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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.31

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of March 2, 2001


LAFARGE CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks,
financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the "Initial Lenders")
listed on the signature pages hereof, BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE, BNP
PARIBAS, SUNTRUST BANK, WESTDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE, as syndication
agents, SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC., as arranger, and CITIBANK, N.A. ("Citibank"),
as administrative agent (the "Agent") for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined),
agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

                SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

                "Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance or a Competitive Bid
        Advance.

                "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that,
        directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common
        control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person. For
        purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including the terms
        "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control with") of a
        Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote
        10% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the
        direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through
        the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.

                "Agent's Account" means the account of the Agent maintained by
        the Agent at Citibank at its office at 399 Park Avenue, New York, New
        York 10043, Account No. 36852248, Attention: Bank Loan Syndications.

                "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender,
        such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance
        and such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar
        Rate Advance and, in the case of a Competitive Bid Advance, the office
        of such Lender notified by such Lender to the Agent as its Applicable
        Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.

                "Applicable Margin" means (a) for Base Rate Advances, 0% per
        annum and (b) for Eurodollar Rate Advances, as of any date prior to the
        Term Loan Conversion Date, 0.42% per annum and, as of any date after the
        Term Loan Conversion Date, 0.75% per annum.

                "Applicable Percentage" means, as of any date prior to the Term
        Loan Conversion Date, 0.08% per annum.

                "Applicable Utilization Fee" means, as of any date prior to the
        Term Loan Conversion Date that the aggregate Advances exceed 25% of the
        aggregate Commitments, 0.125% per annum.

                "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
        entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the
        Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.

                "Base Rate" means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in
        effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be
        equal to the highest of:
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                        (a)     the rate of interest announced publicly by
                Citibank in New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank's
                base rate;

                        (b)     the sum (adjusted to the nearest 1/4 of 1% or,
                if there is no nearest 1/4 of 1%, to the next higher 1/4 of 1%)
                of (i) 1/2 of 1% per annum, plus (ii) the rate obtained by
                dividing (A) the latest three-week moving average of secondary
                market morning offering rates in the United States for
                three-month certificates of deposit of major United States money
                market banks, such three-week moving average (adjusted to the
                basis of a year of 360 days) being determined weekly on each
                Monday (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next
                succeeding Business Day) for the three-week period ending on the
                previous Friday by Citibank on the basis of such rates reported
                by certificate of deposit dealers to and published by the
                Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if such publication shall
                be suspended or terminated, on the basis of quotations for such
                rates received by Citibank from three New York certificate of
                deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by Citibank, by
                (B) a percentage equal to 100% minus the average of the daily
                percentages specified during such three-week period by the Board
                of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor)
                for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, but
                not limited to, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal
                reserve requirement) for Citibank with respect to liabilities
                consisting of or including (among other liabilities) three-month
                U.S. dollar non-personal time deposits in the United States,
                plus (iii) the average during such three-week period of the
                annual assessment rates estimated by Citibank for determining
                the then current annual assessment payable by Citibank to the
                Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for
                insuring U.S. dollar deposits of Citibank in the United States;
                and

                        (c)     1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal
                Funds Rate.

                "Base Rate Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance that bears
        interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(i).

                "Borrowing" means a Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Competitive
        Bid Borrowing.

                "Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not
        required or authorized by law to close in New York City and, if the
        applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO
        Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank
        market.

                "Commitment" means as to any Lender (a) the amount set forth
        opposite such Lender's name on the signature pages hereof, or (b) if
        such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, the amount
        set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent
        pursuant to Section 8.07(d), as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
        Section 2.05.

                "Competitive Bid Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the
        Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing resulting from the
        competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.03 and refers to a
        Fixed Rate Advance or a LIBO Rate Advance.

                "Competitive Bid Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of
        simultaneous Competitive Bid Advances from each of the Lenders whose
        offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances as part of such
        borrowing has been accepted under the competitive bidding procedure
        described in Section 2.03.

                "Competitive Bid Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower
        payable to the order of any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit
        A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender
        resulting from a Competitive Bid Advance made by such Lender.

                "Competitive Bid Reduction" has the meaning specified in Section
        2.01.

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                "Confidential Information" means confidential or proprietary
        information that the Borrower furnishes to the Agent or any Lender, but
        does not include any such information that is or becomes generally
        available to the public or that is or becomes available to the Agent or
        such Lender from a source other than the Borrower that, to the knowledge
        of the Agent or such Lender, is subject to a confidentiality arrangement
        with the Borrower.

                "Consolidated" refers to the consolidation of accounts in
        accordance with GAAP.

                "Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a
        conversion of Revolving Credit Advances of one Type into Revolving
        Credit Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.09.

                "Debt" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
        indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of
        such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services
        (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such
        Person's business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
        notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all
        obligations of such Person as lessee under leases that have been or
        should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (e) all
        obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of
        acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit, (f) all
        Synthetic Lease Liabilities of such Person, (g) all Debt of others
        referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above or clause (h) below
        guaranteed by such Person, or in effect guaranteed by such Person and
        (h) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or
        for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or
        otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without
        limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even
        though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of
        such Debt, which Debt, in the case of this clause (h) shall be deemed
        not to exceed the fair market value of such encumbered property.

                "Default" means any Event of Default or any event that would
        constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be
        given or time elapse or both.

                "Disclosed Litigation" has the meaning specified in Section
        3.01(b).

                "Domestic Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the
        office of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office"
        opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and
        Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of
        such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower
        and the Agent.

                "EBITDA" means, for any period, net income (or net loss) plus
        the sum of (a) interest expense net of interest income, (b) income tax
        expense, (c) depreciation expense, (d) depletion expense and (e)
        amortization expense, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP
        for such period.

                "Effective Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

                "Eligible Assignee" means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a
        Lender; and (iii) any other Person approved by the Agent and, unless an
        Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any
        assignment is effected in accordance with Section 8.07, the Borrower,
        such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided,
        however, that neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower
        shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.

                "Environmental Action" means any action, suit, demand, demand
        letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of
        liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent
        order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law,
        Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged
        injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment,
        including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory
        authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other
        actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority
        or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost
        recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.



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                "Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign
        statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree
        or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to
        pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural
        resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use,
        handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or
        discharge of Hazardous Materials.

                "Environmental Permit" means any permit, approval,
        identification number, license or other authorization required under any
        Environmental Law.

                "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
        1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and
        rulings issued thereunder.

                "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person that for purposes of Title IV
        of ERISA is a member of the Borrower's controlled group, or under common
        control with the Borrower, within the meaning of Section 414 of the
        Internal Revenue Code.

                "ERISA Event" means (a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable
        event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any
        Plan unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has
        been waived by the PBGC, or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of
        Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of such
        Section) are met with a contributing sponsor, as defined in Section
        4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in paragraph
        (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably
        expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30
        days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a
        Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of
        intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA
        (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to
        in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a
        facility of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances
        described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the
        Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a
        plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section
        4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions for the imposition of a lien
        under Section 302(f) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any
        Plan; (g) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision
        of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the
        institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to
        Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition
        described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the
        termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.

                "Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that term
        in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
        as in effect from time to time.

                "Eurodollar Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender,
        the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar Lending Office"
        opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and
        Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office
        is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such
        Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and
        the Agent.

                "Eurodollar Rate" means, for any Interest Period for each
        Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Revolving Credit
        Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum
        obtained by dividing (a) the rate per annum (rounded upward to the
        nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum) appearing on Telerate
        Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London interbank
        offered rate for deposits in U.S. 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 or, if for any
        reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the
        nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not
        such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars
        are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in
        London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00
        A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such




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        Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference
        Bank's Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of such Revolving Credit
        Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period
        equal to such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal to 100% minus
        the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period. If the
        Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) is unavailable, the
        Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance
        comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be
        determined by the Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to
        and received by the Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days
        before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the
        provisions of Section 2.08.

                "Eurodollar Rate Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance that
        bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(ii).

                "Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" for any Interest Period for
        all Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of
        the same Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable two Business
        Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations
        issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
        Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve
        requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental
        or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal
        Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets
        consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to
        any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to
        which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate
        Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

                "Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

                "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating
        interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the
        weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions
        with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
        brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business
        Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of
        New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a
        Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
        transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of
        recognized standing selected by it.

                "Fixed Rate Advances" has the meaning specified in Section
        2.03(a)(i).

                "GAAP" has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

                "Hazardous Materials" means (a) petroleum and petroleum
        products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials,
        asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas
        and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated,
        classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or
        contaminant under any Environmental Law.

                "Hedge Agreements" means interest rate swap, cap or collar
        agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap
        agreements, currency future or option contracts, commodity future or
        option contracts and other similar agreements.

                "Information Memorandum" means the information memorandum dated
        January 25, 2001 used by the Agent in connection with the syndication of
        the Commitments.

                "Interest Period" means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance
        comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing and each LIBO
        Rate Advance comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing, the
        period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or LIBO
        Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into
        such Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period
        selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and,
        thereafter, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each subsequent
        period commencing on the last day of the immediately



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        preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period
        selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration
        of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, as
        the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00
        A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first
        day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:

                        (i)     the Borrower may not select any Interest Period
                that ends after the Termination Date or, if the Revolving Credit
                Advances have been converted to a term loan pursuant to Section
                2.06 prior to such selection, that ends after the Maturity Date;

                        (ii)    Interest Periods commencing on the same date for
                Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Revolving
                Credit Borrowing or for LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of
                the same Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be of the same
                duration;

                        (iii)   whenever the last day of any Interest Period
                would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the
                last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on
                the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that, if
                such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period
                to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of
                such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business
                Day; and

                        (iv)    whenever the first day of any Interest Period
                occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is
                no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that
                succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months
                equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such
                Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such
                succeeding calendar month.

                "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
        as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and
        rulings issued thereunder.

               "Lenders" means the Initial Lenders and each Person that shall
        become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.

               "LIBO Rate" means, for any Interest Period for all LIBO Rate
        Advances comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing, an
        interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing
        (a) the rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of
        1/16 of 1% per annum) appearing on Dow Jones Markets Telerate Page 3750
        (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for
        deposits in U.S. 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 or, if for any reason such rate is
        not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple
        of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the
        rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars offered by the
        principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to
        prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time)
        two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an
        amount substantially equal to the amount that would be the Reference
        Banks' respective ratable shares of such Borrowing if such Borrowing
        were to be a Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such
        Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period by (b) a
        percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage
        for such Interest Period. If the Dow Jones Markets Telerate Page 3750
        (or any successor page) is unavailable, the LIBO Rate for any Interest
        Period for each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part of the same
        Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the basis
        of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the
        Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest
        Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.08.

                "LIBO Rate Advances" means a Competitive Bid Advance bearing
        interest based on the LIBO Rate.

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                "Lien" means any lien, security interest or other charge or
        encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement,
        including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a
        conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance
        on title to real property.

                "Material Adverse Change" means any material adverse change in
        the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
        performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a)
        the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
        performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent
        or any Lender under this Agreement or any Note or (c) the ability of the
        Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Note.

                "Maturity Date" means the earlier of (a) the first anniversary
        of the Termination Date and (b) the date of termination in whole of the
        aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01.

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

                "Multiple Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as
        defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for
        employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person
        other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so
        maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
        could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event
        such plan has been or were to be terminated.

                "Note" means a Revolving Credit Note or a Competitive Bid Note.

                "Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing" has the meaning specified
        in Section 2.03(a).

                "Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing" has the meaning specified
        in Section 2.02(a).

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

                "Permitted Liens" means such of the following as to which no
        enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure proceeding shall
        have been commenced unless being contested in good faith and for which
        appropriate reserves are being maintained: (a) Liens for taxes,
        assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not
        required to be paid under Section 5.01(b) hereof; (b) Liens imposed by
        law, such as materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workmen's and
        repairmen's Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course
        of business securing obligations that are not overdue for a period of
        more than 60 days; (c) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under
        workers' compensation laws or similar legislation or to secure public or
        statutory obligations; and (d) easements, rights of way and other
        encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to the
        property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect
        the use of such property for its present purposes.

                "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation
        (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
        association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity,
        or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

                "Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

                "Reference Banks" means Citibank, SunTrust Bank Atlanta and
        Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale.

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                "Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d).

                "Required Lenders" means at any time Lenders owed at least a
        majority in interest of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of
        the Revolving Credit Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal
        amount is then outstanding, Lenders having at least a majority in
        interest of the Commitments.

                "Revolving Credit Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the
        Borrower as part of a Revolving Credit Borrowing and refers to a Base
        Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance (each of which shall be a
        "Type" of Revolving Credit Advance).

                "Revolving Credit Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of
        simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made by each of
        the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

                "Revolving Credit Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower
        payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made
        under Section 2.16 in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto,
        evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender
        resulting from the Revolving Credit Advances made by such Lender.

                "Significant Subsidiary" means any 'Subsidiary of the Borrower
        or group of Subsidiaries of the Borrower which, in either case, holds or
        owns total assets with a book value in excess of $10,000,000 or has
        annual revenues in excess of $10,000,000.

                "Single Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined
        in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of
        the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the
        Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in
        respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have
        liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or
        were to be terminated.

                "Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation, partnership,
        joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or
        in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock
        having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of
        Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time
        capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or
        might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the
        interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company,
        partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such
        trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or
        controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other
        Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.

                "Synthetic Lease Liabilities" of a Person means any liability
        under any tax retention operating lease or so-called "synthetic" lease
        transaction, or any obligations arising with respect to any other
        similar transaction which the functional equivalent of or takes the
        place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the
        Consolidated balance sheets of such Person and its Subsidiaries (other
        than leases which do not have an attributable interest component that
        are not leases that have been, or should be, in accordance with GAAP,
        recorded as capital leases).

                "Term Loan Conversion Date" means the Termination Date on which
        all Revolving Credit Advances outstanding on such date are converted
        into a term loan pursuant to Section 2.06.

                "Term Loan Election" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06.

                "Termination Date" means the earlier of March 4, 2002 and the
        date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05
        or 6.01.



                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                "Voting Stock" means capital stock issued by a corporation, or
        equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are
        ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the
        election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such
        Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening
        of such a contingency.

                SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this Agreement in
the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified
date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until"
each mean "to but excluding".

                SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not
specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation
of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) ("GAAP").

                                   ARTICLE II

                        AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES

                SECTION 2.01. The Revolving Credit Advances. Each Lender
severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make
Revolving Credit Advances to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day
during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an
aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such Lender's Commitment
provided that the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be
deemed used from time to time to the extent of the aggregate amount of the
Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding and such deemed use of the aggregate
amount of the Commitments shall be allocated among the Lenders ratably according
to their respective Commitments (such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the
Commitments being a "Competitive Bid Reduction"). Each Revolving Credit
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances
of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their
respective Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, the
Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and
reborrow under this Section 2.01.

                SECTION 2.02. Making the Revolving Credit Advances. (a) Each
Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (x)
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of
the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Credit
Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances or (y) 11:00 A.M. (New York
City time) on the first Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Revolving
Credit Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Base
Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Lender
prompt notice thereof by telecopier. Each such notice of a Revolving Credit
Borrowing (a "Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing") shall be by telephone,
confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier in substantially the form of
Exhibit B-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Revolving
Credit Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Revolving Credit
Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, and (iv)
in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate
Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Revolving Credit Advance. Each
Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such
Revolving Credit Borrowing make available for the account of its Applicable
Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent's Account, in same day funds, such
Lender's ratable portion of such Revolving Credit Borrowing. After the Agent's
receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set
forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower
at the Agent's address referred to in Section 8.02.

                (b)     Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary
notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for
any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit
Borrowing is less than $10,000,000 or if the obligation of the Lenders to make
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.08 or
2.12 and (ii) the Eurodollar Rate Advances may not be outstanding as part of
more than six separate Revolving Credit Borrowings.

                (c)     Each Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be
irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Revolving Credit
Borrowing that the related Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall
indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender
as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such
Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing for such Revolving Credit Borrowing the
applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation,
any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by
reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
such Lender to fund the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such Lender as
part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing when such Revolving Credit Advance, as a
result of such failure, is not made on such date.

                (d)     Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the date of any Revolving Credit Borrowing that such Lender will
not make available to the Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such Revolving
Credit Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion
available to the Agent on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing in
accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Agent may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so
made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower
severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the
Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the
time to Revolving Credit Advances comprising such Revolving Credit Borrowing and
(ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall
repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall
constitute such Lender's Revolving Credit Advance as part of such Revolving
Credit Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

                (e)     The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit
Advance to be made by it as part of any Revolving Credit Borrowing shall not
relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its
Revolving Credit Advance on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, but no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the
Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any
Revolving Credit Borrowing.

                SECTION 2.03. The Competitive Bid Advances. (a) Each Lender
severally agrees that the Borrower may make Competitive Bid Borrowings under
this Section 2.03 from time to time on any Business Day during the period from
the date hereof until the date occurring 30 days prior to the Termination Date
in the manner set forth below; provided that, following the making of each
Competitive Bid Borrowing, the aggregate amount of the Advances then outstanding
shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders
(computed without regard to any Competitive Bid Reduction).

                (i)     The Borrower may request a Competitive Bid Borrowing
        under this Section 2.03 by delivering to the Agent, by telecopier, a
        notice of a Competitive Bid Borrowing (a "Notice of Competitive Bid
        Borrowing"), in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying
        therein the requested (v) date of such proposed Competitive Bid
        Borrowing, (w) aggregate amount of such proposed Competitive Bid
        Borrowing, (x) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of
        LIBO Rate Advances, Interest Period, or in the case of a Competitive Bid
        Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Advances, maturity date for repayment
        of each Fixed Rate Advance to be made as part of such Competitive Bid
        Borrowing (which maturity date may not be earlier than the date
        occurring 7 days after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing or
        later than the earlier of (I) 180 days after the date of such
        Competitive Bid Borrowing and (II) the Termination Date), (y) interest
        payment date or dates relating thereto, and (z) other terms (if any) to
        be applicable to such Competitive Bid Borrowing, not later than 10:00
        A.M. (New York City time) (A) at least one Business Day prior to the
        date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if the Borrower shall
        specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the rates of
        interest to be offered by the Lenders shall be fixed rates per annum
        (the Advances comprising any such Competitive Bid Borrowing being
        referred to herein as "Fixed Rate Advances") and (B) at least four
        Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid
        Borrowing, if the Borrower shall instead specify in the Notice of
        Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Advances comprising such Competitive
        Bid Borrowing shall be LIBO Rate Advances. Each Notice of Competitive
        Bid Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. The
        Agent shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a
        Competitive Bid Borrowing



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

        received by it from the Borrower by sending such Lender a copy of the
        related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.

                (ii)    Each Lender may, if, in its sole discretion, it elects
        to do so, irrevocably offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances
        to the Borrower as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing at a
        rate or rates of interest specified by such Lender in its sole
        discretion, by notifying the Agent (which shall give prompt notice
        thereof to the Borrower), (A) before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on
        the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a
        Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Advances and (B)
        before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) three Business Days before the
        date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a
        Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances of the
        minimum amount and maximum amount of each Competitive Bid Advance which
        such Lender would be willing to make as part of such proposed
        Competitive Bid Borrowing (which amounts of such proposed Competitive
        Bid may, subject to the proviso to the first sentence of this Section
        2.03(a), exceed such Lender's Commitment, if any), the rate or rates of
        interest therefor and such Lender's Applicable Lending Office with
        respect to such Competitive Bid Advance; provided that if the Agent in
        its capacity as a Lender shall, in its sole discretion, elect to make
        any such offer, it shall notify the Borrower of such offer at least 30
        minutes before the time and on the date on which notice of such election
        is to be given to the Agent, by the other Lenders. If any Lender shall
        elect not to make such an offer, such Lender shall so notify the Agent
        before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time), and such Lender shall not be
        obligated to, and shall not, make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of
        such Competitive Bid Borrowing; provided that the failure by any Lender
        to give such notice shall not cause such Lender to be obligated to make
        any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such proposed Competitive Bid
        Borrowing.

                (iii)   The Borrower shall, in turn, (A) before 10:30 A.M. (New
        York City time) on the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing,
        in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate
        Advances and (B) before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) three Business
        Days before the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the
        case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances,
        either:

                        (x)     cancel such Competitive Bid Borrowing by giving
                the Agent notice to that effect, or

                        (y)     accept one or more of the offers made by any
                Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above, in its sole
                discretion, by giving notice to the Agent of the amount of each
                Competitive Bid Advance (which amount shall be equal to or
                greater than the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the
                maximum amount, notified to the Borrower by the Agent on behalf
                of such Lender for such Competitive Bid Advance pursuant to
                paragraph (ii) above) to be made by each Lender as part of such
                Competitive Bid Borrowing, and reject any remaining offers made
                by Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above by giving the Agent
                notice to that effect. The Borrower shall accept the offers made
                by any Lender or Lenders to make Competitive Bid Advances in
                order of the lowest to the highest rates of interest offered by
                such Lenders. If two or more Lenders have offered the same
                interest rate, the amount to be borrowed at such interest rate
                will be allocated among such Lenders in proportion to the amount
                that each such Lender offered at such interest rate.

                (iv)    If the Borrower notifies the Agent that such
        Competitive Bid Borrowing is cancelled pursuant to paragraph (iii)(x)
        above, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and
        such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made.

                (v)     If the Borrower accepts one or more of the offers made
        by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (iii)(y) above, the Agent
        shall in turn promptly notify (A) each Lender that has made an offer as
        described in paragraph (ii) above, of the date and aggregate amount of
        such Competitive Bid Borrowing and whether or not any offer or offers
        made by such Lender pursuant to paragraph (ii) above



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

        have been accepted by the Borrower, (B) each Lender that is to make a
        Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, of
        the amount of each Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as
        part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, and (C) each Lender that is to
        make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid
        Borrowing, upon receipt, that the Agent has received forms of documents
        appearing to fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in Article III.
        Each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such
        Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time)
        on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing specified in the notice
        received from the Agent pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding sentence
        or any later time when such Lender shall have received notice from the
        Agent pursuant to clause (C) of the preceding sentence, make available
        for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at its
        address referred to in Section 8.02, in same day funds, such Lender's
        portion of such Competitive Bid Borrowing. Upon fulfillment of the
        applicable conditions set forth in Article III and promptly after
        receipt by the Agent of such funds, the Agent will make such funds
        available to the Borrower at the location specified by the Borrower in
        its Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing. Promptly after each Competitive
        Bid Borrowing the Agent will notify each Lender of the amount of the
        Competitive Bid Borrowing, the consequent Competitive Bid Reduction and
        the dates upon which such Competitive Bid Reduction commenced and will
        terminate.

               (vi)    If the Borrower notifies the Agent that it accepts one
        or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to
        paragraph (iii)(y) above, such notice of acceptance shall be irrevocable
        and binding on the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender
        against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of
        any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in the related
        Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing for such Competitive Bid Borrowing
        the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without
        limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or
        expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
        deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Competitive
        Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid
        Borrowing when such Competitive Bid Advance, as a result of such
        failure, is not made on such date.

               (b)     Each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof
and, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Borrower shall
be in compliance with the limitation set forth in the proviso to the first
sentence of subsection (a) above.

               (c)     Within the limits and on the conditions set forth in
this Section 2.03, the Borrower may from time to time borrow under this Section
2.03, repay or prepay pursuant to subsection (d) below, and reborrow under this
Section 2.03, provided that a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made within
three Business Days of the date of any other Competitive Bid Borrowing.

               (d)     The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the account of
each Lender that has made a Competitive Bid Advance, on the maturity date of
each Competitive Bid Advance (such maturity date being that specified by the
Borrower for repayment of such Competitive Bid Advance in the related Notice of
Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above and
provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance),
the then unpaid principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance. The Borrower
shall have no right to prepay any principal amount of any Competitive Bid
Advance unless, and then only on the terms, specified by the Borrower for such
Competitive Bid Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing
delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above and set forth in the Competitive
Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance.

               (e)     The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of each Competitive Bid Advance from the date of such Competitive Bid
Advance to the date the principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance is
repaid in full, at the rate of interest for such Competitive Bid Advance
specified by the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance in its notice with
respect thereto delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) above, payable on the
interest payment date or dates specified by the Borrower for such Competitive
Bid Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered
pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above, as provided in the Competitive Bid Note
evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on the
amount of unpaid principal of and interest on each



                                       12
<PAGE>   13

Competitive Bid Advance owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on the date or
dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2%
per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Competitive Bid
Advance under the terms of the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive
Bid Advance unless otherwise agreed in such Competitive Bid Note.

                (f)     The indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each
Competitive Bid Advance made to the Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid
Borrowing shall be evidenced by a separate Competitive Bid Note of the Borrower
payable to the order of the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance.

                SECTION 2.04. Fees. (a) Facility Fee. The Borrower agrees to
        pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the
        aggregate amount of such Lender's Commitment from the Effective Date in
        the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in
        the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in
        the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date at a rate per
        annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time,
        payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June,
        September and December, commencing March 31, 2001, and on the
        Termination Date.

                (b)     Agent's Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for
its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between the
Borrower and the Agent.

                SECTION 2.05. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments. (a)
Optional. The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days'
notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused
portions of the respective Commitments of the Lenders, provided that each
partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and provided further that the aggregate
amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced to an amount that
is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then
outstanding.

                (b)     Mandatory. On the Termination Date, if the Borrower has
        made the Term Loan Election in accordance with Section 2.06 prior to
        such date, and from time to time thereafter upon each prepayment of the
        Revolving Credit Advances, the Commitments of the Lenders shall be
        automatically and permanently reduced on a pro rata basis by an amount
        equal to the amount by which (i) the aggregate Commitments immediately
        prior to such reduction exceeds (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal
        amount of all Revolving Credit Advances outstanding at such time.

                SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances. The
Borrower shall, subject to the next succeeding sentence, repay to the Agent for
the ratable account of the Lenders on the Termination Date the aggregate
principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding. The Borrower
may, upon not less than 15 days' notice to the Agent, elect (the "Term Loan
Election") to convert all of the Revolving Credit Advances outstanding on the
Termination Date in effect at such time into a term loan which the Borrower
shall repay in full ratably to the Lenders on the Maturity Date; provided that
the Term Loan Election may not be exercised if a Default has occurred and is
continuing on the date of notice of the Term Loan Election or on the date on
which the Term Loan Election is to be effected. All Revolving Credit Advances
converted into a term loan pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall continue to
constitute Revolving Credit Advances except that the Borrower may not reborrow
pursuant to Section 2.01 after all or any portion of such Revolving Credit
Advances have been prepaid pursuant to Section 2.10.

                SECTION 2.07. Interest on Revolving Credit Advances. (a)
Scheduled Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal
amount of each Revolving Credit Advance owing to each Lender from the date of
such Revolving Credit Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full,
at the following rates per annum:

                (i)     Base Rate Advances. During such periods as such
        Revolving Credit Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal
        at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time
        plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus (z) the
        Applicable Utilization Fee in effect from time to time, payable in
        arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and
        December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance
        shall be Converted or paid in full.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                (ii)    Eurodollar Rate Advances. During such periods as such
        Revolving Credit Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum
        equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Revolving Credit
        Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period
        for such Revolving Credit Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in
        effect from time to time plus (z) the Applicable Utilization Fee in
        effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such
        Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than
        three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every
        three months from the first day of such Interest Period and on the date
        such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

                (b)     Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on (i) the
unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance owing to each Lender,
payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above,
at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on such Revolving Credit Advance pursuant to clause (a)(i)
or (a)(ii) above and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the amount of
any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not paid when due,
from the date such amount shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full,
payable in arrears on the date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand,
at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above.

                SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination. (a) Each Reference
Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent timely information for the purpose of
determining each Eurodollar Rate and each LIBO Rate. If any one or more of the
Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Agent for the
purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine such
interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining
Reference Banks. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the
Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of
Section 2.07(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any, furnished by each Reference
Bank for the purpose of determining the interest rate under Section 2.07(a)(ii).

                (b)     If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the
Required Lenders notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest
Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Required
Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate
Advances for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the
Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will
automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor,
Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to
make, or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances
shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

                (c)     If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any
Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the
provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01, the
Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances
will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period
therefor, be Converted into Base Rate Advances.

                (d)     On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by
payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $10,000,000, such Advances
shall automatically Convert into Base Rate Advances.

                (e)     Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate
Advance and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances
into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

                (f)     If Telerate Markets Page 3750 is unavailable and fewer
than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Agent for determining
the Eurodollar Rate or LIBO Rate for any Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate
Advances, as the case may be,

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

                (i)     the Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the
        Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar
        Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, as the case may be,

                (ii)    with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each such
        Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
        Interest Period therefor, be prepaid by the Borrower or, at the
        Borrower's option, be automatically Converted into a Base Rate Advance
        (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base
        Rate Advance), and

                (iii)   the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate
        Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances
        into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall
        notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such
        suspension no longer exist.

                SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances.
The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later
than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date
of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08 and
2.12, Convert all Revolving Credit Advances of one Type comprising the same
Borrowing into Revolving Credit Advances of the other Type; provided, however,
that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be
made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate
Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances
shall be in an amount not less than the minimum amount specified in Section
2.02(b) and no Conversion of any Revolving Credit Advances shall result in more
separate Revolving Credit Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b). Each
such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above,
specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Revolving Credit Advances to
be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the
duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each notice of
Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

                SECTION 2.10. Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances. The
Borrower may, upon notice at least two Business Days' prior to the date of such
prepayment, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, and not later than 11:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such prepayment, in the case of Base
Rate Advances, to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal
amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay
the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances comprising
part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing in whole or ratably in part,
together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal
amount prepaid; provided, however, that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in
an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a
Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the
Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).

                SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the
introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or
regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central
bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law),
there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or
making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances
(excluding for purposes of this Section 2.11 any such increased costs resulting
from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.14 shall govern) and (ii)
changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income
by the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of
which such Lender is organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any
political subdivision thereof), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon
demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the
Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate
such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such
increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

                (b)     If any Lender determines that compliance with any law or
regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other
governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would
affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such
Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and that the amount of such
capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender's commitment
to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type, then, upon demand by such
Lender



                                       15
<PAGE>   16

(with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent
for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender,
additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in
the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably
determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such
Lender's commitment to lend hereunder. A certificate as to such amounts
submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

                SECTION 2.12. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or
any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it
unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is
unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its
obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain
Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (a) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will
automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (b) the
obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances
or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be
suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

                SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall
make each payment hereunder not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on
the day when due to the Agent at the Agent's Account in same day funds. The
Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to
the payment of principal or interest or facility fees ratably (other than
amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.11, 2.14 or 8.04(c)) to the Lenders
for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds
relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender
for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an
Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in
the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c), from and after the effective date
specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments
hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the
Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance
shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to
such effective date directly between themselves.

                (b)     The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to
the extent payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder or under
the Note held by such Lender, to charge from time to time against any or all of
the Borrower's accounts with such Lender any amount so due.

                (c)     All computations of interest based on the Base Rate
shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the
case may be, all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the LIBO
Rate or the Federal Funds Rate or in respect of Fixed Rate Advances and of
facility fees shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in
each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding
the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or facility fees
are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

                (d)     Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall
be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be
made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in
such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee,
as the case may be; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause
payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate
Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be
made on the next preceding Business Day.

                (e)     Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that
the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each
Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If
and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to
the Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount
distributed to such Lender together with interest



                                       16
<PAGE>   17


thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender
until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds
Rate.

                SECTION 2.14. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower
hereunder or under the Notes shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.13,
free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with
respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes
imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of
net income taxes, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the
Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof
and, in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and
franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction
of such Lender's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof
(all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings
and liabilities in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by law to
deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any
Note to any Lender or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may
be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) such Lender or
the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have
received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such
deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the
relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable
law.

                (b)     In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present or
future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges
or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes
or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or
otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes (hereinafter referred to
as "Other Taxes").

                (c)     The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent
for and hold it harmless against the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes
(including, without limitation, taxes of any kind imposed by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section 2.14) imposed on or paid by such Lender or
the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest
and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification
shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Agent (as the case
may be) makes written demand therefor.

                (d)     Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes,
the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section
8.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment. In
the case of any payment hereunder or under the Notes by or on behalf of the
Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States or by or on
behalf of the Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if the
Borrower determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, the Borrower
shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Agent, at such
address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Agent stating that such payment
is exempt from Taxes. For purposes of this subsection (d) and subsection (e),
the terms "United States" and "United States person" shall have the meanings
specified in Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code.

                (e)     Each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery
of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and on the date of the
Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it
becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time
thereafter as requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as such
Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide each of the Agent and the
Borrower with two original Internal Revenue Service forms W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as
appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service, certifying that such Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced
rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or
the Notes. If the form provided by a Lender at the time such Lender first
becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding
tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered
excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender provides the appropriate forms
certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser
rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such
form; provided, however, that, if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance
pursuant to which a Lender assignee becomes a party to this Agreement, the
Lender assignor was entitled to payments under subsection (a) in respect of
United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such date, then,
to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to withholding



                                       17
<PAGE>   18

taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise includable in
Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with respect to the
Lender assignee on such date. If any form or document referred to in this
subsection (e) requires the disclosure of information, other than information
necessary to compute the tax payable and information required on the date hereof
by Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, that the Lender reasonably
considers to be confidential, the Lender shall give notice thereof to the
Borrower and shall not be obligated to include in such form or document such
confidential information.

                (f)     For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed
to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form described in Section 2.14(e)
(other than if such failure is due to a change in law occurring subsequent to
the date on which a form originally was required to be provided, or if such form
otherwise is not required under subsection (e) above), such Lender shall not be
entitled to indemnification under Section 2.14(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes
imposed by the United States by reason of such failure; provided, however, that
should a Lender become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form
required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall
reasonably request to assist the Lender to recover such Taxes.

                SECTION 2.15. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall
obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any
right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving Credit Advances
owing to it (other than pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.14 or 8.04(c)) in excess of
its ratable share of payments on account of the Revolving Credit Advances
obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other
Lenders such participations in the Revolving Credit Advances owing to them as
shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment
ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such
excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such
purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the
purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together
with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion
of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount
so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or
payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered.
The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another
Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15 may, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with
respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct
creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                SECTION 2.16. Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Lender shall maintain
in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the
indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Revolving Credit
Advance owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder in respect of Revolving Credit Advances. The Borrower agrees that upon
notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent)
to the effect that a Revolving Credit Note is required or appropriate in order
for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or
otherwise) the Revolving Credit Advances owing to, or to be made by, such
Lender, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a
Revolving Credit Note payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount
up to the Commitment of such Lender.

                (b)     The Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section
8.07(d) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each
Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and
amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such
Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the
terms of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it, (iii)
the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and
payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any
sum received by the Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender's share
thereof.

                (c)     Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register
pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts
pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of
principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the
Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such
account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement, absent manifest error;
provided, however, that the failure of the Agent or such Lender to make an
entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such
account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the
Borrower under this Agreement.



                                       18
<PAGE>   19

                SECTION 2.17. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Advances
shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds)
solely for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE III

                     CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

                SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections
2.01 and 2.03. Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of this Agreement shall become effective
on and as of the first date (the "Effective Date") on which the following
conditions precedent have been satisfied:

                (a)     There shall have occurred no Material Adverse Change
        since December 31, 1999.

                (b)     There shall exist no action, suit, investigation,
        litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its
        Subsidiaries pending or threatened before any court, governmental agency
        or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material
        Adverse Effect other than the matters described on Schedule 3.01(b)
        hereto (the "Disclosed Litigation") or (ii) purports to affect the
        legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or
        the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there
        shall have been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on
        the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, of the Disclosed Litigation
        from that described on Schedule 3.01(b) hereto.

                (c)     Nothing shall have come to the attention of the Lenders
        during the course of their due diligence investigation to lead them
        reasonably to believe that the Information Memorandum was or has become
        misleading, incorrect or incomplete in any material respect; without
        limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders shall have been
        given such access to the management, records, books of account,
        contracts and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as they
        shall have reasonably requested.

                (d)     All governmental and third party consents and approvals
        necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall
        have been obtained (without the imposition of any conditions that are
        not reasonably acceptable to the Lenders) and shall remain in effect,
        and no law or regulation shall be applicable in the reasonable judgment
        of the Lenders that restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse
        conditions upon the transactions contemplated hereby.

                (e)     The Borrower shall have notified each Lender and the
        Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective Date.

                (f)     The Borrower shall have paid all accrued fees and
        expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including the accrued fees and
        expenses of counsel to the Agent).

                (g)     On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be
        true and the Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender a
        certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated
        the Effective Date, stating that:

                        (i)     The representations and warranties contained in
                Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, and

                        (ii)    No event has occurred and is continuing that
                constitutes a Default.

                (h)     The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective
        Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance
        satisfactory to the Agent and (except for the Revolving Credit Notes) in
        sufficient copies for each Lender:



                                       19
<PAGE>   20

                        (i)     The Revolving Credit Notes to the order of the
                Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to
                Section 2.16.

                        (ii)    Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board
                of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement and the
                Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate
                action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this
                Agreement and the Notes.

                        (iii)   A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
                Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true
                signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign
                this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be
                delivered hereunder.

                        (iv)    A favorable opinion of Tim Power, Assistant
                General Counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of
                Exhibit D hereto and as to such other matters as any Lender
                through the Agent may reasonably request.

                        (v)     A favorable opinion of Shearman & Sterling,
                counsel for the Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the
                Agent.

                SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Revolving Credit
Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make a Revolving Credit Advance on
the occasion of each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be subject to the
conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date
of such Revolving Credit Borrowing (a) the following statements shall be true
(and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing
and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Revolving Credit
Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on
the date of such Borrowing such statements are true):

                (i)     the representations and warranties contained in Section
        4.01 (except, in the case of Revolving Credit Borrowings, the
        representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof
        and in subsection (f)(i) thereof) are correct on and as of such date,
        before and after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Borrowing and to
        the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of
        such date, and

                (ii)    no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result
        from such Revolving Credit Borrowing or from the application of the
        proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;

and (b) the Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or
documents as any Lender through the Agent may reasonably request.

                SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each Competitive Bid
Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid
Advance on the occasion of a Competitive Bid Borrowing to make such Competitive
Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing is subject to the
conditions precedent that (i) the Agent shall have received the written
confirmatory Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing with respect thereto, (ii) on
or before the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, but prior to such
Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Agent shall have received a Competitive Bid Note
payable to the order of such Lender for each of the one or more Competitive Bid
Advances to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, in
a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Advance
to be evidenced thereby and otherwise on such terms as were agreed to for such
Competitive Bid Advance in accordance with Section 2.03, and (iii) on the date
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing the following statements shall be true (and
each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing and the
acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Competitive Bid Borrowing
shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing such statements are true):

                                       20
<PAGE>   21

                (a)     the representations and warranties contained in Section
        4.01 are correct on and as of the date of such Competitive Bid
        Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Competitive Bid
        Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though
        made on and as of such date,

                (b)     no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result
        from such Competitive Bid Borrowing or from the application of the
        proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default, and

                (c)     no event has occurred and no circumstance exists as a
        result of which the information concerning the Borrower that has been
        provided to the Agent and each Lender by the Borrower in connection
        herewith would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
        state any material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements
        contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
        were made, not misleading.

                SECTION 3.04. Determinations Under Section 3.01. For purposes of
determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01, each
Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be
satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented
to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lenders unless an officer
of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date that the Borrower,
by notice to the Lenders, designates as the proposed Effective Date, specifying
its objection thereto. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the
occurrence of the Effective Date.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

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

                (a)     The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly
        existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland.

                (b)     The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower
        of this Agreement and the Notes to be delivered by it, and the
        consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the
        Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary
        corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or
        by-laws or (ii) law or any contractual restriction binding on or
        affecting the Borrower.

                (c)     No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
        notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body
        or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery and
        performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the Notes to be
        delivered by it.

                (d)     This Agreement has been, and each of the Notes to be
        delivered by it when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed
        and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement is, and each of the Notes
        when delivered hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding
        obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in
        accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be
        limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the
        enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
        principles.

                (e)     The Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1999, and the related Consolidated
        statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
        for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of Arthur
        Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, and the Consolidated
        balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at September 30,
        2000, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows
        of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the nine months then ended,
        duly certified by the chief financial officer of the



                                       21
<PAGE>   22

        Borrower, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender, fairly
        present, subject, in the case of said balance sheet as at September 30,
        2000, and said statements of income and cash flows for the nine months
        then ended, to year-end audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial
        condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the
        Consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with
        generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Since
        December 31, 1999, there has been no Material Adverse Change.

                (f)     There is no pending or threatened action, suit,
        investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation,
        any Environmental Action, affecting the Borrower or any of its
        Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that
        (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (other
        than the Disclosed Litigation) or (ii) purports to affect the legality,
        validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or the
        consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and there has been
        no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on the Borrower or
        any of its Subsidiaries, of the Disclosed Litigation from that described
        on Schedule 3.01(b) hereto.

                (g)     No information, exhibit or report furnished by the
        Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or to any Lender in
        connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan
        Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to
        state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements
        contained therein not misleading.

                (h)     The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with
        Regulations T, U and X. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U)
        constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of the Borrower
        and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale,
        pledge, or other restriction hereunder.

                (i)     Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a party to
        any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate
        restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
        Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default in
        the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations,
        covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a
        party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material
        Adverse Effect.

                (j)     The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied with all
        applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any
        domestic or foreign government or any instrumentality or agency thereof
        having jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective businesses or
        the ownership of their respective property, except for any failure to
        comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably be expected
        to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (k)     On the date of this Agreement, the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries have good title, free of all Liens other than those
        permitted by Section 5.02(a) to all of the property and assets reflected
        in the Borrower's most recent consolidated financial statements provided
        to the Agent as owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                (l)     The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries owns or
        possesses all material patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks,
        copyright, licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing necessary
        for the future conduct of its business, without any known material
        conflict with the rights of others.

                (m)     In the ordinary course of its business, the officers of
        the Borrower consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the business
        of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which they
        identify and evaluate potential risks and liabilities accruing to the
        Borrower and its Subsidiaries due to Environmental Laws. On the basis of
        this consideration, the Borrower has concluded that Environmental laws
        cannot reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except
        as disclosed on Schedule 3.01(b) hereto, neither the Borrower nor any
        Subsidiary has received any notice to the effect that is operations are
        not in material compliance with any of the requirements of applicable
        Environmental Laws



                                       22
<PAGE>   23

        or are the subject of any foreign or domestic, federal, state or local
        investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to
        respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into
        the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could
        reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                (n)     Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an
        "investment company" or a company "controlled" by and "investment
        company" or an "affiliated person" thereof or an "affiliated person" of
        such affiliated person, in each case within the meaning of the
        Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                (o)     Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a "holding
        company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", or an
        "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" of a
        "holding company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding
        Company Act of 1935, as amended.

                                    ARTICLE V

                            COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

                SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Advance
shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the
Borrower will:

                (a)     Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of its
        Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable
        laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without
        limitation, compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws, which, if
        violated, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
        Effect.

                (b)     Payment of Taxes, Etc. Pay and discharge, and cause each
        of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become
        delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
        levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all lawful claims
        that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided,
        however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be
        required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim
        that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as
        to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any
        Lien resulting therefrom attaches to its property and becomes
        enforceable against its other creditors.

                (c)     Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of
        its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable
        insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such
        risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses
        and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the
        Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.

                (d)     Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Preserve and
        maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain,
        its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises;
        provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate
        any merger or consolidation permitted under Section 5.02(b) and provided
        further that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be
        required to preserve any right or franchise if the Board of Directors of
        the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall determine that the preservation
        thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the
        Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and that the loss
        thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Borrower,
        such Subsidiary or the Lenders.

                (e)     Visitation Rights. At any reasonable time and from time
        to time, permit the Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or
        representatives thereof, to examine and make copies of and abstracts
        from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of,
        the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs,
        finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with
        any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified
        public accountants.



                                       23
<PAGE>   24

                (f)     Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its
        Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account, in which full
        and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the
        assets and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in
        accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from
        time to time.

                (g)     Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve,
        and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its
        properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in
        good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

                (h)     Transactions with Affiliates. Conduct, and cause each of
        its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions otherwise permitted under
        this Agreement with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and
        reasonable and no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than
        it would obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person
        not an Affiliate.

                (i)     Conduct of Business. Carry on and conduct its business,
        and cause each of its Subsidiaries to carry on and conduct its business,
        in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of
        enterprise as it is presently conducted or lines of business reasonably
        related thereto.

                (j)     Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders:

                        (i)     as soon as available and in any event within 45
                days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each
                fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of
                the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter
                and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the
                Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the
                end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such
                quarter, duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments)
                by the chief financial officer of the Borrower as having been
                prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
                principles and certificates of the chief financial officer of
                the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this Agreement
                and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations
                necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided
                that in the event of any change in GAAP used in the preparation
                of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide,
                if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section
                5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial
                statements to GAAP;

                        (ii)    as soon as available and in any event within 90
                days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy
                of the annual audit report for such year for the Borrower and
                its Subsidiaries, containing the Consolidated balance sheet of
                the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal
                year and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the
                Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case
                accompanied by an opinion acceptable to the Required Lenders by
                Arthur Andersen LLP or other independent public accountants
                acceptable to the Required Lenders, provided that in the event
                of any change in GAAP used in the preparation of such financial
                statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for
                the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement
                of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

                        (iii)   as soon as possible and in any event within five
                days after the occurrence of each Default continuing on the date
                of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer of
                the Borrower setting forth details of such Default and the
                action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with
                respect thereto;

                        (iv)    promptly after the sending or filing thereof,
                copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its
                securityholders, and copies of all reports and registration
                statements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the
                Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
                exchange;

                                       24
<PAGE>   25

                        (v)     promptly after the commencement thereof, notice
                of all actions and proceedings before any court, governmental
                agency or arbitrator affecting the Borrower or any of its
                Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f); and

                        (vi)    such other information respecting the Borrower
                or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender through the Agent may
                from time to time reasonably request.

                SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall
remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower
will not:

                (a)     Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of
        its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with
        respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter
        acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any
        right to receive income, other than:

                        (i)     Permitted Liens,

                        (ii)    purchase money Liens upon or in any assets
                acquired or held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the
                ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such
                assets or to secure Debt incurred solely for the purpose of
                financing the acquisition of such assets, or Liens existing on
                such assets at the time of its acquisition (other than any such
                Liens created in contemplation of such acquisition that were not
                incurred to finance the acquisition of such assets) or
                extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for
                the same or a lesser amount, provided, however, that no such
                Lien shall extend to or cover any assets of any character other
                than the assets being acquired, and no such extension, renewal
                or replacement shall extend to or cover any assets not
                theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or
                replaced,

                        (iii)   the Liens existing on the Effective Date and
                described on Schedule 5.02(a) hereto,

                        (iv)    Liens on property of a Person existing at the
                time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the
                Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a
                Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that such Liens were not
                created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or
                acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of
                the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or
                such Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary,

                        (v)     Liens on cash and cash equivalents securing
                obligations under Hedge Agreements, provided that the aggregate
                amount of cash and cash equivalents subject to such Liens shall
                not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding,

                        (vi)    other Liens securing Debt in an aggregate
                principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time
                outstanding, and

                        (vii)   the replacement, extension or renewal of any
                Lien permitted by clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) above upon or in
                the same property theretofore subject thereto or the
                replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the
                amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the
                Debt secured thereby.

                (b)     Mergers, Etc. Merge or consolidate with or into, or
        convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one
        transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of
        its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, or
        permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that any Subsidiary of
        the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets
        to, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, and except that any Subsidiary
        of the Borrower may merge into or



                                       25
<PAGE>   26

        dispose of assets to the Borrower, provided, in each case, that no
        Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
        proposed transaction or would result therefrom.

                (c)     Subsidiary Debt. Permit any of its Subsidiaries to incur
        or at any time be liable with respect to any Debt or to issue or have
        outstanding any preferred stock, except:

                        (i)     Debt or preferred stock outstanding on the date
                hereof,

                        (ii)    Debt or preferred stock of a Subsidiary issued
                to and held by the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
                Borrower,

                        (iii)   Debt or preferred stock of any corporation
                existing at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary of
                the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event,

                        (iv)    refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of
                any Debt or preferred stock permitted by the foregoing clauses
                (i) though (iii) and

                        (v)     Debt or preferred stock in addition to that set
                forth in clauses (i) through (iv) if, after giving effect
                thereto, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt of
                all Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (v) does not exceed
                $250,000,000 at any time outstanding.

                (d)     Hedge Agreements. Enter into, or permit any of its
        Subsidiaries to enter into, any Hedge Agreements other than Hedge
        Agreements pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has hedged
        its reasonably estimated interest rate, foreign currency or commodity
        exposure.

                SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants. So long as any Advance shall
remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower
will:

                (a)     Leverage Ratio. Maintain a ratio of Consolidated Debt to
        Consolidated Debt plus shareholders' equity of not greater than 0.50 :
        1.00:

                (b)     Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Maintain, as of the last
        day of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA of the
        Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period of four fiscal quarters
        then ended to interest payable on, and amortization of debt discount in
        respect of, all Debt during such period by the Borrower and its
        Subsidiaries of not less than 3.0 : 1.0.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

                SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events
("Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:

                (a)     The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any
        Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall
        fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of
        fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within
        three Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

                (b)     Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower
        herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with
        this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
        respect when made; or



                                       26
<PAGE>   27

                (c)     (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any
        term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d), (e), (h) or
        (j), 5.02 or 5.03, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe
        any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its
        part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied
        for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the
        Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; or

                (d)     The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to
        pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt that is
        outstanding in a principal or notional amount of at least $10,000,000 in
        the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder) of the Borrower
        or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and
        payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
        acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue
        after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or
        instrument relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or
        condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any
        such Debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any,
        specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event
        or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the
        maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and
        payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a
        regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or
        defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt
        shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity
        thereof; or

                (e)     The Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
        shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall
        admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make
        a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding
        shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Significant
        Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
        seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement,
        adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under
        any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief
        of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the
        appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
        for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of
        any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it),
        either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period
        of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including,
        without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the
        appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
        for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the
        Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall take any corporate
        action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this
        subsection (e); or

                (f)     Judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess
        of $10,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower
        or any of its Subsidiaries and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall
        have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii)
        there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of
        enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or
        otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

                (g)     Lafarge S.A. shall own directly or indirectly 50% or
        less of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Borrower on a
        fully diluted basis; or

                (h)     The Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall incur,
        or shall be reasonably likely to incur liability as a result of one or
        more of the following that, individually or in the aggregate, could
        reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the
        occurrence of any ERISA Event; (ii) the partial or complete withdrawal
        of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer
        Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination of a Multiemployer
        Plan;

then, and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the
consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the
obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated, whereupon the same
shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the
consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the
Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this
Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such
interest and all such amounts shall



                                       27
<PAGE>   28

become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the
Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of
an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances shall automatically be
terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall
automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand,
protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by
the Borrower.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    THE AGENT

                SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby
appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and
to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to
the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are
reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by
this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the
Notes), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any
action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be
fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of
the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders
and all holders of Notes; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be
required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that
is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Agent agrees to give to
each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement.

                SECTION 7.02. Agent's Reliance, Etc. Neither the Agent nor any
of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this
Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Agent: (i) may treat
the Lender that made any Advance as the holder of the Debt resulting therefrom
until the Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Acceptance entered into
by such Lender, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as provided
in Section 8.07; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the
Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and
shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by
it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii)
makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible
to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written
or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iv) shall not have any
duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of
the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower
or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower;
(v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or
any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur
no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice,
consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier)
believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

                SECTION 7.03. Citibank and Affiliates. With respect to its
Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it, Citibank shall
have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the term "Lender" or
"Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its
individual capacity. Citibank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend
money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking
engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own
securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, all as if Citibank were not
the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

                SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges
that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other
Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and
such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent 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 Agreement.



                                       28
<PAGE>   29

                SECTION 7.05. Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify
the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to
the respective principal amounts of the Revolving Credit Advances then owed to
each of them (or if no Revolving Credit Advances are at the time outstanding,
ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and
against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or
nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the
Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action
taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement (collectively, the
"Indemnified Costs"), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of
the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse
the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket
expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Agent in connection
with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under,
this Agreement, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses
by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding
giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such
investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Agent, any Lender or a
third party.

                SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time
by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be
removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a
successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after
the retiring Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders'
removal of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the
Lenders, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized
under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such
successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the
retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this
Agreement. After any retiring Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Agent,
the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

                SECTION 7.07. Other Agents. Each Lender hereby acknowledges that
neither the documentation agent nor any other Lender designated as any "Agent"
on the signature pages hereof has any liability hereunder other than in its
capacity as a Lender.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes, nor consent to any
departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver
or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any of the
following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01, (b)
increase the Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders to any additional
obligations, (c) reduce or subordinate the principal of, or interest on, the
Revolving Credit Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d)
postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the
Revolving Credit Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e)
change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Revolving Credit Advances, or the number of Lenders, that shall be
required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (f)
amend this Section 8.01; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or
consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the
Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the
Agent under this Agreement or any Note.

               SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier communication)
and mailed, telecopied or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its



                                       29
<PAGE>   30

address at 12950 Worldgate Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20170, Attention: Treasurer;
if to any Initial Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its
name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending
Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a
Lender; and if to the Agent, at its address at Two Penns Way, New Castle,
Delaware 19720, Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Department; or, as to the
Borrower or the Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such
party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at
such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to
the Borrower and the Agent. All such notices and communications shall, when
mailed or telecopied, be effective when deposited in the mails or telecopied,
respectively, except that notices and communications to the Agent pursuant to
Article II, III or VII shall not be effective until received by the Agent.
Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit hereto to be
executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart thereof.

                SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any
Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder
or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay
on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the
preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of
this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder,
including, without limitation, (A) all due diligence, syndication (including
printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer,
duplication, appraisal, consultant, and audit expenses and (B) the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect
to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this
Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses
of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable
counsel fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and
the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation,
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent and each Lender in
connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a).

                (b)     The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their officers,
directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an "Indemnified Party") from
and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel)
incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case
arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without
limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or
preparation of a defense in connection therewith) (i) the Notes, this Agreement,
any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the
proceeds of the Advances or (ii) the actual or alleged presence of Hazardous
Materials on any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
Environmental Action relating in any way to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or
expense is found in a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
resulted from such Indemnified Party's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the
indemnity in this Section 8.04(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective
whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the
Borrower, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or
any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and
whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The
Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim for special, indirect,
consequential or punitive damages against the Agent, any Lender, any of their
Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys
and agents, on any theory of liability, arising out of or otherwise relating to
the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the
actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances.

                (c)     If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any
Eurodollar Rate Advance, LIBO Rate Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the
account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such
Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08(d) or
(e), 2.10 or 2.12, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section
6.01 or for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender other than
on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon an assignment of
rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.07 as a result
of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to



                                       30
<PAGE>   31

Section 8.07(a), the Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender any
amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or
expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion,
including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance.

                (d)     Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement
of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower
contained in Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of
principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.

                SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off. Upon (i) the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the
request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize
the Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.01, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any
time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off
and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional
or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such
Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing
under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender, whether or not such
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although
such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the
Borrower after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to
give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition
to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of
set-off) that such Lender and its Affiliates may have.

                SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become
effective (other than Sections 2.01 and 2.03, which shall only become effective
upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) when it
shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Agent and when the Agent shall
have been notified by each Initial Lender that such Initial Lender has executed
it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Borrower, the Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns,
except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder
or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

                SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations. (a) Each Lender
may and, if demanded by the Borrower (following a demand by such Lender pursuant
to Section 2.11 or 2.14 or upon a reasonable determination by the Borrower that
a change in law or circumstances has created a reasonable likelihood that such
Lender will make a demand pursuant to Section 2.11 or 2.14) upon at least five
Business Days' notice to such Lender and the Agent, will assign to one or more
Persons all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the
Revolving Credit Advances owing to it and the Revolving Credit Note or Notes
held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment shall be of a
constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this
Agreement (other than any right to make Competitive Bid Advances, Competitive
Bid Advances owing to it and Competitive Bid Notes), (ii) except in the case of
an assignment to a Person that, immediately prior to such assignment, was a
Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned
pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment
and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than
$10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) each
such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, (iv) each such assignment made
as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 8.07(a) shall
be arranged by the Borrower after consultation with the Agent and shall be
either an assignment of all of the rights and obligations of the assigning
Lender under this Agreement or an assignment of a portion of such rights and
obligations made concurrently with another such assignment or other such
assignments that together cover all of the rights and obligations of the
assigning Lender under this Agreement, (v) no Lender shall be obligated to make
any such assignment as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 8.07(a) unless and until such Lender shall have received one or more
payments from either the Borrower or one or more Eligible Assignees in an
aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Advances owing to such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the
date of payment of such principal amount and all other amounts payable to such
Lender under this Agreement, and (vi) the parties to each such assignment shall
execute and deliver



                                       31
<PAGE>   32

to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment
and Acceptance, together with any Revolving Credit Note subject to such
assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 payable by the parties
to each such assignment, provided, however, that in the case of each assignment
made as a result of a demand by the Borrower, such recordation fee shall be
payable by the Borrower except that no such recordation fee shall be payable in
the case of an assignment made at the request of the Borrower to an Eligible
Assignee that is an existing Lender, and (vii) any Lender may, without the
approval of the Borrower and the Agent, assign all or a portion of its rights to
any of its Affiliates so long as such assignment does not result in any
increased cost to, or obligation of, the Borrower. Upon such execution,
delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified
in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party
hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been
assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall,
to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it
pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (other than
its rights under Section 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04 to the extent any claim thereunder
relates to an event arising prior such assignment) and be released from its
obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party
hereto).

                (b)     By executing and delivering an Assignment and
Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm
to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other
than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, 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
Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition
of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its
obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of
this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such
Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without
reliance upon the 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 Agreement; (v) such assignee confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi)
such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as
are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and
discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees
that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that
by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

                (c)     Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee representing that it is an
Eligible Assignee, together with any Revolving Credit Note or Notes subject to
such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been
completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) accept such
Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the
Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.

                (d)     The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in
Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance 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 Advances 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 Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded
in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this 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.

                (e)     Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks
or other entities (other than the Borrower or any of its Affiliates) in or to
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including,
without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it
and any Note or Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment
to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain
solely



                                       32
<PAGE>   33

responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes of
this Agreement, (iv) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no participant
under any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to any
departure by the Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment,
waiver or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or
any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject
to such participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal
of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in
each case to the extent subject to such participation.

                (f)     Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or
participant, any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender
by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure,
the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree to
preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential Information relating to the
Borrower received by it from such Lender.

                (g)     Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this
Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the
Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it) in favor of any Federal
Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.

                SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality. Neither the Agent nor any Lender
shall disclose any Confidential Information to any other Person without the
consent of the Borrower, other than (a) to the Agent's or such Lender's
Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors and, as
contemplated by Section 8.07(f), to actual or prospective assignees and
participants, and then only on a confidential basis, (b) as required by any law,
rule or regulation or judicial process and (d) as requested or required by any
state, federal or foreign authority or examiner regulating banks or banking.

                SECTION 8.09. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Notes shall
be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York.

                SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this
Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Agreement.

                SECTION 8.11. Jurisdiction, Etc. (a) Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to
the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of
the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court
from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the Notes, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and
each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that
all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law,
in such federal court. The Borrower hereby agrees that service of process in any
such action or proceeding brought in the any such New York State court or in
such federal court may be made upon The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.
at its offices at 80 State Street, Albany, New York 12207-2543 (the "Process
Agent") and the Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Process Agent its
authorized agent to accept such service of process, and agrees that the failure
of the Process Agent to give any notice of any such service shall not impair or
affect the validity of such service or of any judgment rendered in any action or
proceeding based thereon. The Borrower hereby further irrevocably consents to
the service of process in any action or proceeding in such courts by the mailing
thereof by any parties hereto by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
to the Borrower at its address specified pursuant to Section 8.02, with a copy
addressed to the Law Department. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final
judgment in any such 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. Nothing in this



                                       33
<PAGE>   34

Agreement shall affect any right that any party may otherwise have to bring any
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the Notes in the courts of
any jurisdiction.

                (b)     Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and
unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do
so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of
any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the Notes in any New York State or federal court. Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense
of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any
such court.

                SECTION 8.12. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Borrower, the
Agent and the Lenders hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in
any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or
otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes or the
actions of the Agent or any Lender in the negotiation, administration,
performance or enforcement thereof.

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

                                   LAFARGE CORPORATION


                                   By /s/ Kevin Grant
                                      ---------------
                                      Title: VP & Treasurer


                                   CITIBANK, N.A.,
                                      as Agent


                                   By /s/ Robert D. Wetrus
                                      --------------------
                                   Title: Managing Director and Vice President



                                       34
<PAGE>   35

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Initial Lenders
                                 ---------------

Commitment

                              Administrative Agent
                              --------------------

<S>                                                <C>
$40,000,000                                        CITIBANK, N.A.


                                                   By /s/ Robert D. Wetrus
                                                      --------------------
                                                   Title: Managing Director and Vice President

                               Syndication Agents
                               ------------------

$40,000,000                                        BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE


                                                   By /s/ Hereward Drummond
                                                      ---------------------
                                                   Title: Senior Vice President

                                                   By /s/ Wolfgang Kottmann
                                                      ---------------------
                                                   Title: Vice President

$40,000,000                                        BNP PARIBAS.


                                                   By /s/ Francois Fahy
                                                      -----------------
                                                   Title:Vice President

                                                   By /s/ Christopher Criswell
                                                      ------------------------
                                                   Title: Director

$40,000,000                                        SUNTRUST BANK


                                                   By /s/ Andrew P. Hines
                                                      -------------------
                                                   Title: Vice President

$40,000,000                                        WESTDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE


                                                   By /s/ Andreas Schroeter
                                                      ---------------------
                                                   Title: Director

                                                   By /s/ Lars Kickstein
                                                      ------------------
                                                   Title:Manager

                                     Lenders
                                     -------

$40,000,000                                        THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA


                                                   By /s/ Brian S. Allen
                                                      ------------------
</TABLE>

                                       35
<PAGE>   36

<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
                                                   Title: Managing Director



$40,000,000                                        FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK


                                                   By /s/ G. Mendel Lay, Jr.
                                                      ----------------------
                                                   Title: Sr. Vice President

$20,000,000                                        WACHOVIA BANK


                                                   By /s/ Robert A. Boss
                                                      -------------------------
                                                   Title: Senior Vice President

$300,000,000   Total of the Commitments
</TABLE>





                                       36