
         assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Credit Agreement,
         the other Credit Documents and such other documents and information as
         it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision
         to enter into such assignment agreement; (E) such assignee will
         independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, such
         assigning Lender or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
         information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
         its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this
         Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents; (F) such assignee
         appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on
         its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Credit Agreement or
         any other Credit Document as are delegated to the Administrative Agent
         by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers as are
         reasonably incidental thereto; and (G) such assignee agrees that it
         will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which
         by the terms of this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents
         are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

                  (c) Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain a copy
         of each Assignment Agreement delivered to and accepted by it and a
         register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders
         and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each
         Lender from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register
         shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
         error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may
         treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender
         hereunder for all purposes of this Credit Agreement. The Register shall
         be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any
         reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

                  (d) Acceptance. Upon its receipt of an Assignment Agreement
         executed by the parties thereto, together with any Note subject to such
         assignment and payment of the processing fee, the Administrative Agent
         shall, if such Assignment Agreement has been completed and is in
         substantially the form of Exhibit 11.3(b) hereto, (i) accept such
         Assignment Agreement, (ii) record the information contained therein in
         the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the parties
         thereto.

                  (e) Participations. Each Lender may sell participations to one
         or more Persons in all or a portion of its rights, obligations or
         rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or a
         portion of its Commitments and its Loans); provided, however, that (i)
         such Lender's obligations under this Credit Agreement shall remain
         unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
         other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the
         participant shall be entitled to the benefit of the yield protection
         provisions contained in Sections 3.9 through 3.14,



                                       92
<PAGE>   98


         inclusive, and the right of set-off contained in Section 11.2, and (iv)
         the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
         Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under
         this Credit Agreement, and such Lender shall retain the sole right to
         enforce the obligations of the Borrower relating to its Loans and its
         Notes and to approve any amendment, modification, or waiver of any
         provision of this Credit Agreement (other than amendments,
         modifications, or waivers decreasing the amount of principal of or the
         rate at which interest is payable on such Loans or Notes, extending any
         scheduled principal payment date or date fixed for the payment of
         interest on such Loans or Notes, extending its Commitments or releasing
         all or substantially all of the Collateral securing the Credit Party
         Obligations).

                  (f) Nonrestricted Assignments. Notwithstanding any other
         provision set forth in this Credit Agreement, any Lender may at any
         time assign and pledge all or any portion of its Loans and its Notes to
         any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation
         A and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No
         such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations
         hereunder.

                  (g) Information. Any Lender may furnish any information
         concerning the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the possession of
         such Lender from time to time to assignees and participants (including
         prospective assignees and participants), subject, however, to the
         provisions of Section 11.16 hereof.

         11.4     No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.

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

         11.5     Payment of Expenses; Indemnification.

         The Credit Parties agree to: (a) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs
and expenses of (i) the Administrative Agent and NMS in connection with (A) the
negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery and administration of this
Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents and the documents and
instruments referred to therein (including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees and expenses of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC, special counsel to the
Administrative Agent), (B) any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto and
thereto including, but not limited to, any such



                                       93
<PAGE>   99


amendments, waivers or consents resulting from or related to any work-out,
renegotiation or restructure relating to the performance by the Credit Parties
under this Credit Agreement, and (C) searches of the UCC and the preparation and
filing of UCC financing statements in connection with such searches subsequent
to the Closing Date (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
expenses of Moore & Van Allen, PLLC) and (ii) the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders in connection with (A) enforcement of the Credit Documents and the
documents and instruments referred to therein, including, without limitation, in
connection with any such enforcement, the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and (B) any
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding of a Credit Party of any of its Subsidiaries
and (b) indemnify the Administrative Agent, NMS and each Lender, its officers,
directors, employees, representatives and agents from and hold each of them
harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses
incurred by any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or in any way related
to, or by reason of, any investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether
or not the Administrative Agent, NMS or Lender is a party thereto) related to
(i) the entering into and/or performance of any Credit Document or the use of
proceeds of any Loans (including other extensions of credit) hereunder or the
consummation of any other transactions contemplated in any Credit Document,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
incurred in connection with any such investigation, litigation or other
proceeding, (ii) any Environmental Claim, (iii) any claims for Non-Excluded
Taxes (but excluding in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, any such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the extent incurred by reason of
gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Person to be
indemnified).

         11.6     Amendments, Waivers and Consents.

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

                  (a) extend the final maturity of any Loan or of any
         reimbursement obligation; or any portion thereof, arising from drawings
         under Letters of Credit;

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

                  (c) reduce or waive the principal amount of any Loan or of any
         reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings
         under Letters of Credit;

                  (d) increase or extend the Revolving Committed Amount, the LOC
         Committed Amount or the Commitment of any Lender (it being understood
         and agreed that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or a waiver
         of any mandatory reduction in the Revolving Committed Amount or the LOC
         Committed Amount shall not constitute a change in the



                                       94
<PAGE>   100


         terms of the Revolving Committed Amount, the LOC Committed Amount or
         the Commitment of any Lender);

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

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

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

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

                  (i) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of
         any of its rights and obligations under (or in respect of) the Credit
         Documents.

Notwithstanding the above, no provisions of Section 10 may be amended or
modified without the consent of the Administrative Agent, and no provisions of
Section 2.2, Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 may be amended or modified without the
consent of the Issuing Lender.

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

         11.7     Counterparts/Telecopy.

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

         11.8     Headings.

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


                                       95
<PAGE>   101


         11.9     Defaulting Lender.

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

         11.10    Survival of Indemnification and Representations and 
Warranties.

         All indemnities set forth herein and all representations and warranties
made herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement,
the making of the Loans, the issuance of the Letters of Credit and the repayment
of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations and the termination of the
Commitments hereunder.

         11.11    Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

                  (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE
         RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE
         GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
         OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to
         this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document may be brought in
         the courts of the State of North Carolina or of the United States for
         the Western District of North Carolina, and, by execution and delivery
         of this Credit Agreement, each Credit Party hereby irrevocably accepts
         for itself and in respect of its property, generally and
         unconditionally, the jurisdiction of such courts. Each Credit Party
         further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of
         the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the
         mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage
         prepaid, to it at the address for notices pursuant to Section 11.1,
         such service to become effective 10 days after such mailing. Nothing
         herein shall affect the right of a Lender to serve process in any other
         manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or to
         otherwise proceed against a Credit Party in any other jurisdiction.
         Each Credit Party agrees that a final judgment in any action or
         proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
         jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided
         by law; provided that nothing in this Section 11.11(a) is intended to
         impair a Credit Party's right under applicable law to appeal or seek a
         stay of any judgment.

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


                                       96
<PAGE>   102


         11.12    Waiver of Jury Trial.

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

         11.13    Time.

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

         11.14    Severability.

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

         11.15    Further Assurances.

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

         11.16    Confidentiality.

         Each Lender agrees that it will use its reasonable best efforts to keep
confidential and to cause any representative designated under Section 7.12 to
keep confidential any non-public information from time to time supplied to it
under any Credit Document; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent
the disclosure of any such information to (a) the extent a Lender in good faith
believes such disclosure is required by Requirement of Law, (b) counsel for a
Lender or to its accountants, (c) bank examiners or auditors or comparable
Persons, (d) any affiliate of a Lender, (e) any other Lender, or any assignee,
transferee or participant, or any potential assignee, transferee or participant,
of all or any portion of any Lender's rights under this Agreement who is
notified of the confidential nature of the information or (f) any other Person
in connection with any litigation to which any one or more of the Lenders is a
party; and provided further that no Lender shall have any obligation under this
Section 11.16 to the extent any such information becomes available on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than a Credit Party or that any
information becomes publicly available other than by a breach of this Section
11.16 by any Lender or representative thereof.


                                       97
<PAGE>   103


         11.17    Entirety.

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

         11.18    Binding Effect; Continuing Agreement.

                  (a) This Credit Agreement shall become effective at such time
         when all of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied
         or waived by the Lenders and it shall have been executed by the
         Borrower, the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, and the
         Administrative Agent shall have received copies hereof (telefaxed or
         otherwise) which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each
         Lender, and thereafter this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and
         inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Guarantors, the
         Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective successors
         and assigns. Upon this Credit Agreement becoming effective, the Prior
         Credit Agreement shall be deemed terminated and the lenders party to
         the Prior Credit Agreement shall no longer have any obligations
         thereunder.

                  (b) This Credit Agreement shall be a continuing agreement and
         shall remain in full force and effect until all Loans, LOC Obligations,
         interest, fees and other Credit Party Obligations have been paid in
         full and all Commitments and Letters of Credit have been terminated.
         Upon termination, the Credit Parties shall have no further obligations
         (other than the indemnification provisions that survive) under the
         Credit Documents and the Administrative Agent shall, at the request and
         expense of the Borrower, deliver all Collateral in its possession to
         the Borrower and release all Liens on Collateral; provided that should
         any payment, in whole or in part, of the Credit Party Obligations be
         rescinded or otherwise required to be restored or returned by the
         Administrative Agent or any Lender, whether as a result of any
         proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, then the
         Credit Documents shall automatically be reinstated and all Liens of the
         Lenders shall reattach to the Collateral and all amounts required to be
         restored or returned and all costs and expenses incurred by the
         Administrative Agent or Lender in connection therewith shall be deemed
         included as part of the Credit Party Obligations.




                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]



                                       98
<PAGE>   104




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

BORROWER:                         THE MAXIM GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation


                                  By:  /s/ Thomas P. Leahey
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Thomas P. Leahey
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: EVP
                                        ---------------------------------------


GUARANTORS:
                                  IMAGE INDUSTRIES, INC., a Delaware
                                  corporation


                                  By:  /s/  Thomas P. Leahey
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Thomas P. Leahey
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: Asst. Secretary
                                        ---------------------------------------


                                  CARPETMAX, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership
                                  By:      The Maxim Group, Inc. as its sole
                                           general partner

                                  By:  /s/  Thomas P. Leahey
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Thomas P. Leahey
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: EVP
                                        ---------------------------------------


                                  BAILEY & ROBERTS CARPETMAX OF
                                  TENNESSEE, INC., a Tennessee corporation
                                  C & S TEXTILES, INC., an Idaho corporation
                                  CARPETMAX ALABAMA CONTRACT, INC.,
                                  an Alabama corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF ALABAMA, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF CHARLOTTE, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF FLORIDA, INC., a Delaware
                                  corporation

                              [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]


<PAGE>   105



                                  CARPETMAX OF INDIANA, INC., an Indiana
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF IOWA, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF JACKSONVILLE, INC., a
                                  Georgia corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF KENTUCKY, INC., a Delaware
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC., a
                                  Georgia corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF OHIO, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF PALM BEACH, INC., a
                                  Georgia corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF TEXAS, INC., a Texas
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX OF UTAH, INC., a Utah
                                  corporation
                                  CARPETMAX RETAIL STORES, INC., a
                                  Delaware corporation
                                  CARPETSPLUS OF AMERICA, INC., a
                                  Georgia corporation
                                  GCO, INC., a Nevada corporation
                                  GCO CARPET OUTLET, INC., an Alabama
                                  corporation
                                  INVESTOR MANAGEMENT, INC., an
                                  Alabama corporation
                                  MAXIM EQUIPMENT LEASING COMPANY,
                                  INC., a Georgia corporation
                                  MAXIM INSTALLATION SERVICES, INC., a
                                  Georgia corporation
                                  MAXIM RETAIL GROUP, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  MAXIM RETAIL STORES, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation
                                  RNA ENTERPRISES, INC., a
                                  Delaware corporation
                                  TRI-R OF ORLANDO, INC., a Georgia
                                  corporation

                                  By:  /s/  Thomas P. Leahey
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Thomas P. Leahey
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: VP of each of the foregoing Guarantors
                                        ---------------------------------------

                              [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]


<PAGE>   106



LENDERS:

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


                                  By:  /s/  David H. Dinkins
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  David H. Dinkins
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title:  Vice President
                                        ---------------------------------------



                              [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]



<PAGE>   107



                                  SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA, individually in its 
                                  capacity as a Lender and in its capacity 
                                  as the Documentation Agent


                                  By:  /s/ Bradley J. Staples
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Bradley J. Staples
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: Vice President
                                        ---------------------------------------


                                  By:  /s/ Kelley E. Brunson
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Kelley E. Brunson
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title:  Banking Officer
                                        ---------------------------------------



                                            [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]



<PAGE>   108



                                  FLEET NATIONAL BANK, individually in its
                                  capacity as a Lender and in its
                                  capacity as the Co-Agent


                                  By:  /s/ Oliver Bennett
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Oliver Bennett
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title:  SVP
                                        ---------------------------------------



                              [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]



<PAGE>   109



                                  CITIZENS BANK OF RHODE ISLAND 
                                  PROVIDENCE, R.I.


                                  By:  /s/  Michael Disandro
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:   Michael Disandro
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title:  Vice President
                                        ---------------------------------------



                              [SIGNATURES CONTINUE]


<PAGE>   110



                                  NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA


                                  By:  /s/ E. B. Buchanan
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  E. B. Buchanan
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title: Vice President
                                        ---------------------------------------


                                  By:  /s/ James F. Hannon
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  James F. Hannon
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                  Title:  Vice President
                                        ---------------------------------------