Document:

BIG SCIENCE COMPANY

                            1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

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                               BIG SCIENCE COMPANY
                            1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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1.   PURPOSE.
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This Plan is intended to provide employees, directors, consultants and other
individuals (individually, a "Participant" and, collectively, the
"Participants") rendering services to or on behalf of Big Science Company (the
"Corporation") and/or one or more of its subsidiaries (individually, a
"Subsidiary" and, collectively, the "Subsidiaries") an opportunity to acquire an
equity interest in the Corporation. The Corporation intends to use the Plan to
link the long-term interests of shareholders of the Corporation and Plan
Participants, attract and retain Participants' services, motivate Participants
to increase the Corporation's value, and create flexibility in compensating
Participants.

The Plan allows the Corporation to reward Participants with (i) incentive stock
options and/or non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of common stock of
the Corporation, (ii) stock appreciation rights with respect to shares of common
stock of the Corporation, (iii) shares of common stock of the Corporation, (iv)
performance share awards which are designated as a specified number of shares of
common stock of the Corporation and earned based on performance, and (v)
performance unit awards which are designated as having a certain value per unit
and earned based on performance (individually an "Award" and collectively the
"Awards").

The Corporation has reserved the number of shares of common stock of the
Corporation specified in Section 6(a) for purposes of the Plan.

2.   DEFINITIONS.
     -----------

     (a) "AWARD" shall mean any award granted under the Plan.

     (b) "AWARD AGREEMENT" shall mean, with respect to each Award, the signed
written agreement between the Corporation and the Participant receiving the
Award setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award. The general terms and
conditions described in this Plan with respect to such type of Award shall be
incorporated by reference into the Award Agreement and shall apply to such
Award, except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in the Award
Agreement.

     (c) "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

     (d) "CHANGE-IN-CONTROL" of the Corporation shall mean the first to occur of
the following events occurring on or following the Effective Date of the Plan:

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          (i) Any Person (other than those persons in control of the corporation
on the Effective Date of the Plan, a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation, or a corporation
owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Corporation) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Corporation representing twenty-five percent 25 %) or more of the
combined Voting Power of the Corporation's then outstanding securities; or

          (ii) At any time after the Effective Date of the Plan, individuals who
on the Effective Date constitute the Board and any subsequent Board-approved
Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board (for this
purpose, a "Board-approved Director" is any Director elected or appointed after
the Effective Date whose election or appointment was approved by a vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then in office who either were Directors
at the Effective Date or whose election or appointment was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

          (iii) The stockholders of the Corporation approve (A) a plan of
complete liquidation of the Corporation, (B) an agreement for the sale or
disposition of all or substantially all the Corporation's assets (other than as
part of a reorganization excepted in Section 2(d)(iii)(C)), or (C) a merger,
consolidation, or reorganization of the Corporation with or involving any other
entity, other than a merger, consolidation, or reorganization that would result
in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty percent
(50%) of the combined Voting Power of the securities of the Corporation (or such
surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, or
reorganization.

However, in no event shall a Change-in-Control be deemed to have occurred with
respect to a Participant if the Participant is part of a purchasing group which
consummates the Change-in-Control transaction. The Participant shall be deemed
"part of a purchasing group" for purposes of the preceding sentence if the
Participant is either directly or indirectly an equity participant in the
purchasing group (except for (i) passive ownership of less than three percent
(3%) of the stock of the purchasing group, or (ii) ownership of equity
participation in the purchasing group which is otherwise not significant, as
determined prior to the Change-in-Control by the Committee).

     (e) "CODE" shall mean the INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, as amended.

     (f) "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Compensation Committee or any special
committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 to administer the
Plan, unless the Board, itself, administers the Plan in which event the term
"Committee" shall mean the Board.

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     (g) "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the voting, $_____ par value common stock of
the Corporation, as constituted on the Effective Date of the Plan, or any shares
or securities into which the Common Stock may be changed, reclassified,
subdivided, consolidated or converted thereafter.

     (h) "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE" shall mean the compensation committee of the
Board.

     (i) "COMPETING BUSINESS" shall mean any business which is the same as or
essentially the same as the Business of the Company. Should any court deem this
SECTION 2(I) to be unenforceable for any reason, the Participant and the
Corporation hereby grant the court authority to amend the definition of
Competing Business so that it is valid and enforceable.

     (j) "CONSULTANT" shall mean any individual who is not an Employee or
Director and who has or will render services to or on behalf of the Corporation
or a Subsidiary.

     (k) "CORPORATION" shall mean Big Science Company, a corporation organized
under the laws of Georgia, and any successor or continuing corporation resulting
from the amalgamation of the Corporation and any other corporation or resulting
from any other form of corporate reorganization of the Corporation.

     (l) "DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the Board.

     (m) "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean the date described in SECTION 3.

     (n) "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any individual, including an officer, who is a
common law employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.

     (o) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, as
amended.

     (p) "EXERCISE PRICE" shall mean:

          (i) With respect to an Option, the price per Share at which the Option
may be exercised, as determined by the Committee and as specified in the
Participant's Award Agreement; or

          (ii) With respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the price per Share
which is the base price for determining the future value of the Stock
Appreciation Right, as determined by the Committee and as specified in the
Participant's Award Agreement.

     (q) "Fair Market Value" shall mean the value of one Share determined as of
any specified date as follows:

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          (i) If the Shares are traded on any recognized United States
securities exchange, the value per Share shall be the closing price of the
Common Stock on the business day immediately preceding such specified date (or,
if there are no sales on that day, the last preceding day on which there was a
sale) on the principal exchange on which the Common Stock is traded;

          (ii) If the Shares are not traded on any United States securities
exchange but are traded on any formal over-the-counter quotation system in
general use in the United States, including without limitation the NASDAQ
National Market or the NASDAQ Smallcap Market, the value per Share shall be the
mean between the closing bid and closing asked quotations for the Common Stock
on the business day immediately preceding such specified date (or, if there are
no such quotations on that day, the last preceding day on which there were such
quotations) on the principal system on which the Common Stock is traded; or

          (iii) If neither Paragraph (i) nor (ii) applies, then the value per
Share shall be determined by the Board in good faith as an estimate of the value
per Share a willing purchaser would pay a willing seller in an arms' length
transaction with both parties having full knowledge of all relevant material
facts and neither party being compelled to buy or sell. Such determination shall
be conclusive and binding on all persons. The Board may engage an independent
appraiser to determine the Fair Market Value of the Shares on any date.

     (r) "FOR CAUSE" shall mean the termination of a Participant's status as an
Employee, a Director or Consultant (as applicable) for any of the following
reasons, as determined by the Committee:

          (i) A Participant who is an Employee and who willfully fails to
substantially perform the Participant's duties (other than any such failure
resulting from the Participant's Total and Permanent Disability) after a written
demand for substantial performance has been delivered by the Committee to the
Participant that specifically identifies the manner in which the Committee
believes that the Participant has not substantially performed the Participant's
duties, and the Participant fails to remedy such failure within thirty (30)
calendar days after receiving such notice;

          (ii) A Participant who is a Consultant and who commits a material
breach of any consulting, confidentiality or similar agreement with the
Corporation or a Subsidiary, as determined under such agreement;

          (iii) A Participant who is an Employee or a Consultant and who is
convicted (including a trial, plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere) for
committing an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or other act constituting a
felony;

          (iv) A Participant who is an Employee or a Consultant and who
willfully engages in gross misconduct or willfully violates a Corporation or a
Subsidiary policy

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which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Corporation and/or a
Subsidiary after a written demand to cease such misconduct or violation has been
delivered by the Committee to the Participant that specifically identifies the
manner in which the Committee believes that the Participant has violated this
PARAGRAPH (IV), and the Participant fails to cease such misconduct or violation
and remedy any injury suffered by the Corporation or the Subsidiary as a result
thereof within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving such notice. However,
no act or failure to act, on the Participant's part shall be considered
"willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good
faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant's action or omission
was in the best interest of the Corporation or the Subsidiary; or

          (v) A Participant who is an Employee and who commits a material breach
of any noncompetition, confidentiality or similar agreement with the Corporation
or a Subsidiary, as determined under such agreement.

     (s) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option of the type which is
described in SECTION 422(B) of THE CODE.

     (t) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the Board who is neither
an Employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary.

     (u) "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option which is not of the
type described in SECTION 422(B) of THE CODE.

     (v) "OPTION" shall mean any option which is granted pursuant to the Plan to
purchase one or more Shares of Common Stock, whether granted as an Incentive
Stock Option or as a Non-qualified Stock Option.

     (w) "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any individual to whom an Award has been
granted under the Plan, and such term shall include, where appropriate, a
Permitted Transferee, the duly appointed conservator or other legal
representative of a mentally incompetent Participant and the transferee of a
deceased Participant, as provided in the Plan. If an Award is being exercised or
settled by the duly appointed conservator or other legal representative of a
mentally incompetent Participant or the allowable transferee of a deceased
Participant, such Person shall, as a condition to such exercise or settlement,
submit to the Committee evidence satisfactory to the Committee indicating the
capacity in which such Person represents the Participant.

     (x) "PERFORMANCE SHARE" shall mean an Award designated as a specified
number of Shares which may, in whole or in part, be earned by and paid to a
Participant at the end of a performance period based on performance during that
period in achieving the performance objectives specified in the Participant's
Award Agreement. A Performance Share may be settled in cash or Shares, as
provided in the Participant's Award Agreement.

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     (y) "PERFORMANCE UNIT" shall mean an Award designated as a specified dollar
value which may, in whole or in part, be earned by and paid to the Participant
at the end of a performance period based on performance during that period in
achieving the performance objectives specified in the Participant's Award
Agreement. A Performance Unit may be settled in cash or Shares, as provided in
the Participant's Award Agreement.

     (z) "PERMITTED TRANSFEREE" shall mean, with respect to an individual to
whom an Award has been granted under the Plan, the spouse or child or children
of such individual or the trust or other entity established for their benefit;
provided, however, that the transfer of such Award by such individual may occur
only with the prior consent of the Committee which may be granted or denied in
the Committee's sole discretion.

     (aa) "PERSON" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in SECTION
3(A)(9) of THE EXCHANGE ACT and used in SECTIONS 13(D) and 14(D) thereof,
including a "group" as defined in SECTION 13(D).

     (bb) "PLAN" shall mean this Big Science Company 1999 Stock Incentive Plan,
as amended.

     (cc) "PYRAMIDING" shall mean a Participant's payment, in whole or in part,
of the Exercise Price of an Option made by exchanging a Share(s) that the
Participant had acquired pursuant to the exercise of another option during the
preceding six (6) months (under this Plan or any other plan or program of the
Corporation or a Subsidiary) or had otherwise acquired from the Corporation or a
Subsidiary during the preceding six (6) months without paying full consideration
for such Share(s).

     (dd) "RELOAD" shall mean the grant of new Options to a Participant who pays
all or a portion of the Exercise Price of an Option with previously acquired
Shares, with the number of new Options being equal to the number of Shares
submitted by the Participant.

     (ee) "RESTRICTED PERIOD" shall mean the period of time that begins on the
date hereof and extends for the period of employment of the Participant by the
Company hereunder and for a period of six (6) months following the termination
of such employment for any reason whatsoever; provided, however, that the
Restricted Period shall expire and have no effect in the event that the
Participant remains employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries following
the one-year anniversary of any Change in Control.

     (ff) "RESTRICTED STOCK" shall mean a Share(s) of Common Stock issued to a
          Participant which will Vest in accordance with the conditions
          specified in the Participant's Award Agreement.

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     (gg) "RETIREMENT" shall mean, except as otherwise specifically provided in
          an Award Agreement:

          (i) A Participant's voluntary termination of employment with the
Corporation and all Subsidiaries at or following "normal retirement age" (as
defined in the Corporation's or the Subsidiary's qualified 401(k) retirement
plan covering the Participant); or

          (ii) If there is no such plan, the Participant's voluntary termination
of employment with the Corporation and, all Subsidiaries at or following age 65.

     (hh) "SHARE" shall mean one authorized share of Common Stock.

     (ii) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" OR "SAR" shall mean a right issued to a
          Participant to receive all or any portion of the future appreciation
          in the Fair Market Value of one Share over the Exercise Price of such
          Right. A Stock Appreciation Right may be settled in cash or Shares, as
          provided in the Participant's Award Agreement.

     (jj) "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean:

          (i) For purposes of granting Incentive Stock Options, any corporation
(other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with
the Corporation if, at the time of granting an Award, each of the corporations
(other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing
80% or more of the voting power in one of the other corporations in such chain;
and

          (ii) For all other purposes of the Plan, any business entity (other
than the Corporation) in which the Corporation has an equity interest.

     (kk) "TANDEM OPTION/STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" shall mean an Option to
          purchase a specified number of Share(s) and a Stock Appreciation Right
          granted with respect to a specified number of Share(s) which are
          granted together and designated as a "Tandem Option/SAR" in the
          Participant's Award Agreement, whereby the exercise of either the

     (ll) "TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDER" shall, for purposes of granting Incentive
          Stock Options, have the meaning ascribed to such term in CODE SECTION
          422(B)(6) or in any successor provision of the Code.

     (mm) "TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY" shall mean with respect to a
          Participant:

          (i) The mental or physical disability, either occupational or
non-occupational in cause, which satisfies the definition of "total disability"
in the principal

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long-term disability policy or plan provided by the Corporation or a Subsidiary
covering the Participant; or

          (ii) If no such policy is then covering the Participant, a physical or
mental infirmity which, as determined by the Committee, upon receipt of and in
reliance on sufficient competent medical advice from one or more individuals,
selected by the Committee, who are qualified to give professional medical
advice, impairs or is expected to impair the Participant's ability to
substantially perform the Participant's duties for a period of at least one
hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.

     (nn) "VEST" OR "VESTING" shall mean the date on which an Award becomes
          exercisable, payable and/or nonforfeitable, as applicable.

     (oo) VOTING POWER" shall mean the total combined rights to cast votes at
          and election for members of the Board.

3.   EFFECTIVE DATE.
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The Plan was adopted by the Board to be effective on the date of approval by the
Corporation's shareholders in accordance with SECTION 18.

4.   ADMINISTRATION.
     --------------

     (a)  ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD OR THE COMMITTEE.

          (i) The Plan shall be administered by the Board, unless the Board
appoints the Compensation Committee or another Committee to administer the Plan.
The Compensation Committee or any other Committee administering the Plan may,
but is not required to satisfy the criteria set forth in SECTION 4(A)(II). With
respect to any period during which the Board administers the Plan, the term
"Committee" as used in the Plan and any Award Agreement shall mean the Board;

                  (ii) For purposes of SECTION 4(A)(I), the Committee may
consist of not less than two members, each of whom shall be a "non-employee
director" within the meaning of RULE 16B-3(B)(3)(I) promulgated by the
Securities Exchange Commission under THE EXCHANGE ACT, and an "outside director"
within the meaning of SECTION 162(M)(4)(C)(I) of THE CODE and the regulations
issued thereunder.

     (b) ACTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.

          (i) The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it
may determine. For a Committee meeting, if the Committee has two members, both
members must be present to constitute a quorum, and if the Committee has three
or more members, a majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Acts by
a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present and
acts

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approved in writing by all the members of the Committee shall constitute
valid acts of the Committee;

          (ii) Members of the Committee may vote on any matters affecting the
administration of the Plan or the grant of any Award pursuant to the Plan,
subject to the remainder of this SECTION 4(B)(II). No member shall act upon the
granting of an Award to himself or herself.

     (c) POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

On behalf of the Corporation and subject to the provisions of the Plan and RULE
16B-3 of THE EXCHANGE ACT, the Committee shall have the authority and the sole
and complete discretion to:

          (i)   Prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations of the Plan,
and, if desired, delegate authority to take actions under the Plan to the
President or other appropriate officer(s) of the Corporation within the limits
determined by the Committee;

          (ii)   Select Participants to receive Awards;

          (iii)  Determine the form and terms of Awards;

          (iv)   Determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject
to Awards;

          (v)    Determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination
or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under
the Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary;

          (vi)   Construe and interpret in a consistent manner the Plan, any
Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to the
Plan;

          (vii)  Correct any defect or omission, or reconcile any inconsistency
in the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;

          (viii) Determine whether an Award has been earned and/or Vested;

          (ix)   Determine whether a Participant has incurred a Total and
Permanent Disability;

          (x)    Accelerate or, with the consent of the Participant, defer the
Vesting of any Award and/or the exercise date of any Award;

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          (xi)   Determine whether a Participant's status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant of the Corporation or any Subsidiary has been terminated
For Cause;

          (xii)  Authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Corporation or
any Subsidiary any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Award;

          (xiii) With the consent of the Participant, reprice, cancel and
reissue, or otherwise adjust the terms of an Award previously issued to the
Participant;

          (xiv)  Determine when an Employee's period of employment is deemed to
be continued during an approved leave of absence;

          (xv)   Determine when a Consultant's period of rendering service is
deemed to be continuous (notwithstanding a period of interrupted service) and
when a Consultant's period of rendering services has ended;

          (xvi)  Determine, upon review of relevant information, the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock; and

          (xvii) Make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of the Plan.

     (d) COMMITTEE'S INTERPRETATION OF THE PLAN.

The Board's or the Committee's interpretation and construction of any provision
of the Plan, of any Award granted under the Plan, or of any Award Agreement
shall be final and binding on all persons claiming an interest in an Award
granted or issued under the Plan. Neither the Committee, a member of the
Committee nor any Director shall be liable for any action or determination made
in good faith with respect to the Plan. The Corporation, in accordance with its
bylaws, shall indemnify and defend such parties to the fullest extent provided
by law and such bylaws.

5.   PARTICIPATION.
     -------------

     (a) ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.

Subject to the conditions of SECTION 5(B), all Employees, Directors and
Consultants rendering services to the Corporation and/or any Subsidiary are
eligible to be selected as Participants by the Committee. The Committee's
determination of an individual's eligibility for participation shall be final.

     (b) ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS.

The Committee has the authority to grant Award(s) to Participants. A Participant
may be granted more than one Award under the Plan.

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6.   SHARES OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION.
     ----------------------------------

     (a) SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

Awards granted under the Plan shall be with respect to sixty (60) million
authorized but unissued or reacquired Shares of Common Stock. The aggregate
number of Shares granted as Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or Restricted
Shares to a Participant during the term of the Plan shall not exceed twelve (12)
million Shares in a twelve (12) month period under the Plan.

     (b) AWARDS TO DIRECTORS.

No member of the Board or the Committee administering the Plan shall be eligible
to be granted an Award which is not either exempt from RULE 16B-3 of the
EXCHANGE ACT or may be granted under circumstances that may be permitted under
RULE 16B-3 of the EXCHANGE ACT without adversely affecting any requirement of
such Rule that the Plan be administered in a manner prescribed by the Rule.

     (c) ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES.

In the event of an adjustment described in SECTION 13, then (i) the number of
Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the Exercise Prices of and
number of Shares subject to outstanding Options, (iii) the Exercise Prices of
and number of Shares with respect to which there are outstanding Stock
Appreciation Rights, and (iv) any other factor pertaining to outstanding Awards
shall be duly and proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by
the Board or the shareholders of the Corporation and compliance with applicable
securities laws; provided, however, that fractions of a Share shall not be
issued but shall either be paid in cash at Fair Market Value or shall be rounded
up to the nearest Share, as determined by the Committee.

     (d) AWARDS NOT TO EXCEED SHARES AVAILABLE.

The number of Shares subject to Awards which have been granted under the Plan at
any time during the Plan's term shall not, in the aggregate at any time, exceed
the number of Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. The number of
Shares subject to an Award which expires, is canceled, is forfeited or is
terminated for any reason other than, and to the extent, being settled in
Shares, shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.

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7.   GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AWARDS.
     --------------------------------------

     (a) AWARD AGREEMENTS.

Each Award shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement which shall set forth
the terms and conditions pertaining to such Award. Each Award Agreement shall
specify the manner and procedure for exercising an Award, if relevant for the
Award, and specify the effective date of such exercise.

     (b) NUMBER OF SHARES COVERED BY AN AWARD.

Each Award Agreement shall state the number of Shares subject to the Award,
subject to adjustment of such Shares pursuant to SECTION 13.

     (c) OTHER PROVISIONS.

An Award Agreement may contain such other provisions as the Committee in its
discretion deems advisable, including but not limited to:

          (i)   Restrictions on the exercise of the Award;

          (ii)  Submission by the Participant of such forms and documents as the
Committee may require; and/or

          (iii) Procedures to facilitate the payment of the Exercise Price of an
Option under any method allowable under SECTION 16.

     (d) VESTING OF AWARDS.

Each Award Agreement shall include a Vesting schedule describing the date, event
or act upon which an Award shall Vest, in whole or in part, with respect to all
or a specified portion of the Shares covered by such Award.

     (e) EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, DIRECTORSHIP OR CONSULTANCY ON
NONVESTED AND VESTED AWARDS.

          (i) For purposes of the Plan, a Participant's status as an Employee, a
Director or a Consultant shall be determined by the Committee and will be
treated as continuing intact while the Participant is on military leave, sick
leave or other bona fide leave of absence, as determined by the Committee.

          (ii) If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, a Director and/or a
Consultant for any reason (A) the Participant's Award(s) which are not Vested at
the time that the Participant ceases to be an Employee, a Director or a
Consultant (as applicable) shall be forfeited, and (B) the Participant's
Award(s) which are Vested at the

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time the Participant ceases to be an Employee, a Director or a Consultant (as
applicable) shall be forfeited and/or expire on the terms specified in SECTIONS
8 through 11 (as applicable) except to the extent specifically provided
otherwise in the Participant's Award Agreement.

     (f) NONTRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS.

An Award granted to a Participant shall, during the lifetime of the Participant,
be exercisable only by the Participant and shall not, except to the extent
specifically provided otherwise in the Plan or in the Participant's Award
Agreement, be assignable or transferable. In the event of the Participant's
death, an Award is transferable by the Participant only by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Any attempted pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
transfer or attachment by any creditor in violation of this Section 7(f) shall
be null and void, except with the prior written consent of the Board.

     (g) MODIFICATION, EXTENSION OR RENEWAL OF AWARDS.

Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion,
modify, extend or renew any outstanding Award or accept the cancellation of
outstanding Award(s) for the granting of a new Award(s) in substitution
therefore. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no modification of an Award
shall:

          (i) Without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any rights
or obligations under any Award previously granted;

          (ii) Without the consent of the Participant, cause an Incentive Stock
Option previously granted to fail to satisfy all the conditions required to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option; or

          (iii) Exceed or otherwise violate any limitation set forth in the
Plan.

     (h) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

A Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Corporation with
respect to any Shares subject to Award until the date a stock certificate for
such Shares is issued to the Participant. No adjustment shall be made for
dividends (ordinary or extraordinary or whether in currency, securities, or
other property), distributions, or other rights for which the record date is
prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.

8.   SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
     ----------------------------------------

     (a) ELIGIBILITY FOR INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.

Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to a Participant who is an Employee.
Any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who is also a Ten Percent
Stockholder

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shall be subject to the following additional limitations: (i) the
Exercise Price of each Share subject to such Incentive Stock Option, when
granted, is equal to or exceeds 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of
the date of grant, and (ii) the term of the Incentive Stock Option does not
exceed five (5) years from the date of grant.

     (b) EXERCISE PRICE.

Each Award Agreement shall state the Exercise Price for the Shares to which the
Option pertains, provided that the Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares determined as
of the date the Option is granted (substituting "110%" for "100%" for any
Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder).

     (c) EXERCISE OF OPTIONS, PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE, AND "NET SHARES"
SETTLEMENT OF OPTIONS.

          (i) A Participant may exercise an Option only on or after the date on
which the Option Vests and only on or before the date on which the term of the
Option expires.

          (ii) Subject to SECTION 8(C)(III) below, a Participant exercising an
Option shall pay the Exercise Price for the Shares to which such exercise
pertains in full in cash (in U.S. dollars) as a condition of such exercise,
unless the Committee, in its discretion, allows the Participant to pay the
Exercise Price in a manner allowed under Section 16, so long as the sum of cash
so paid and such other consideration equals the Exercise Price. The Committee
may, in its discretion, permit the sequential exercise of an Option through
Pyramiding and/or permit the grant of Reload Options.

          (iii) The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to
exercise an Option without paying the Exercise Price for the Shares to which
such exercise pertains, in which event the Option so exercised shall be settled
in a specific number of whole Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
to (A) the excess of the Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of
exercise, of one Share over the Exercise Price of such Option, multiplied by (B)
the number of Shares to which such exercise pertains.

     (d) TERM AND EXPIRATION OF OPTIONS.

Subject to Section 8(i), except as otherwise specifically provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement, the term of an Option shall expire on the first
to occur of the following:

          (i)   The tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Option was granted
(for an Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who is a Ten Percent
Stockholder, "fifth (5th) anniversary" shall be substituted for "tenth (10th)
anniversary");

                                       14

<PAGE>

          (ii)  The date determined under SECTION 8(E) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of voluntary
termination or involuntary termination For Cause;

          (iii) The date determined under SECTION 8(F) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of the Participant's
death;

          (iv)  The date determined under SECTION 8(G) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of the Participant's
Total and Permanent Disability;

          (v)   The date determined under SECTION 8(H) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of involuntary
termination other than For Cause;

          (vi)  On the closing date of a transaction described in SECTION 13(B);
or

          (vii) The expiration date specified in the Award Agreement pertaining
to the Option.

     (E) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OTHER THAN RETIREMENT AND INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION
         FOR CAUSE.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by resigning
or by being Terminated For Cause, then the Participant's Options which are
Vested at the time the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or
Consultant shall expire immediately.

     (f) DEATH OF PARTICIPANT.

If a Participant dies while an Employee, Director or Consultant, any Option
granted to the Participant may be exercised, to the extent it was Vested on the
date of the Participant's death or became Vested as a result of the
Participant's death, at any time within one (1) year after the Participant's
death (but not beyond the date that the term of the Option would earlier have
expired pursuant to Section 8(D) had the Participant's death not occurred).

     (g) TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OF PARTICIPANT.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant as a
consequence of Total and Permanent Disability, any Option granted to the
Participant may be exercised, to the extent it was Vested on the date that the
Participant ceased to be an Employee, Director or Consultant or became Vested as
a result of Participant's Total and Permanent Disability, at any time within one
(1) year after such date (but not beyond the

                                       15

<PAGE>

date that the term of the Option would earlier have expired pursuant to 8(D) had
the Participant's Total and Permanent Disability not occurred).

     (h) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant upon
termination by the Corporation for reasons other than For Cause, the
Participant's Options which are Vested at the time the Participant is terminated
may be exercised at any time within three (3) months after such date (but not
beyond the date that the term of the Option would earlier have expired pursuant
to 8(D)).

     (i) NON-COMPETE FORFEITURE PROVISION

The Participant agrees that during the Restricted Period, he will not (except on
behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Company) within the United
States, either directly or indirectly, on his behalf or in the service or on
behalf of others as vice-president, senior executive or other senior level
position, whether designated as an employee, Consultant or otherwise, engage in
any Competing Business. Upon a determination by the Board that the Participant
has violated this Non-compete Provision, all vested and non-vested Options will
immediately be forfeited.

     (j) RETIREMENT.

If a Participant Retires while an Employee, Director or Consultant, any Option
granted to the Participant may be exercised, to the extent it was Vested on the
date of the Participant's retirement or became Vested as a result of the
Participant's retirement, at any time within one (1) year after the
Participant's Retirement (but not beyond the date that the term of the Option
would earlier have expired pursuant to 8(D) had the Participant's Retirement not
occurred.

     (k) NO DISQUALIFICATION OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan shall not be
interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted
under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under SECTION 422 of
THE CODE or, without the consent of the Participant affected, disqualify any
Incentive Stock Option under SECTION 422 of THE CODE (except as provided in
Section 8(j)).

     (l) LIMITATION ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.

The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each Incentive Stock
Option as of the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option) of all Shares
with respect to which a Participant's Incentive Stock Options first become
Vested during any calendar year (under the Plan and under other incentive stock
option plans, if any, of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) shall not exceed
US$100,000. Any purported

                                       16

<PAGE>

Incentive Stock Options in excess of such limitation shall be recharacterized as
Non-qualified Stock Options.

9.   SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
     ----------------------------------------------------------

     (a) EXERCISE PRICE.

          (i) Each Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement shall state the
number of Shares to which it pertains and the Exercise Price which is the basis
for determining future appreciation, subject to adjustment pursuant to SECTION
13, provided that the Exercise Price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share determined as of the date the
Stock Appreciation Right is granted;

          (ii) A Stock Appreciation Right shall be issued to and exercised by a
Participant without payment by the Participant of any consideration.

     (b) EXERCISE AND SETTLEMENT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

          (i) A Participant may exercise a Stock Appreciation Right only on or
after the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right Vests and only on or before
the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right expires;

          (ii) A Participant's properly exercised Stock Appreciation Right may
be settled in the form of cash (either in a lump sum payment or in
installments), whole Shares or a combination thereof, as the Award Agreement
prescribes.

     (c) TERM AND EXPIRATION OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in a Participant's Award Agreement,
the term of a Stock Appreciation Right shall expire on the first to occur of the
following:

          (i)   The tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Right was granted;

          (ii)  The date determined under SECTION 9(D) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of voluntary
termination or involuntary termination For Cause;

          (iii) The date determined under SECTION 9(E) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of the Participant's
death;

          (iv)  The date determined under SECTION 9(F) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of the Participant's
Total and Permanent Disability;

                                       17

<PAGE>

          (v)   The date determined under SECTION 9(G) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by reason of involuntary
termination other than For Cause;

          (vi)  On the effective date of a transaction described in SECTION
13(B); or

          (vii) The expiration date specified in the Award Agreement pertaining
to the Stock Appreciation Right.

     (d) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OTHER THAN RETIREMENT AND INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION
FOR CAUSE.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant by Resigning
or by being terminated For Cause, the Participant's Stock Appreciation Rights
which are Vested at the time the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director
or Consultant shall expire immediately.

     (e) DEATH OF PARTICIPANT.

If a Participant dies while an Employee, Director or Consultant, any Stock
Appreciation Right granted to the Participant may be exercised, to the extent it
was Vested on the date of the Participant's death or became Vested as a
consequence of the Participant's death, at any time within one (1) year after
the Participant's death (but not beyond the date that the term of the Stock
Appreciation Right would earlier have expired pursuant to Section 9(c) had the
Participant's death not occurred).

     (f) TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OF PARTICIPANT.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant as a
consequence of Total and Permanent Disability, any Stock Appreciation Right
granted to the Participant may be exercised, to the extent it was Vested on the
date that the Participant ceased to be an Employee or became Vested as a
consequence of the Participant's Total and Permanent Disability, at any time
within one (1) year after such date (but not beyond the date that the term of
the Stock Appreciation Right would earlier have expired pursuant to 9(c) had the
Participant's Total and Permanent Disability not occurred).

     (g) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE.

If a Participant ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant upon
termination by the Corporation for reasons other than For Cause, the
Participant's Stock Appreciation Rights which are Vested at the time the
Participant is terminated may be exercised at any time within three (3) months
after such date (but not beyond the date that the term of the Stock Appreciation
Rights would earlier have expired pursuant to 9(C)).

                                       18

<PAGE>

     (h) RETIREMENT.

If a Participant Retires while an Employee, Director or Consultant, the
Participant's Stock Appreciation Rights which are Vested at the time the
Participant retires may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months after
such date (but not beyond the date that the term of the Stock Appreciation
Rights would earlier have expired pursuant to 9(C).

10.  SPECIFIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK.
     -------------------------------------------------

     (a) PURCHASE PRICE.

          (i) Each Award Agreement shall state the number of Shares of
Restricted Stock to which it pertains and the purchase price per Share, if any,
that the Participant paid for such Shares, subject to adjustment pursuant to
SECTION 13;

          (ii) A Share of Restricted Stock may be issued to a Participant with
or without payment by the Participant of any consideration (other than past
and/or future services), unless the Participant is required, pursuant to the
related Award Agreement, to pay a minimum purchase price, such as par value, for
such Shares.

     (b) FORFEITURE OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

If a Participant's status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates for
any reason, any Share of Restricted Stock which was not Vested or did not become
Vested as the result of the Participant's termination shall be forfeited
immediately.

     (c) CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING NON-VESTED SHARES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

As a condition to receiving an Award of Restricted Stock which are not Vested,
the Participant shall duly execute a "power of attorney" or a form of "stock
power" provided by the Corporation with respect to such Shares authorizing the
re-transfer, without any further action by the Participant, to the Corporation
any Shares which may be forfeited by the Participant. The Corporation shall
retain the stock certificate evidencing such Shares until the Shares are Vested.
If, in the opinion of the Corporation and its counsel, the retention of the
stock certificate representing such Restricted Stock is no longer required, the
Corporation shall deliver to the Participant a stock certificate representing
such Shares, bearing such restrictive legends as are required or may be deemed
advisable under the Plan or the provisions of any applicable law.

     (d) LEGENDS.

                                       19

<PAGE>

Stock certificates evidencing Restricted Stock shall bear a restrictive legend
noting the forfeiture provisions attached to such Shares and such other
restrictive legends as are required or may be deemed advisable by the Committee
under the Plan or the provisions of any applicable law.

11.  PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS.
     ----------------------------------------

     (a) NUMBER OF SHARES COVERED BY A PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD.

Each Performance Share Award Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which
it pertains, subject to adjustment pursuant to SECTION 13.

     (b) VALUE AND CRITERIA OF A PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD.

Each Performance Unit Award Agreement shall state the value of such Award (in
U.S. dollars) and the specific performance objectives necessary to Vest such
Award.

     (c) PURCHASE PRICE.

A Performance Share and a Performance Unit shall be issued to a Participant
without payment by the Participant of any consideration (other than past and/or
future services).

     (d) SETTLEMENT OF A PERFORMANCE SHARE AND A PERFORMANCE UNIT.

Following the end of the performance period applicable to a Performance Share or
a Performance Unit and the Committee's determination of the extent to which the
Award Vests, the Award shall be settled in the form of cash (either in a lump
sum payment or in installments), whole Shares or a combination thereof, as the
Award Agreement prescribes.

     (e) TERM AND EXPIRATION OF PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in a Participant's Award Agreement,
the term of a Performance Share and Performance Unit shall expire on the first
to occur of the following events:

          (i)    The date determined under SECTION 11(F) for a Participant who
ceases to be an Employee, Director or Consultant for any reason;

          (ii)   On the effective date of a transaction described IN SECTION
13(B); or

          (iii)  The expiration date specified in the Award Agreement pertaining
to the Performance Share or the Performance Unit.

                                       20

<PAGE>

     (f) FORFEITURE OF PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS.

If a Participant status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates for
any reason, any Performance Share and Performance Unit which was not Vested or
did not become Vested as the result of the Participant's termination shall be
forfeited immediately.

12.  TERM OF PLAN.
     ------------

Awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan through the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date
at 11:59 p.m. All Awards which are outstanding on such date shall remain in
effect until they are exercised or expire by their terms. The Plan shall expire
for all purposes on the twentieth (20th) anniversary of the Effective Date at
11:59 p.m. The Board is authorized to extend the Plan for an additional term at
any time; however, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan on
or after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date of the Plan, unless
an extension is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation within one (1)
year of such extension.

13.  RECAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION AND CHANGE OF CONTROL.
     ---------------------------------------------------

     (a) RECAPITALIZATION.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, but subject to
any required action by the stockholders of the Corporation and compliance with
any applicable securities laws, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
make any adjustments to the class and/or number of Shares covered by the Plan,
the number of Shares for which each outstanding Award pertains, the Exercise
Price of an Option, the Exercise Price of a Stock Appreciation Right, and/or any
other aspect of this Plan to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights
of Participants under this Plan in connection with any increase or decrease in
the number of issued Shares resulting from the payment of a Common Stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, or
reclassification or any other event which results in an increase or decrease in
the number of issued Shares without receipt of adequate consideration by the
Corporation (as determined by the Committee). The conversion of any convertible
securities of the Corporation shall not be deemed to have been issued without
adequate consideration.

     (b) DISSOLUTION, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OR LEASE OF ASSETS.

In connection with a Change-in-Control of the Corporation described in SECTION
2(D)(III), each Award shall expire immediately prior to the closing date of such
transaction,

                                       21

<PAGE>

provided that the Committee shall, to the extent possible considering the timing
of the transaction, give at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice of such
event to any Participant who shall then have the right to exercise his or her
Vested Awards (as an Award Agreement may provide) prior to the closing date of
such transaction, subject to earlier expiration pursuant to SECTIONS 8 through
11, as applicable. The preceding sentence shall not apply if the
Change-in-Control of the Corporation is described in SECTION 2(D)(III)(C) and
the surviving entity agrees to assume outstanding Awards.

     (c) DETERMINATION BY THE COMMITTEE.

All adjustments described in this SECTION 13 shall be made by the Committee and
shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

     (d) LIMITATION ON RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

Except as expressly provided in this SECTION 13, no Participant shall have any
rights by reason of any reorganization, dissolution, Change-in-Control, merger
or acquisition. Any issuance by the Corporation or any Subsidiary of Awards
shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect
to, any Awards previously issued under the Plan.

     (e) NO LIMITATION ON RIGHTS OF CORPORATION.

The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right
or power of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business
structure, or to merge or consolidate, or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or
transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

14.  SECURITIES LAW REQUIREMENTS.
     ---------------------------

     (a) LEGALITY OF ISSUANCE.

No Share shall be issued upon the exercise of any Award unless and until the
Committee has determined that:

          (i) The Corporation, its Subsidiaries and the Participant have taken
all actions required to register the Shares under THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, as
amended (THE "ACT"), or to perfect an exemption from registration requirements
of the Act, or to determine that the registration requirements of THE ACT do not
apply to such exercise;

          (ii) Any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which
the Share is listed has been satisfied; and

                                       22

<PAGE>

          (iii) Any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign law
has been satisfied.

As a condition to the issuance of any Share pursuant to an Award or the transfer
of such Share, the Corporation may require an opinion of counsel, satisfactory
to the Corporation, to the effect that such issuance or transfer will not be in
violation of the Act or any other applicable securities laws or that such
issuance or transfer has been duly registered under federal and all applicable
state securities laws. The Corporation shall not be liable to any party for
damages due to a delay in the delivery or issuance of any stock certificate for
any reason.

     (b) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER; REPRESENTATIONS OF PARTICIPANT; LEGENDS.

Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Shares under the Plan have been
registered under the Act or have been registered or qualified under the
securities laws of any state, the Corporation may impose restrictions upon the
sale, pledge or other transfer of such Shares (including the placement of
appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in the judgment of the
Corporation and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or desirable to
achieve compliance with the provisions of THE ACT, the securities laws of any
state, or any other law. If the offering and/or sale of Shares under the Plan is
not registered under THE ACT and the Corporation determines that the
registration requirements of THE ACT apply but an exemption is available which
requires an investment representation or other representation, the Participant
shall be required, as a condition to acquiring such Shares, to represent that
such Shares are being acquired for investment, and not with a view to the sale
or distribution thereof, except in compliance with THE ACT, and to make such
other representations, to execute such documents and to provide the Corporation
with such information as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Corporation
and its counsel. Stock certificates evidencing Shares acquired pursuant to an
unregistered transaction to which THE ACT applies shall bear a restrictive
legend substantially in the following form and such other restrictive legends as
are required or deemed advisable under the Plan or the provisions of any
applicable law:

         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
         1933 ("ACT"). THEY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE
         UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT IS IN EFFECT AS TO SUCH
         TRANSFER OR IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE ISSUER EITHER SUCH
         REGISTRATION IS UNNECESSARY IN ORDER FOR SUCH TRANSFER TO COMPLY WITH
         THE ACT OR THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE ACT DO NOT APPLY TO SUCH
         PROPOSED TRANSFER.

                                       23

<PAGE>

Any determination by the Corporation, its Subsidiaries and its counsel in
connection with any of the matters set forth in this SECTION 14 shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons.

     (c) REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION OF SECURITIES.

The Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries may, but shall not be obligated to,
register or qualify the offering or sale of Shares under the Act or any other
applicable law.

     (d) EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.

If, in the opinion of the Corporation, its Subsidiaries and its counsel, any
legend placed on a stock certificate representing Shares issued pursuant to the
Plan is no longer required, the Participant or the holder of such certificate
shall be entitled to exchange such certificate for a certificate representing
the same number of Shares but lacking such legend.

15.  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
     ---------------------

The Committee may, from time to time, terminate, suspend or discontinue the
Plan, in whole or in part, or revise or amend it in any respect whatsoever
including, but not limited to, the adoption of any amendment deemed necessary or
advisable to qualify the Awards under rules and regulations promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") with respect to Participants who
are subject to the provisions of SECTION 16 of the EXCHANGE ACT, or to correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or
in any Award granted under the Plan, with or without approval of the
stockholders of the Corporation, but if any such action is taken without the
approval of the Corporation's stockholders, no such revision or amendment shall:

     (a) Increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan, other than any
increase pursuant to SECTION 13;

     (b) Change the designation of the class of persons eligible to receive
Awards; or

     (c) Amend this SECTION 15 to defeat its purpose.

No amendment, termination or modification of the Plan shall, without the consent
of a Participant, adversely affect the Participant with respect to any Award
previously granted to the Participant.

                                       24

<PAGE>

16.  PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.
     ---------------------------

Payment of the Exercise Price for any Shares purchased pursuant to the Plan may
be made in cash (in U.S. dollars) or, where expressly approved for the
Participant by the Committee, in its discretion, and where permitted by law:

     (a) By check;

     (b) By wire transfer of immediately available funds;

     (c) By cancellation of indebtedness of the Corporation or a Subsidiary to
the Participant;

     (d) By surrender of Shares that either: (A) have been owned by the
Participant for more than six months (unless the Committee permits a Participant
to exercise an Option by Pyramiding, in which event the six months holding
period shall not apply) and have been "paid for" within the meaning of SEC RULE
144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Corporation or a Subsidiary by
use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such
Shares); or (B) were obtained by the Participant in the public market, in each
case subject to applicable holding period and distribution restrictions required
by the Act and the Exchange Act;

     (e) By waiver of compensation due or accrued to Participant for services
rendered;

     (f) With respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided
that a public market for the Corporation's stock exists:

          (i) Through a "same day sale" commitment from the Participant and a
broker-dealer that is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers
(an "NASD Dealer") whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the
Option and to sell a portion of the Shares so purchased to pay the Exercise
Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such
Shares to forward the Exercise Price and any applicable withholding taxes
directly to the Corporation or a Subsidiary; or

          (ii) Through a "margin" commitment from the Participant and an NASD
Dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to
pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as
security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price,
and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to
forward the Exercise Price and any applicable withholding taxes directly to the
Corporation or a Subsidiary; or

     (g) By any combination of the foregoing and/or by any other method approved
by the Committee.

                                       25

<PAGE>

17.  APPLICATION OF FUNDS.
     --------------------

The proceeds received by the Corporation and its Subsidiaries from the sale of
Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option or in any other manner with
respect to any Award shall be used for general corporate purposes.

18.  APPROVAL OF SHAREHOLDERS.
     ------------------------

The Plan shall be subject to approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding shares present and entitled to vote at the first
meeting of shareholders of the Corporation following the adoption of the Plan by
the Board. Prior to such approval, Awards may be granted but may not be
exercised or settled. Pursuant to Section 15, certain amendments shall also be
subject to approval by the Corporation's shareholders.

19.  WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.
     --------------------

     (a) GENERAL.

Whenever Shares are to be issued under the Plan, the Corporation or a Subsidiary
may require, as a condition to such issuance of Shares, the Participant to remit
to the Corporation or such Subsidiary, from any source, an amount sufficient to
satisfy foreign, federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to
the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under
the Plan, payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash, such
payment shall be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy foreign, federal, state,
and local withholding tax requirements.

     (b) STOCK WITHHOLDING.

When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs a tax liability in
connection with the issuance of Shares under the Plan and the Participant is
obligated to pay the Corporation or a Subsidiary the amount required to be
withheld, the Participant may elect to satisfy the minimum withholding tax
obligation by having the Corporation or such Subsidiary withhold from the Shares
to be issued the specific number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to
the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the
amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined (the "Tax Date"). All elections
by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in
writing in a form acceptable to the Committee and shall be subject to the
following restrictions:

          (i)   The election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax
Date;

                                       26

<PAGE>

          (ii)  Once made, then except as provided below, the election shall be
irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is made; and

          (iii) All elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of
the Committee.

20.  RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT.
     ---------------------------------------------

The Plan shall not be construed to give any individual the right to remain in
the employ of the Corporation (or a Subsidiary) or to affect the right of the
Corporation (or such Subsidiary) to terminate such individual's status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant at any time, with or without cause. The grant
of an Award shall not entitle the Participant to, or disqualify the Participant
from, participation in the grant of any other Award under the Plan or
participation in any other plan maintained by the Corporation or any Subsidiary.

21.  RESTRICTIONS ON SALE AND TRANSFER.
     ---------------------------------

Each Participant agrees not to pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise
encumber or assign as security any of the Stock without the prior written
consent of all the other Employees. Each Participant further agrees not to sell,
transfer or assign any of the Stock to any person or entity not a party to this
Agreement, without the prior written consent of all of the other Employees or,
in the absence of such consent, only in accordance with the following terms and
conditions:

        (i)    Any Participant desiring to sell, transfer or assign all or any
               portion if his Stock (the "Selling Stockholder") shall first
               receive a bona fide written offer for the purchase of the number
               of shares of the Stock that he desires to sell, transfer or
               assign (the "Offered Stock"). The Selling Stockholder shall then
               send a written notice to the Corporation and to all the other
               stockholders, offering all of the Offered Stock to the
               Corporation at the price and on the terms and conditions set
               forth in such bona fide offer, and to the extent such offer is
               not accepted by the Corporation, then for purchase
               proportionately by the other stockholders, or upon such other
               basis as they mutually agree, at the same price and on the same
               terms and conditions. Such notice shall contain a signed copy of
               the bona fide offer to purchase the Offered Stock, as well as the
               full name and address of the proposed purchaser, and shall state
               that all of the Offered Stock is offered for purchase within the
               periods provided in subsections 21(II) and 21(IV)) hereof.

        (ii)   Within thirty (30) days after the date of mailing of the last
               copy of such offer a special meeting of the stockholders of the
               Corporation shall be

                                       28

<PAGE>

               held in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
               Corporation's By-Laws then in effect. At such meeting the
               stockholders shall decide by majority vote whether and to what
               extent such offer shall be accepted by the Corporation, which
               decision shall, either at such meeting or promptly thereafter and
               within such thirty (30) day period, be communicated by written
               notice to the Selling Stockholder. If the Corporation accepts the
               offer to purchase all the Offered Stock, the notice shall specify
               a date for the closing no later than thirty (30) days after the
               notice of such acceptance is given to the Selling Stockholder, or
               at such other place and date within the thirty (30) day period as
               the Selling Stockholder and the Corporation may agree. It is
               understood and agreed that in lieu of an actual meeting of the
               stockholders, all of the stockholders may sign a unanimous
               written consent evidencing their decision in regard to the
               Selling Stockholder's offer. The Selling Stockholder shall not be
               entitled to vote as a stockholder or director of the Corporation
               on the question of whether or to what extent the Corporation
               shall accept such offer, but he shall attend such meeting of the
               stockholders and related meeting of directors called for the
               purpose of considering the same and, if requested, shall sign any
               written consent of the directors or stockholders for the purpose
               of authorizing and implementing the decision of the other
               directors or stockholders with regard to such offer.

        (iii)  At the closing, the Corporation shall purchase the Offered Stock
               on the same terms and conditions contained in the bona fide
               offer, and the Selling Stockholder shall deliver the certificates
               representing the Offered Stock to the Corporation with all
               applicable transfer stamps, if any, affixed and duly endorsed for
               transfer, with full warranties of title and free and clear of any
               and all claims, liens and encumbrances (except any encumbrances
               or restrictions arising pursuant to this Agreement or any
               applicable state or federal securities laws), and each party
               shall execute and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to
               effectuate such transfer and purchase. The amount of any
               indebtedness of the Selling Stockholder to the Corporation
               outstanding at the time of the closing shall be credited against
               the purchase price.

        (iv)   If or to the extent the Corporation does not accept such offer
               within the required thirty (30) day period, the other
               stockholders shall have an additional fifteen (15) day period,
               commencing with date the Corporation's notice in response to the
               offer is sent to the Selling Stockholder or, if no response is
               given, on the thirtieth (30th) day following the date on which
               the last copy of the Selling Stockholder's offer is mailed in
               accordance with SECTION 21(I) above, to purchase on a pro rata
               basis or on such other basis as they may agree, all or any part
               of the Offered Stock on the same terms and conditions as provided
               in

                                       28

<PAGE>

               the bona fide offer. Any Offered Stock which an Investor
               Stockholder does not elect to purchase may be purchased by the
               other non-selling stockholders. The non-selling stockholders
               shall exercise this election to purchase by giving the Selling
               Stockholder and the Corporation written notice thereof. The
               notices shall state that the closing shall be held a the
               Corporation's principal place of business on the tenth (10th)
               business day following the above fifteen (15) day period or at
               such other place and date no later than the end of the ten (10)
               business day period, as the Selling Stockholder, the Participant
               and the Corporation may agree. At the closing, the purchasing
               Participant and, if applicable, the Corporation shall purchase
               the Offered Stock on the same terms and conditions contained in
               the bona fide offer, and the Selling Stockholder shall deliver
               the certificates representing the Offered Stock to the purchasing
               Participant and if applicable, to the Corporation, with all
               applicable transfer stamps, if any, affixed and duly endorsed for
               transfer, with full warranties of title and free and clear of any
               claims, liens and encumbrances (except any encumbrances or
               restrictions arising pursuant to this Agreement or any applicable
               state or federal securities laws), and each party shall execute
               and deliver all documents necessary or desirable to effectuate
               such transfer and purchase. The amount of any indebtedness of the
               Selling Stockholder to the Corporation outstanding at the time of
               the closing shall be credited against the purchase price.

        (v)    Notwithstanding the above, if the Selling Stockholder's offer is
               not accepted by the Corporation or the non-selling stockholders
               as to all of the Offered Stock within the time periods provided
               above, the Selling Stockholder shall not be obligated to sell any
               of the Offered Stock to the Corporation or the other stockholders
               as provided above and shall be free for a period of ninety (90)
               days thereafter to sell, transfer or assign all of the Offered
               Stock at the price and on the terms set forth in the bona fide
               offer to the person making such offer.

        (vi)   If or to the extent the Offered Stock is not sold to the other
               bona fide offer on the terms and conditions set forth in the bona
               fide offer within the last stated ninety (90) day period, then
               the restrictions provided in this Section shall again become
               effective with respect to all of the Stock, and no such
               transaction may be made thereafter by any stockholder with any
               person or entity no a party to this Plan without the unanimous
               written consent of all of the other stockholders or without again
               reoffering the Stock in accordance with the foregoing terms and
               conditions.

22.  NOTICES.
     -------

                                       29

<PAGE>

Any notice to be provided by one party to the other party under this Plan shall
be deemed to have been duly delivered to the other party (i) on the date such
notice is delivered at the address provided in a Participant's Award Agreement
or at such other address as the party may notify the other party in writing at
any time, or (ii) on the date such notice is deposited in the United States mail
as first class mail, postage prepaid if addressed to the party at the address
provided in a Participant's Award Agreement or at such other address as the
party may notify the other party in writing at any time. For the purposes of
clause (i), the term "delivered" shall include hand delivery, delivery by
facsimile, and delivery by electronic mail.

24.  MISCELLANEOUS.
     -------------

     (a) UNFUNDED PLAN.

The Plan shall be unfunded and the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be
required to establish any special account or fund or to otherwise segregate or
encumber assets to ensure payment of any Award.

     (b) NO RESTRICTIONS ON OTHER PROGRAMS.

Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Corporation or any Subsidiary
from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements or plans, subject to
shareholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements or plan
may be either generally applicable or applicable only to specific classes.

     (c) GOVERNING LAWS.

The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Georgia, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might
otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan or Award Agreement to
the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement, recipients of an Award are deemed to submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Georgia, in the County
of the principal offices of the Corporation, to resolve any and all issues that
may arise out of or relate to the Plan and any related Award Agreement.

     (d) ATTORNEY'S FEES.

In the event that a Participant or the Corporation or any Subsidiary brings an
action to enforce the terms of the Plan or any Award Agreement and the
Corporation or such Subsidiary prevails, the Participant shall pay all costs and
expenses incurred by the Corporation and such Subsidiary in connection with that
action, including reasonable

                                       30

<PAGE>

attorney's fees, and all further costs and fees, including reasonable attorney's
fees, incurred by the Corporation and such Subsidiary in connection with
collection.

     (e) INVALIDITY OR UNENFORCEABILITY OF ANY PROVISION.

If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award
under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provisions shall be
construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws
or, in the discretion of the Committee, it shall be stricken and the remainder
of the Plan shall remain in effect.

     (k) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES.

      No fractional Shares may be issued under the Plan. The Committee shall
determine whether to disregard any fractional Share, round-up to the next higher
Share, or round-down to the next lower Share.

                                       31

<PAGE>
                                 NON-QUALIFIED
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made as of the day of ________________, 2000 (the "Date of
Grant") by and between BIG SCIENCE COMPANY, a Georgia corporation (the
"Corporation"), and __________________________ (the "Participant").

To carry out the purposes of the Big Science Company 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") by affording the Participant the opportunity to purchase the number
of Shares of Common Stock of the Corporation as set forth herein, the
Corporation and the Participant hereby agree as follows:

1.    GRANT OF OPTION. The Corporation hereby irrevocably grants to the
      Participant the right and option (the "Option") to purchase all or any
      part of the number of Shares of Stock set forth below the Participant's
      name on the signature page hereof, on the terms and conditions set forth
      herein and in the Plan. This Option is not an incentive stock option
      within the meaning of SECTION 422(B) of the INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986,
      as amended (the "Code").

2.    PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price of Stock purchased pursuant to the
      exercise of this Option shall be $_____ per Share.

3.    EXERCISE OF OPTION. Subject to the earlier expiration of this Option as
      herein provided, this Option may be exercised, by written notice to the
      Corporation, at any time and from time to time, but only to the extent
      this Option is then Vested and exercisable.

4.    VESTING OF OPTION. This Option shall become Vested and exercisable over a
      five (5) year period at the rate of 20% per year, commencing on the first
      anniversary of the Date of Grant, subject to Section 5 hereof regarding
      the accelerated Vesting of the Option. If the Participant status as an
      Employee of the Corporation terminates, the Participant's Vested interest
      in the Option shall be determined as of such termination date and the
      extent to which Section 5 accelerates the Vesting of the Option shall be
      determined only with respect to events occurring on or before such
      termination date.

5.    ACCELERATED VESTING OF OPTION.

      (a)   VESTING IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE
            ASSETS OF THE CORPORATION. The Option shall become Vested and
            exercisable with respect to 100% of the Shares of Stock subject to
            the Option on the effective date of the sale of substantially all
            the assets of the Corporation, provided the Participant's status as
            an Employee of the Corporation has not terminated on or before the
            effective date of such sale.

      (b)   VESTING IN CONNECTION WITH THE LIQUIDATION OF THE CORPORATION. The
            Option shall become Vested and exercisable with respect to 100% of
            the Shares of Stock subject to the Option on the date the
            shareholders of the Corporation approve a

<PAGE>

            plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation, provided the
            Participant's status as an Employee of the Corporation has not
            terminated on or before the date of such shareholder vote.

      (c)   NO ACCELERATED VESTING UPON A MERGER. If a Change-in-Control of the
            Corporation as described in Section 2(d)(iii)(C) of the Plan occurs,
            Vesting of the Option will not be accelerated whether or not the
            surviving entity assumes the Option.

6.    TRANSFERABILITY. The Option is not transferable by the Participant
      otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

7.    PERIOD OF EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Option may be exercised only by
      Participant during the Participant's lifetime and only while the
      Participant is an Employee of the Corporation, except that:

      (a)   If the Participant's status as an Employee of the Corporation
            terminates by reason of death or Total and Permanent Disability, the
            Option may be exercised by Participant (or his estate or the person
            who acquires this Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of
            death of the Participant) at any time during the period of twelve
            (12) months following the date of such termination, but only as to
            the number of Shares subject to the Option which are or become
            Vested and exercisable on such date.

      (b)   If the Participant's status as an Employee of the Corporation
            terminates by any reason other than death, Total and Permanent
            Disability or For Cause, the Option may be exercised by Participant
            at any time during the period of three (3) months following the date
            of such termination, but only as to the number of Shares subject to
            the Option which are or become Vested and exercisable on such date.

      (c)   If the Participant's status as an Employee of the Corporation
            terminates For Cause, the Option shall be forfeited immediately upon
            notice to the Participant of such termination and may not be
            exercised thereafter.

8.    EXPIRATION OF OPTION. The Option shall expire on the tenth (10th)
      anniversary of the date of grant, subject to any earlier expiration as
      provided in the Plan.

9.    EXERCISE OF OPTION AND PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. The Option may be
      exercised by duly delivering to the agent of the Corporation specified in
      or pursuant to the Plan a properly completed form of exercise (as provided
      by the Plan Administrator for this purpose) prior to the date the Option
      is forfeited, expires or otherwise becomes unexercisable. The Exercise
      Price shall be paid in full in cash at the time of such exercise or, if
      the Plan Administrator permits, payment may be made, in whole or in part,
      in any other manner allowable under the Plan. Unless and until a
      certificate or

<PAGE>

      certificates representing such shares shall have been issued by the
      Corporation to him, the Participant (or the person permitted to exercise
      this Option in the event of the Participant's death) shall not be or have
      any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Corporation with
      respect to shares acquirable upon the exercise of this Option.

10.   STATUS OF STOCK. The Corporation has not registered for issue under the
      Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") the Shares of Stock subject
      to this Award Agreement. No sale or disposition of Shares of Stock
      acquired upon exercise of this Option shall be made unless all of the
      provisions of SECTION 14(B) of the Plan have been satisfied.

      The certificates representing Shares of Stock acquired under this Option
      shall bear such legends as the Committee administering the Plan deems
      appropriate, referring to the provisions of this SECTION and SECTION 14(B)
      of the Plan.

11.   SHARES ALSO SUBJECT TO SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT. The Shares of the
      Restricted Stock subject to this Award Agreement are also subject to a
      Shareholders Agreement, a copy of which is on file with the Corporation.

12.   WITHHOLDING OF TAX. Upon an exercise of this Option, the Corporation may
      be required to withhold United States federal, state and local tax with
      respect to the realization of compensation pursuant to such exercise. The
      Corporation is hereby authorized to satisfy any such withholding
      requirement out of (i) any cash distributable upon such exercise, and (ii)
      any other cash compensation then or thereafter payable to the Participant.
      To the extent that the Corporation in its sole discretion determines that
      such sources are or may be insufficient to fully satisfy such withholding
      requirement, the Participant, as a condition to the exercise of this
      Option, shall deliver to the Corporation cash in an amount determined by
      the Corporation to be sufficient to satisfy any such withholding
      requirement.

13.   PAYMENT OF TRANSFER TAXES, FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES. The Corporation agrees
      to pay any and all original issue taxes and stock transfer taxes that may
      be imposed on the issuance of shares acquired pursuant to exercise of this
      Option, together with any and all other fees and expenses necessarily
      incurred by the Corporation in connection therewith.

14.   BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
      benefit of any successors to the Corporation and all persons lawfully
      claiming under the Participant.

15.   NOTICES. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be
      in writing and addressed to the Corporation at 4555 Mansell Road, Suite
      300, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022, and to the Participant at the address set
      forth on the last page of this Agreement or at such other address as
      either party may hereafter designate in writing to the other.

16.   LAWS APPLICABLE TO CONSTRUCTION. This Option has been granted, executed
      and delivered in the State of Georgia, and the interpretation, performance
      and enforcement of this Agreement, shall be governed by the laws of the
      State of Georgia, as applied to contracts executed in and performed wholly
      within the State of Georgia.

<PAGE>

17.    INTERPRETATION. In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement, any term
       which is not defined in this Agreement, or any matters as to which this
       Agreement is silent, the Plan shall govern including, without limitation,
       the provisions thereof pursuant to which the Committee has the power,
       among others, to (i) interpret the Plan, (ii) prescribe, amend and
       rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and (iii) make all
       other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration
       of the Plan. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined here.

18.   HEADINGS. The headings of paragraphs herein are included solely for
      convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or
      interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

19.   AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be modified, amended or waived in any
      manner except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.
      The waiver by either party of compliance with any provision of this
      Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other
      provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by such party of
      a provision of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized, and the Participant has
executed this Agreement, all on the day and year first above written.

                                                        BIG SCIENCE COMPANY

                                 By: ______________________________________

                                 Its:  ____________________________________

                                 PARTICIPANT

                                 Name of Participant:______________________

                                 No. of SHARES:____________________________

                                 ADDRESS: _________________________________

                                 __________________________________________

                                 __________________________________________

                                 Signature of Participant:

                                 __________________________________________<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 10N

                                    BY-LAWS

                                      OF

                            DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION

                               Date of Adoption:

                                July 28, 1997

                  Amended February 17, 1999, April 15, 1999
                            and December 16, 1999
<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10-N

                                                                [CONFORMED COPY]

                                  $600,000,000

                                    364-DAY

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                  dated as of

                                August 23, 1999

                                     among

                           Duke Capital Corporation,

                            The Banks Listed Herein

                                      and

                           The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                            as Administrative Agent

                   ------------------------------------------

                   Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
                               Syndication Agent

                            Chase Securities Inc.
                          J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
                     Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers
<PAGE>

                            TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
                              ARTICLE 1 Definitions

Section 1.01.  Definitions.................................................   1
Section 1.02.  Accounting Terms and Determinations.........................  10
Section 1.03.  Types and Classes of Borrowings.............................  11

                              ARTICLE 2 The Credits

Section 2.01.  Commitments to Lend.........................................  11
Section 2.02.  Notice of Committed Borrowings..............................  12
Section 2.03.  Bid Rate Borrowings.........................................  13
Section 2.04.  Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans...........................  17
Section 2.05.  Registry; Notes.............................................  18
Section 2.06.  Maturity of Loans...........................................  18
Section 2.07.  Interest Rates..............................................  19
Section 2.08.  Fees........................................................  20
Section 2.09.  Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments............  21
Section 2.10.  Method of Electing Interest Rates...........................  21
Section 2.11.  Mandatory Termination of Commitments........................  22
Section 2.12.  Optional Prepayments........................................  22
Section 2.13.  General Provisions as to Payments...........................  23
Section 2.14.  Funding Losses..............................................  24
Section 2.15.  Computation of Interest and Fees............................  24
Section 2.16.  Regulation D Compensation...................................  24
Section 2.17.  Increased Commitments; Additional Banks.....................  25

                              ARTICLE 3 Conditions

Section 3.01.  Effectiveness...............................................  26
Section 3.02.  Borrowings..................................................  27

                    ARTICLE 4 Representations and Warranties

Section 4.01.  Corporate Existence and Power...............................  28
Section 4.02.  Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention..  28
Section 4.03.  Binding Effect..............................................  28
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                         <C>
Section 4.04.  Financial Information....................................... 29
Section 4.05.  Litigation.................................................. 29
Section 4.06.  Compliance with Laws........................................ 29
Section 4.07.  Taxes....................................................... 30
Section 4.08.  Public Utility Holding Company Act.......................... 30
Section 4.09.  Year 2000................................................... 30

                               ARTICLE 5 Covenants

Section 5.01.  Information................................................  30
Section 5.02.  Payment of Taxes...........................................  32
Section 5.03.  Maintenance of Property; Insurance.........................  32
Section 5.04.  Maintenance of Existence...................................  33
Section 5.05.  Compliance with Laws.......................................  33
Section 5.06.  Books and Records..........................................  33
Section 5.07.  Maintenance of Ownership of Principal Subsidiaries.........  34
Section 5.08.  Negative Pledge............................................  34
Section 5.09.  Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets................  35
Section 5.10.  Use of Proceeds............................................  35
Section 5.11.  Transactions with Affiliates...............................  36
Section 5.12.  Indebtedness/Capitalization Ratio..........................  36

                               ARTICLE 6 Defaults

Section 6.01.  Events of Default........................................... 36
Section 6.02.  Notice of Default........................................... 38

                       ARTICLE 7 The Administrative Agent

Section 7.01.  Appointment and Authorization............................... 38
Section 7.02.  Administrative Agent and Affiliates......................... 38
Section 7.03.  Action by Administrative Agent.............................. 39
Section 7.04.  Consultation with Experts................................... 39
Section 7.05.  Liability of Administrative Agent........................... 39
Section 7.06.  Indemnification............................................. 40
Section 7.07.  Credit Decision............................................. 40
Section 7.08.  Successor Administrative Agent.............................. 40
Section 7.09.  Administrative Agent's Fee.................................. 40
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
                       ARTICLE 8 Change in Circumstances

Section 8.01.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.... 41
Section 8.02.  Illegality.................................................. 41
Section 8.03.  Increased Cost and Reduced Return........................... 42
Section 8.04.  Taxes....................................................... 43
Section 8.05.  Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans... 46
Section 8.06.  Substitution of Bank Termination Option..................... 46

                             ARTICLE 9 Miscellaneous

Section 9.01.  Notices..................................................... 47
Section 9.02.  No Waivers.................................................. 48
Section 9.03.  Expenses; Indemnification................................... 48
Section 9.04.  Sharing of Set-offs......................................... 48
Section 9.05.  Amendments and Waivers...................................... 49
Section 9.06.  Successors and Assigns...................................... 49
Section 9.07.  Collateral.................................................. 51
Section 9.08.  Confidentiality............................................. 51
Section 9.09.  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction................... 51
Section 9.10.  Counterparts; Integration................................... 51
Section 9.11.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL........................................ 52
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
PRICING SCHEDULE

EXHIBIT A   -  Note
EXHIBIT B   -  Form of Bid Rate Quote Request
EXHIBIT C   -  Form of Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes
EXHIBIT D   -  Form of Bid Rate Quote
EXHIBIT E   -  Opinion of General Counsel for the Borrower
EXHIBIT F   -  Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, Special Counsel for the
               Administrative Agent
EXHIBIT G   -  Assignment and Assumption Agreement
EXHIBIT H   -  Extension Agreement
</TABLE>
                                      iv
<PAGE>

                                    364-DAY
                               CREDIT AGREEMENT

     364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 23, 1999 among DUKE CAPITAL
CORPORATION, the BANKS listed on the signature pages hereof and THE CHASE
MANHATTAN BANK, as Administrative Agent.

     The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  Definitions

     Section 1.01.  Definitions.  The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:

     "Additional Bank" means any financial institution that becomes a Bank for
purposes hereof in connection with (i) an increase in the aggregate amount of
the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.17 or (ii) the replacement of a Bank
pursuant to Section 8.06.

     "Administrative Agent" means The Chase Manhattan Bank in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such
capacity.

     "Administrative Questionnaire" means, with respect to each Bank, the
administrative questionnaire in the form submitted to such Bank by the
Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to
the Borrower) duly completed by such Bank.

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

     "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in the
case of its Domestic Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of its
Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of its
Bid Rate Loans, its Bid Rate Lending Office.
<PAGE>

     "Approved Officer" means the president, a vice president or the treasurer
or assistant treasurer of the Borrower or such other representative of the
Borrower as may be designated by any one of the foregoing with the consent of
the Administrative Agent.

     "Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(c).

     "Bank" means each bank or other financial institution listed on the
signature pages hereof, each Additional Bank, each Assignee which becomes a Bank
pursuant to Section 9.06(c), and their respective successors.

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

     "Base Rate Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at the
Base Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice of
Interest Rate Election or the provisions of Article 8 or (ii) an overdue amount
which was a Base Rate Loan immediately before it became overdue.

     "Bid Rate (General)" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

     "Bid Rate (General) Auction" means a solicitation of Bid Rate Quotes
setting forth Bid Rates (General) pursuant to Section 2.03.

     "Bid Rate (General) Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank
pursuant to a Bid Rate (General) Auction.

     "Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction" means a solicitation of Bid Rate Quotes
setting forth Bid Rate (Indexed) Margins based on the London Interbank Offered
Rate pursuant to Section 2.03.

     "Bid Rate Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic Lending
Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Bid Rate Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent; provided that any Bank may from time to time by notice
to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent designate separate Bid Rate Lending
Offices for its Bid Rate (Indexed) Loans, on the one hand, and its Bid Rate
(General) Loans, on the other hand, in which case all references herein to the
Bid Rate Lending Office of such Bank shall be deemed to refer to either or both
of such offices, as the context may require.

     "Bid Rate (Indexed) Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank
pursuant to a Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction (including such a loan bearing interest
at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.01(a)).

                                       2
<PAGE>

     "Bid Rate Loan" means a Bid Rate (Indexed) Loan or a Bid Rate (General)
Loan.

     "Bid Rate (Indexed) Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

     "Bid Rate Quote" means an offer by a Bank to make a Bid Rate Loan in
accordance with Section 2.03.

     "Borrower" means Duke Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its
successors.

     "Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

     "Class" refers to the determination whether a Loan is a Committed Loan
(and, if a Committed Loan, whether a Revolving Credit Loan or a Term Loan) or a
Bid Rate Loan.

     "Commitment" means (i) with respect to each Bank listed on the signature
pages hereof, the amount set forth opposite the name of such Bank on the
signature pages hereof, and (ii) with respect to each Additional Bank or
Assignee which becomes a bank pursuant to Sections 2.17(a), 2.01(c) and 9.06(c),
the amount of the Commitment thereby assumed by it, in each case as such amount
may from time to time be reduced pursuant to Section 2.09, 2.11 or 9.06(c) or
increased pursuant to Section 2.17(a), 8.06 or 9.06(c).

     "Commitment Termination Date" means, for each Bank, August 21, 2000, as
such date may be extended from time to time with respect to such Bank pursuant
to Section 2.01(c) or, if any such day is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the
next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.

     "Committed Loan" means a Revolving Credit Loan or a Term Loan made by a
Bank pursuant to Section 2.01.

     "Consolidated Capitalization" means the sum of (i) Consolidated
Indebtedness, (ii) consolidated common stockholders' equity as would appear on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and (iii)
the aggregate liquidation preference of preferred stocks (other than preferred
stocks subject to mandatory redemption or repurchase) of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries upon involuntary liquidation.

     "Consolidated Indebtedness" means, at any date, all Indebtedness of
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     "Consolidated Subsidiary" means, for any Person, at any date any Subsidiary
or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such
Person in its consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared
as of such date; unless otherwise specified "Consolidated Subsidiary" means a
Consolidated Subsidiary of the Borrower.

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

     "Domestic Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law to close.

     "Domestic Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office located at its
address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its
Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such other
office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

     "Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 3.01.

     "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign
statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees,
permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other
governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions,
discharges, releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial,
toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

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

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

     "Euro-Dollar Business Day" means any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
dollar deposits) in London.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     "Euro-Dollar Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or
affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire
(or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Euro-Dollar Lending
Office) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.

     "Euro-Dollar Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at a
Euro-Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election or (ii) an overdue amount which was a Euro-
Dollar Loan immediately before it became overdue.

     "Euro-Dollar Margin" means a rate per annum determined in accordance with
the Pricing Schedule.

     "Euro-Dollar Rate" means a rate of interest determined pursuant to Section
2.07(b) on the basis of a London Interbank Offered Rate.

     "Euro-Dollar Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of The
Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York.

     "Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16.

     "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

     "Existing Credit Agreement" means the $600,000,000 364-Day Credit Agreement
dated as of August 24, 1998 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as administrative agent.

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

                                       5
<PAGE>

     "Final Maturity Date" means, for each Bank, the first anniversary of its
Commitment Termination Date or, if such day is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day,
the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day; provided that the Final Maturity
Date for all Banks shall be no later than August 16, 2004.

     "Fixed Rate Loans" means Euro-Dollar Loans or Bid Rate Loans (excluding Bid
Rate (Indexed) Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate) or any combination of
the foregoing.

     "Group of Loans" means at any time a group of Committed Loans of the same
Class consisting of (i) all Base Rate Loans of such Class outstanding at such
time or (ii) all Euro-Dollar Loans of such Class having the same Interest Period
at such time,  provided that, if a Committed Loan of any particular Bank is
converted to or made as a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Article 8, such Loan shall
be included in the same Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as it would
have been if it had not been so converted or made.

     "Indebtedness" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all indebtedness of such
Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased, (iii)
all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement with respect to property acquired, (iv) all indebtedness
under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases in respect of which
such Person is liable as lessee, (v) the face amount of letter of credit
indebtedness available or to be available to be drawn (other than letter of
credit obligations relating to indebtedness included in Indebtedness pursuant to
another clause of this definition) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed
amount of all drafts drawn thereunder, (vi) indebtedness secured by any Lien on
property or assets of such Person, whether or not assumed (but in any event not
exceeding the fair market value of the property or asset), (vii) all direct
guarantees of Indebtedness referred to above of another Person, (viii) all
amounts payable in connection with mandatory redemptions or repurchases of
preferred stock and (ix) any obligations of such Person (in the nature of
principal or interest) in respect of acceptances or similar obligations issued
or created for the account of such Person.

     "Interest Period" means:  (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Loan, the
period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of
Borrowing or on the date specified in an applicable Notice of Interest Rate
Election and ending one, two, three or six, or, if deposits of a corresponding
maturity are generally available in the London interbank market, nine or twelve,
months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect in such notice; provided that:

                                       6
<PAGE>

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

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

     (2)  with respect to each Bid Rate (Index) Loan, the period commencing on
the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing and ending
such number of months thereafter (but not less than one month) as the Borrower
may elect in accordance with Section 2.03; provided that:

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

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

     (3) with respect to each Bid Rate (General) Loan, the period commencing
on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing and
ending such number of days thereafter (but not less than 7 days) as the Borrower
may elect in accordance with Section 2.03; provided that any Interest Period
which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall
be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day; and

provided further that: (x) any Interest Period applicable to any Loan of any
Bank which begins before such Bank's Commitment Termination Date and would
otherwise end after such Bank's Commitment Termination Date shall end on such
Bank's Commitment Termination Date; and (y) any Interest Period applicable to
any Loan of any Bank which would otherwise end after such Bank's Final Maturity
Date shall end on such Bank's Final Maturity Date.

                                       7
<PAGE>

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

          "Investment Grade Status" exists as to any Person at any date if all
senior debt securities of such Person outstanding at such date which had been
rated by S&P or Moody's are rated BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by
Moody's, as the case may be.

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

          "Loan" means a Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Bid Rate Loan
and "Loans" means Base Rate Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or Bid Rate Loans or any
combination of the foregoing.

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

          "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on the
business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the
Borrower.

          "Material Debt" means Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $100,000,000.

          "Material Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(i).

          "Material Subsidiary" means at any time any Subsidiary of the Borrower
having, together with its Subsidiaries, consolidated assets in excess of 10% of
the total assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined
on a consolidated basis as of such time.

          "Moody's" means Moody's Investor Service, Inc.

          "Notes" means promissory notes of the Borrower, in the form required
by Section 2.05, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans,
and "Note" means any one of such promissory notes issued hereunder.

          "Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing (as
defined in Section 2.02) or a Notice of Bid Rate Borrowing (as defined in
Section 2.03(f)).

                                       8
<PAGE>

          "Notice of Interest Rate Election" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.10(b).

          "Parent" means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such
Bank.

          "Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(b).

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

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

          "Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is
covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and is either (i) maintained by a
member of the ERISA Group for employees of a member of the ERISA Group or (ii)
maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other
arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which
a member of the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions.

          "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest publicly announced by The
Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City from time to time as its Prime Rate.  Each
change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the day such
change is publicly announced.

          "Principal Subsidiary" means each of Texas Eastern Transmission
Corporation, Algonquin Gas Transmission Company, PanEnergy Corp, and their
respective successors.

          "Quarterly Payment Date" means the first Domestic Business Day of each
January, April, July and October.

          "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

          "Required Banks" means at any time Banks (i) having at least 51% of
the sum of the aggregate amount of the Commitments and the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Term Loans or (ii) if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, having at least 51% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Loans.

                                       9
<PAGE>

          "Revolving Credit Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank
pursuant to Section 2.01(a); provided that, if any such loan or loans (or
portions thereof) are combined or subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Interest
Rate Election, the term "Revolving Credit Loan" shall refer to the combined
principal amount resulting from such combination or to each of the separate
principal amounts resulting from such subdivision, as the case may be.

          "Revolving Credit Period" means, with respect to any Bank, the period
from and including the Effective Date to but not including its Commitment
Termination Date.

          "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

          "Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity
of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person; unless
otherwise specified, "Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

          "Substantial Assets" means assets sold or otherwise disposed of in a
single transaction or a series of related transactions representing 25% or more
of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

          "Term Loan" means a loan made or to be made by a Bank pursuant to
Section 2.01(b); provided that, if any such loan or loans (or portions thereof)
are combined or subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Interest Rate Election, the
term "Term Loan" shall refer to the combined principal amount resulting from
such combination or to each of the separate principal amounts resulting from
such subdivision, as the case may be.

          "United States" means the United States of America, including the
States and the District of Columbia, but excluding its territories and
possessions.

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

     Section 1.02.  Accounting Terms and Determinations.  Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements

                                      10
<PAGE>

required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, applied
on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower's
independent public accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered
to the Banks.

     Section 1.03.  Types and Classes of Borrowings.  The term "Borrowing"
denotes the aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower
pursuant to Article 2 on a single date and for a single Interest Period.
Borrowings are classified for purposes of this Agreement either by reference to
the pricing of Loans comprising such Borrowing (e.g., a "Fixed Rate Borrowing"
is a Euro-Dollar Borrowing or a Bid Rate Borrowing (excluding any such Borrowing
consisting of Bid Rate (Indexed) Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate), and a
"Euro-Dollar Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Euro- Dollar Loans) or by
reference to the provisions of Article 2 under which participation therein is
determined (i.e., a "Committed Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.01 in
which all Banks participate in proportion to their Commitments, while a "Bid
Rate Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.03 in which the Bank participants
are determined on the basis of their bids in accordance therewith) or by
reference to the Class of Loans comprising such Borrowing (e.g. a "Term
Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans).

                                   ARTICLE 2

                                  The Credits

     Section 2.01. Commitments to Lend. (a) Revolving Credit Loans. During its
Revolving Credit Period, each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this
subsection from time to time in amounts such that the aggregate principal amount
of Revolving Credit Loans by such Bank at any one time outstanding shall not
exceed the amount of its Commitment. Each Borrowing under this subsection shall
be in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of
$1,000,000 (except that any such Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount
available in accordance with Section 3.02(b)) and shall be made from the several
Banks ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments in effect on the
date of Borrowing; provided that, if the Interest Period selected by the
Borrower for a Borrowing would otherwise end after the Commitment Termination
Dates of some but not all Banks, the Borrower may in its Notice of Committed
Borrowing elect not to borrow from those Banks whose Commitment Termination
Dates fall prior to the end of such Interest Period. Within the foregoing
limits, the Borrower may borrow under this subsection (a), or to the

                                      11
<PAGE>

extent permitted by Section 2.12, prepay Loans and reborrow at any time during
the Revolving Credit Periods under this subsection (a).

       (b)   Term Loans. Each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, to make a loan to the Borrower on its Commitment
Termination Date in an amount up to but not exceeding the amount of its
Commitment. Each Borrowing under this subsection (b) shall be made from the
several Banks having the same Commitment Termination Date ratably in proportion
to their respective Commitments.

       (c)   Extension of Commitments.  On no more than four separate occasions,
the Borrower may, upon not less than 45 days but no earlier than 60 days notice
prior to the then current Commitment Termination Dates to the Administrative
Agent (which shall notify each Bank of receipt of such request), propose to
extend the Revolving Credit Periods for an additional 364 days measured from the
Commitment Termination Dates then in effect.  Each Bank shall endeavor to
respond to such request, whether affirmatively or negatively (such determination
in the sole discretion of such Bank), by notice to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent not more than 45 days nor less than 30 days prior to such
Bank's Commitment Termination Date.  Subject to the execution by the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and such Banks of a duly completed Extension Agreement
in substantially the form of Exhibit H, the Commitment Termination Date
applicable to the Commitment of each Bank so affirmatively notifying the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be extended for the period specified
above; provided that no Commitment Termination Date of any Bank shall be
extended unless Banks having at least 66*% in aggregate amount of the
Commitments in effect at the time any such extension is requested shall have
elected so to extend their Commitments.  Any Bank which does not give such
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have
elected not to extend as requested, and the Commitment of each non-extending
Bank shall terminate on its Commitment Termination Date determined without
giving effect to such requested extension. The Borrower may, in accordance with
Section 8.06, designate another bank or other financial institution (which may
be, but need not be, an extending Bank) to replace a non-extending Bank.

     Section 2.02.  Notice of Committed Borrowings.  The Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent notice (a "Notice of Committed Borrowing") not later than
10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the date of each Base Rate Borrowing and
(y) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
specifying:

                                      12
<PAGE>

       (a)   the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day
in the case of a Domestic Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the case of
a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,

       (b)   the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,

       (c)   whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to bear interest
initially at the Base Rate or a Euro-Dollar Rate,

       (d)   the Class of Loans comprising such Borrowing, and

       (e)   in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial
Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition
of Interest Period.

     Section 2.03.  Bid Rate Borrowings.  (a) The Bid Rate Option.  In addition
to Committed Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01, the Borrower may, as set forth
in this Section, request the Banks at any time prior to their respective
Commitment Termination Dates to make offers to make Bid Rate Loans to the
Borrower.   The Banks may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and
the Borrower may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the
manner set forth in this Section.

       (b)   Bid Rate Quote Request.  When the Borrower wishes to request offers
to make Bid Rate Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the
Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Bid Rate Quote Request
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto so as to be received no later than
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior
to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a Bid Rate (Indexed)
Auction or (y) the Domestic Business Day next preceding the date of Borrowing
proposed therein, in the case of a Bid Rate (General) Auction (or, in either
case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall
have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the
date of the Bid Rate Quote Request for the first Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction or
Bid Rate (General) Auction for which such change is to be effective) specifying:

            (i)   the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar
     Business Day,

            (ii)  the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be
     $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,

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

                                      13
<PAGE>

            (iv)  whether the Bid Rate Quotes requested are to set forth a Bid
     Rate (Indexed) or a Bid Rate (General) Rate.

The Borrower may request offers to make Bid Rate Loans for more than one
Interest Period in a single Bid Rate Quote Request.

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

       (d)  Submission and Contents of Bid Rate Quotes.  (i) Each Bank may
submit a Bid Rate Quote containing an offer or offers to make Bid Rate Loans in
response to any Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes.  Each Bid Rate Quote must comply
with the requirements of this subsection (d) and must be submitted to the
Administrative Agent by telex or facsimile transmission at its offices specified
in or pursuant to Section 9.01 not later than (x) 2:00 P.M. (New York City time)
on the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing,
in the case of a Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction or (y) 9:30 A.M. (New York City
time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Bid Rate (General)
Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the
Banks not later than the date of the Bid Rate Quote Request for the first Bid
Rate (Indexed) Auction or Bid Rate (General) Auction for which such change is to
be effective); provided that Bid Rate Quotes submitted by the Administrative
Agent (or any affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in the capacity of a Bank
may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative Agent or such
affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers contained
therein not later than (x) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth Euro-
Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a
Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction or (y) 9:15 A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of an Bid Rate (General) Auctions.   Subject to
Articles 3 and 6, any Bid Rate Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with
the written consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the
Borrower.

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

                  (A)   the proposed date of Borrowing,

                                      14
<PAGE>

                  (B)   the principal amount of the Bid Rate Loan for which each
          such offer is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater
          than or less than the Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) must be
          $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 and (y) may not exceed
          the principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for each Interest Period for
          which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate
          limitation as to the principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which
          offers being made by such quoting Bank may be accepted,

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

                  (D)   in the case of a Bid Rate (General)Auction, the rate of
          interest per annum (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the
          "Bid Rate (General)") offered for each such Bid Rate Loan, and

                  (E)   the identity of the quoting Bank.

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

       (iii)   Any Bid Rate Quote shall be disregarded if:

                  (A)   it is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D
          hereto or does not specify all of the information required by
          subsection 2.03(d)(ii);

                  (B)   it contains qualifying, conditional or similar language
          beyond that contemplated by Exhibit D;

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

                  (D)   it arrives after the time set forth in subsection
          2.03(d)(i); or

                  (E)   the Commitment Termination Date of the Bank submitting
          such Bid Rate Quote falls prior to the last day of the requested
          Interest Period for which such Bank offers to make a Bid Rate Loan.

                                      15
<PAGE>

       (e)   Notice to Borrower.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly but in
no event later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) notify the Borrower of the
terms (x) of any Bid Rate Quote submitted by a Bank that is in accordance with
subsection (d) and (y) of any Bid Rate Quote that amends, modifies or is
otherwise inconsistent with a previous Bid Rate Quote submitted by such Bank
with respect to the same Bid Rate Quote Request.  Any such subsequent Quote
shall be disregarded by the Administrative Agent unless such subsequent Quote is
submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Quote.  The
Administrative Agent's notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate
principal amount of Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest
Period specified in the related Bid Rate Quote Request, (B) the respective
principal amounts and Bid Rate (Indexed) Margins or Bid Rate (General) Rates, as
the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate
principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which offers in any single Bid Rate Quote
may be accepted.

       (f)   Acceptance and Notice by Borrower.  Not later than 10:30 A.M. (New
York City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of a Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction or (y) the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Bid Rate (General) Auction (or, in
either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later
than the date of the Bid Rate Quote Request for the first Bid Rate (Indexed)
Auction or Bid Rate (General) Auction for which such change is to be effective),
the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-
acceptance of the offers so notified to it pursuant to subsection (e).  In the
case of acceptance, such notice (a "Notice of Bid Rate Borrowing") shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are
accepted.  The Borrower may accept any Bid Rate Quote in whole or in part;
provided that:

             (i)   the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Rate Borrowing may
     not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Bid Rate Quote
     Request,

             (ii)  the principal amount of each Bid Rate Borrowing must be
     $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000, and

             (iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of
     ascending Bid Rate (Indexed) Margins or Bid Rate (General) Rates, as the
     case may be.

       (g)   Allocation by Administrative Agent.  If offers are made by two more
Banks with the same Bid Rate (Indexed) Margins or Bid Rate (General), as the

                                      16
<PAGE>

case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect
of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal
amount of Bid Rate Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be
allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Banks as nearly as possible (in
multiples of $1,000,000, as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate) in
proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers.  Determinations by
the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Bid Rate Loans shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error.

     Section 2.04.  Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans.  (a) Upon receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of
the contents thereof and of such Bank's share (if any) of such Borrowing and
such Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

       (b)   Not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date of each
Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall (except as provided in
subsection (c) of this Section) make available its share of such Borrowing, in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the
Administrative Agent at its address specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01.
Unless the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition
specified in Article 3 has not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent will
make the funds so received from the Banks available to the Borrower at the
Administrative Agent's aforesaid address.

       (c)   Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Bank prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Bank will not make available
to the Administrative Agent such Bank's share of such Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has made such share available to
the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with
subsection (b) of this Section 2.04 and the Administrative 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 Bank shall not have so
made such share available to the Administrative Agent, such Bank and, if such
Bank shall not have made such payment within two Domestic Business Days of
demand therefor, the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative
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 Administrative Agent, at
(i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the higher of the
Federal Funds Rate and the interest rate applicable thereto pursuant to Section
2.07 and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the Federal Funds Rate.  If such Bank
shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount
so repaid shall constitute such Bank's Loan included in such Borrowing for
purposes of this Agreement.

                                      17
<PAGE>

       (d)   The failure of any Bank to make the Loan to be made by it as part
of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Bank of its obligation, if any,
hereunder to make a Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Bank shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Bank to make a Loan to be made by such
other Bank.

     Section 2.05.  Registry; Notes.  (a) The Administrative Agent shall
maintain a register (the "Register") on which it will record the Commitment of
each Bank, each Loan made by such Bank and each repayment of any Loan made by
such Bank. Any such recordation by the Administrative Agent on the Register
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. Failure to make any such
recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect the Borrower's
obligations hereunder.

       (b)   The Borrower hereby agrees that, promptly upon the request of any
Bank at any time, the Borrower shall deliver to such Bank a duly executed Note,
in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, payable to the order of such Bank
and representing the obligation of the Borrower to pay the unpaid principal
amount of the Loans made to the Borrower by such Bank, with interest as provided
herein on the unpaid principal amount from time to time outstanding.

       (c)   Each Bank shall record the date, amount and maturity of each Loan
made by it and the date and amount of each payment of principal made by the
Borrower with respect thereto, and each Bank receiving a Note pursuant to this
Section, if such Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement
of its Note, may endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof appropriate
notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such Loan
then outstanding; provided that the failure of such Bank to make any such
recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower
hereunder or under the Notes.  Such Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by the
Borrower so to endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of its Note a
continuation of any such schedule as and when required.

     Section 2.06.  Maturity of Loans.  (a)  Each Revolving Credit Loan made by
any Bank shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable
together with accrued interest thereon, on the Commitment Termination Date of
such Bank.

       (b)   The Term Loans of each Bank shall mature, and the principal amount
thereof shall be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon, on the
Final Maturity Date of such Bank.

       (c)   Each Bid Rate Loan included in any Bid Rate Borrowing shall mature,
and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable (together with

                                      18
<PAGE>

interest accrued thereon), on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to
such Bid Rate Borrowing.

     Section 2.07.  Interest Rates.  (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest
on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the date such
Loan is made until it becomes due, at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate
for such day.  Such interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each
Quarterly Payment Date, at maturity and on the date of termination of the
Commitments in their entirety.  Any overdue principal of or overdue interest on
any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until
paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 1% plus the Base Rate for such day.

       (b)   Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof, for each day during each Interest Period applicable
thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin for such
day plus the London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Interest Period.
Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof
and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three
months after the first day thereof.

     The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest Period
means the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate Service (or on any
successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute
for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently
provided on such page of the Telerate Service, as may be nominated by the
British Bankers' Association for purposes of providing quotations of interest
rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) as of 11:00
A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar Business Days prior to the commencement of
such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable
to such Interest Period.  In the event that such rate is not so available at
such time for any reason, then the "London Interbank Offered Rate" for such
Interest Period shall be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next
higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in
dollars are offered to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the London
interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount
approximately equal to the principal amount of the Loan of such Euro-Dollar
Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of
time comparable to such Interest Period.  If any Euro-Dollar Reference Bank does
not furnish a timely quotation, the Administrative Agent shall determine the
relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation furnished by the remaining
Euro-Dollar Reference Bank or, if none of such quotations is available on a
timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall apply.

                                      19
<PAGE>

       (c)   Any overdue principal of or overdue interest on any Euro-Dollar
Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day from and including the
date payment thereof was due to but excluding the date of actual payment, at a
rate per annum equal to the sum of 1% plus the higher of (i) the sum of the
Euro-Dollar Margin for such day plus the London Interbank Offered Rate
applicable to such Loan at the date such payment was due and (ii) the Base Rate
for such day.

       (d)   Subject to Section 8.01(a), each Bid Rate (Indexed) Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period
applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London Interbank
Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with Section
2.07(b) as if each Euro-Dollar Reference Bank were to participate in the related
Bid Rate (Indexed) Borrowing ratably in proportion to its Commitment) plus (or
minus) the Bid Rate (Indexed) Margin quoted by the Bank making such Loan in
accordance with Section 2.03.  Each Bid Rate (General) Loan shall bear interest
on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable
thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the Bid Rate (General) quoted by the Bank
making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.  Such interest shall be
payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest
Period is longer than three months, at intervals of three months after the first
day thereof.  Any overdue principal of or overdue interest on any Bid Rate Loan
shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per
annum equal to the sum of 1% plus the Base Rate for such day.

       (e)   The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate
applicable to the Loans hereunder.  The Administrative Agent shall give prompt
notice to the Borrower and the participating Banks by telecopy, telex or cable
of each rate of interest so determined, and its determination thereof shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error unless the Borrower raises an
objection thereto within five Domestic Business Days after receipt of such
notice.

     Section 2.08.  Fees.  (a) Facility Fee.  The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Bank a facility fee at the Facility
Fee Rate (determined daily in accordance with the Pricing Schedule).  Such
facility fee shall accrue (i) from and including the Effective Date to but
excluding such Bank's Commitment Termination Date, on the daily average
aggregate amount of such Bank's Commitment (whether used or unused) and (ii)
from and including such Bank's Commitment Termination Date to but excluding the
date such Bank's Loans shall be repaid in their entirety, on the daily average
aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Bank's Committed Loans.

       (b)   Payments.  Accrued fees under this Section for the account of any
Bank shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Payment Date and

                                      20
<PAGE>

upon such Bank's Commitment Termination Date and Final Maturity Date (and, if
later, the date the Loans of such Bank shall be repaid in their entirety);
provided, that accrued facility fees shall be paid in equal quarterly
installments on the Quarterly Payment Date following each full quarter during
which the aggregate amount of Commitments remains unchanged.

     Section 2.09.  Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  The
Borrower may, upon at least three Domestic Business Days' notice to the
Administrative Agent, (i) terminate the Commitments at any time, if no Loans are
outstanding at such time or (ii) ratably reduce from time to time by an
aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000 the
aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Credit and Bid Rate Loans.

     Section 2.10.  Method of Electing Interest Rates.  (a) The Loans included
in each Committed Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of rate
specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing.
Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or continue the
type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject in each case to the
provisions of Article 8 and the last sentence of this subsection (a)), as
follows:

          (i)  if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to
     convert such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business Day;
     and

          (ii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may elect
     to convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans or elect to continue such Loans as
     Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, subject to Section
     2.14 in the case of any such conversion or continuation effective on any
     day other than the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable
     to such Loans.

Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a "Notice of Interest
Rate Election") to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York
City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before the conversion or
continuation selected in such notice is to be effective.  A Notice of Interest
Rate Election may, if it so specifies, apply to only a portion of the aggregate
principal amount of the relevant Group of Loans, provided that (i) such portion
is allocated ratably among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii) the portion
to which such notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not
apply, are each $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000.

     (b)  Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:

                                      21
<PAGE>

            (i)   the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice
     applies;

            (ii)  the date on which the conversion or continuation selected in
     such notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable
     clause of subsection 2.10(a) above;

            (iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted, the
     new type of Loans and, if the Loans being converted are to be Fixed Rate
     Loans, the duration of the next succeeding Interest Period applicable
     thereto; and

            (iv)  if such Loans are to be continued as Euro-Dollar Loans for an
     additional Interest Period, the duration of such additional Interest
     Period.

Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election shall
comply with the provisions of the definition of the term "Interest Period".

     (c)  Promptly after receiving a Notice of Interest Rate Election from the
Borrower pursuant to subsection 2.10(a) above, the Administrative Agent shall
notify each Bank of the contents thereof and such notice shall not thereafter be
revocable by the Borrower. If no Notice of Interest Rate Election is timely
received prior to the end of an Interest Period for any Group of Loans, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have elected that such Group of Loans be converted
to Base Rate Loans as of the last day of such Interest Period.

     (d)  An election by the Borrower to change or continue the rate of
interest applicable to any Group of Loans pursuant to this Section shall not
constitute a "Borrowing" subject to the provisions of Section 3.02.

     Section 2.11.  Mandatory Termination of Commitments.  The Commitment of
each Bank shall terminate on such Bank's Commitment  Termination Date, and any
Revolving Credit or Bid Rate Loans of such Bank then outstanding (together with
accrued interest thereon) shall be due and payable on such date.

     Section 2.12.  Optional Prepayments.  (a) The Borrower may (i) upon notice
to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on
any Domestic Business Day prepay on such Domestic Business Day any Group of Base
Rate Loans or any Bid Rate Borrowing bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.01(a) and (ii) upon at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days'
notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City
time) prepay any Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, in each case in whole at any time,
or from time to time in part in amounts aggregating $5,000,000 or any larger

                                      22
<PAGE>

multiple of $1,000,000, by paying the principal amount to be prepaid together
with accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment and together with any
additional amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14.   Each such optional
prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably the Loans of the several Banks
included in such Group or Borrowing.

       (b)  Except as provided in subsection 2.12(a), the Borrower may not
prepay all or any portion of the principal amount of any Bid Rate Loan prior to
the maturity thereof.

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

       Section 2.13.  General Provisions as to Payments.  (a) The Borrower shall
make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and of fees
hereunder, not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date when due,
in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the
Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01.  The
Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Bank its ratable share of
each such payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Banks.  Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Base Rate
Loans, or of fees shall be due on a day which is not a Domestic Business Day,
the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Domestic
Business Day.  Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Euro-
Dollar Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the
date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar
Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar
month, in which case the date for payment thereof shall be the next preceding
Euro-Dollar Business Day.  Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on,
the Bid Rate Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business
Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-
Dollar Business Day.  If the date for any payment of principal is extended by
operation of law or otherwise, interest thereon shall be payable for such
extended time.

       (b)  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent
may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative
Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such
assumption, cause to be distributed to each Bank on such due date an amount
equal to the amount then due such Bank.  If and to the extent that the

                                      23
<PAGE>

Borrower shall not have so made such payment, each Bank shall repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Bank
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Bank until the date such Bank repays such amount to the
Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

     Section 2.14.  Funding Losses.  If the Borrower makes any payment of
principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan or any Euro-Dollar Loan is
converted to a Base Rate Loan or continued as a Euro-Dollar Loan for a new
Interest Period (pursuant to Article 2, 6 or 8 or otherwise) on any day other
than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or if the Borrower
fails to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any Fixed Rate Loans after notice
has been given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(a), 2.10(c) or
2.12(c), the Borrower shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days after demand for
any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective
Participant in the related Loan), including (without limitation) any loss
incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but
excluding loss of margin for the period after any such payment or conversion or
failure to borrow, prepay, convert or continue, provided that such Bank shall
have delivered to the Borrower a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail
the calculation of the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall
be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     Section 2.15.  Computation of Interest and Fees.  Interest based on the
Prime Rate and facility fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year
of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days
elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day); provided that
facility fees for the account of any Bank shall be paid in equal quarterly
installments for each full quarter in which the Commitment of such Bank remains
unchanged.   All other interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360
days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day).

     Section 2.16.  Regulation D Compensation.  In the event that a Bank is
required to maintain reserves of the type contemplated by the definition of
"Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage", such Bank may require the Borrower to pay,
contemporaneously with each payment of interest on the Euro-Dollar Loans,
additional interest on the related Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank at a rate per
annum determined by such Bank up to but not exceeding the excess of (i) (A) the
applicable London Interbank Offered Rate divided by (B) one minus the Euro-
Dollar Reserve Percentage over (ii) the applicable London Interbank Offered
Rate.   Any Bank wishing to require payment of such additional interest (x)
shall so notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in which case such
additional interest on the Euro-Dollar Loans of such Bank shall be payable to
such

                                      24
<PAGE>

Bank at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each Interest Period
commencing at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days after the giving of such
notice and (y) shall notify the Borrower at least three Euro-Dollar Business
Days prior to each date on which interest is payable on the Euro-Dollar Loans of
the amount then due it under this Section. Each such notification shall be
accompanied by such information as the Borrower may reasonably request.

     "Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in
respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" (or in respect of any other category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other
assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Bank to United
States residents).

     Section 2.17.  Increased Commitments; Additional Banks.  (a) Subsequent to
the Effective Date, the Borrower may, on no more than three occasions, upon at
least 30 days' notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly provide
a copy of such notice to the Banks), propose to increase the aggregate amount of
the Commitments by an amount not to exceed in the aggregate for all such
increases $60,000,000 (the amount of any such increase, the "Increased
Commitments").  Each Bank party to this Agreement at such time shall have the
right (but no obligation), for a period of 15 days following receipt of such
notice, to elect by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to
increase its Commitment by a principal amount which bears the same ratio to the
Increased Commitments as its then Commitment bears to the aggregate Commitments
then existing.

     (b)  If any Bank party to this Agreement shall not elect to increase its
Commitment pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section, the Borrower may
designate one or more  banks or other financial institutions (which may be, but
need not be, one or more of the existing Banks) which at the time agree in the
case of any existing Bank to increase its Commitment and, in the case of any
other such bank (an "Additional Bank"), to become a party to this Agreement and
assume a Commitment hereunder.  The sum of the increases in the Commitments of
the existing Banks pursuant to this subsection (b) plus the Commitments of the
Additional Banks shall not in the aggregate exceed the unsubscribed amount of
the Increased Commitments.

     (c)  An increase in the aggregate amount of the Commitments pursuant to
this Section 2.17 shall become effective upon the receipt of the Administrative

                                      25
<PAGE>

Agent of an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent signed by the Borrower, by each Additional Bank and by each other Bank
whose Commitment is to be increased, setting forth the new Commitments of such
Banks and setting forth the agreement of each Additional Bank to become a party
to this Agreement and to be bound by all the terms and provisions hereof,
together with such evidence of appropriate corporate authorization on the part
of the Borrower with respect to the Increased Commitments and such opinions of
counsel for the Borrower with respect to the Increased Commitments as the
Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

     (d)    Upon any increase in the aggregate amount of the Commitments
pursuant to this Section 2.17, within five Domestic Business Days, in the case
of Base Rate Loans then outstanding, and at the end of the then current Interest
Period with respect thereto, in the case of Euro-Dollar Loans then outstanding,
the Borrower shall prepay or repay such Loans in their entirety and, to the
extent the Borrower elects to do so and subject to the conditions specified in
Article 3, the Borrower shall reborrow Committed Loans from the Banks in
proportion to their respective Commitments after giving effect to such increase,
until such time as all outstanding Committed Loans are held by the Banks in such
proportion.

                                   ARTICLE 3

                                  Conditions

     Section 3.01.  Effectiveness.  This Agreement shall become effective on the
date that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived
in accordance with Section 9.05):

     (a)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of counterparts hereof signed by
each of the parties hereto (or, in the case of any party as to which an executed
counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Administrative Agent in
form satisfactory to it of telegraphic, telecopy, telex or other written
confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by such
party);

     (b)    receipt by the Administrative Agent of an opinion of the General
Counsel of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto and
covering such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably request;

     (c)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of an opinion of Davis Polk &
Wardwell, special counsel for the Administrative Agent, substantially in the
form of Exhibit F hereto and covering such additional matters relating to the
transactions contemplated hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably request;

                                      26
<PAGE>

     (d)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate signed by a
Vice President, the Treasurer or the Controller of the Borrower, dated the
Effective Date, to the effect set forth in clauses (c) and (d) of Section 3.02;

     (e)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of all documents it may have
reasonably requested prior to the date hereof relating to the existence of the
Borrower, the corporate authority for and the validity of this Agreement and the
Notes, and any other matters relevant hereto, all in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

     (f)  receipt by the Administrative Agent of evidence satisfactory to it of
the payment of all principal of and interest on any loans outstanding under, and
all accrued commitment fees under, the Existing Credit Agreement and the
cancellation or the expiration of any letter of credit issued thereunder;
provided that this Agreement shall not become effective or be binding on any
party hereto unless all of the foregoing conditions are satisfied not later than
August 23, 1999.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower
and the Banks of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and
binding on all parties hereto. The Borrower and the Banks party to the Existing
Credit Agreement, comprising the "Required Banks" as defined therein, hereby
agree that (i) the commitments of the lenders under the Existing Credit
Agreement shall terminate in their entirety immediately and automatically upon
the effectiveness of this Agreement, without further action by any party to the
Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) all accrued fees under the Existing Credit
Agreement shall be due and payable at such time and (iii) subject to the funding
loss indemnities in the Existing Credit Agreement, the Borrower may prepay any
and all loans outstanding thereunder on the date of effectiveness of this
Agreement.

     Section 3.02. Borrowings. The obligation of any Bank to make a Loan on the
occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions:

     (a) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as
required by Section 2.02 or 2.03;

     (b) the facts that, immediately after such Borrowing the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans and the Bid Rate
Loans will not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments (exclusive of
Commitments terminating on the date of such Borrowing);

     (c) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing; and

                                      27
<PAGE>

     (d) the fact that the representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement (except the representations and warranties set forth
in Sections 4.04(c) and 4.05) shall be true on and as of the date of such
Borrowing.

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

                                   ARTICLE 4

                        Representations and Warranties

     The Borrower represents and warrants that:

     Section 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
Delaware, and has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now
conducted and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure so
to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial
position or results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

     Section 4.02.  Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and
the Notes are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in respect of, or
filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or
constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of
the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower or of any agreement,
judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the
Borrower or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries.

     Section 4.03.  Binding Effect.  This Agreement constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the Borrower and each Note, if and when executed and
delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

                                      28
<PAGE>

     Section 4.04.  Financial Information.  (a) The consolidated balance sheet
of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and
the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, capitalization and
retained earnings for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte &
Touche, copies of which have been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly
present, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the
consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and
cash flows for such fiscal year.

     (b)  The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1999 and the related unaudited
consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the six months then ended,
copies of which have been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
consistent with the financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this
Section, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of
operations and changes in financial position for such six month period (subject
to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes).

     (c)  Since the respective dates set forth above, there has been no
material adverse change in the business, financial position or results of
operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a
whole.

     Section 4.05.  Litigation.  (a)  Except as disclosed in the reports
referred to in Section 4.04, or in reports hereafter filed by the Borrower with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which have been made available
to each of the Banks, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or
to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting, the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental
body, agency or official which would be likely to be decided adversely to
Borrower and, as a result, have a material adverse effect upon the business,
consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or which in any manner draws
into question the validity of this Agreement or any Note.

     Section 4.06.  Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower and each Material
Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations and requirements of governmental authorities
(including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except where (i)
non-compliance would not have a material adverse affect on the business,
financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated

                                      29
<PAGE>

Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or (ii) the necessity of compliance
therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

     Section 4.07.  Taxes.  The Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries have
filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax
returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due
pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower
or any Material Subsidiary except (i) where nonpayment would not have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole or (ii)
where the same are contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The
charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Material
Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the
opinion of the Borrower, adequate.

     Section 4.08.  Public Utility Holding Company Act.  The Borrower is not a
holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.

     Section 4.09.  Year 2000.  The cost to the Borrower of (i) any
reprogramming required to permit the proper functioning, in and following year
2000 of (a) the Borrower's critical computer systems and (b) Borrower's critical
equipment containing embedded microchips (including systems and equipment
supplied by others), (ii) the testing of all such systems and equipment, as so
reprogrammed, and (iii) the reasonably foreseeable consequences of year 2000 to
the Borrower (including, without limitation, reprogramming errors and the
failure of others' systems or equipment) will not result in a Default or a
Material Adverse Effect. Except for such of the reprogramming referred to in the
preceding sentence as may be necessary, the computer and management information
systems of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are and, with ordinary course
upgrading and maintenance, will continue for the term of this Agreement, to be
sufficient to permit the Borrower to conduct its business without Material
Adverse Effect.

                                   ARTICLE 5

                                   Covenants

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

     Section 5.01.  Information.  The Borrower will deliver to each of the
Banks:

                                      30
<PAGE>

       (a)  as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and
the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, capitalization and
retained earnings for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a
manner consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Deloitte & Touche or other independent public accountants of
nationally recognized standing;

       (b)  as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end
of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and
cash flows for such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal year
ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form
the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the
Borrower's previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end
adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted accounting
principles and consistency by an Approved Officer of the Borrower;

       (c)  simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements
referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of an Approved Officer
of the Borrower stating whether any Default exists on the date of such
certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof
and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto;

       (d)  within five days after any officer of the Borrower with
responsibility relating thereto obtains knowledge of any Default, if such
Default is then continuing, a certificate of an Approved Officer of the Borrower
setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or
proposes to take with respect thereto;

       (e)  promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration
statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on
Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their
equivalents) which the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission;

       (f)  if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required
to give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA) with respect to any Material Plan which might constitute grounds for a
termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan
administrator of any Material Plan has given or is required to give notice of
any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given
or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial

                                      31
<PAGE>

withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Material Plan is
in reorganization, is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice;
(iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to
terminate, impose material liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007
of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of
such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives
notice of intent to terminate any Material Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA,
a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives
notice of withdrawal from any Material Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a
copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any
Material Plan or makes any amendment to any Material Plan which has resulted or
could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other
security, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief accounting
officer of the Borrower setting forth details as to such occurrence and action,
if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required
or proposes to take; and

     (g)  from time to time such additional information regarding the financial
position or business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative
Agent, at the request of any Bank, may reasonably request.

     Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Sections 5.01(a),
5.01(b) and 5.01(e) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which
the Borrower provides notice to the Banks that such information has been posted
on the Securities and Exchange Commission website on the Internet at
sec.gov/edaux/searches.htm or at another website identified in such notice and
accessible by the Banks without charge; provided that (i) such notice may be
included in a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) and (ii) the
Borrower shall deliver paper copies of the information referred to in Sections
5.01(a), 5.01(b) and 5.01(e) to any Bank which requests such delivery.

     Section 5.02.  Payment of Taxes.  The Borrower will pay and discharge, and
will cause each Material Subsidiary to pay and discharge, at or before maturity,
all their tax liabilities, except where (i) nonpayment would not have a material
adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or (ii)
the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and will
maintain, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, appropriate reserves for the
accrual of any of the same.

     Section 5.03.  Maintenance of Property; Insurance.  (a) The Borrower will
keep, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to keep, all property useful and

                                      32
<PAGE>

necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and
tear excepted.

       (b)  The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries
to, maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such Subsidiary's own
name) with financially sound and responsible insurance companies, insurance on
all their respective properties in at least such amounts and against at least
such risks (and with such risk retention) as are usually insured against in the
same general area by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a
similar business; provided that self-insurance by the Borrower or any such
Material Subsidiary shall not be deemed a violation of this covenant to the
extent that companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar
properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Material
Subsidiary operates self-insure; and will furnish to the Banks, upon request
from the Administrative Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to
the insurance so carried.

     Section 5.04.  Maintenance of Existence.  The Borrower will preserve, renew
and keep in full force and effect, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to
preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate
existence and their respective rights, privileges and franchises material to the
normal conduct of their respective businesses; provided that nothing in this
Section 5.04 shall prohibit the termination of any right, privilege or franchise
of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or of the corporate existence of any
Material Subsidiary if the Borrower in good faith determines that such
termination is in the best interest of the Borrower and is not materially
disadvantageous to the Banks.

     Section 5.05.  Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower will comply, and cause
each Material Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable
laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental
authorities (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws) except
where (i) noncompliance would not have a material adverse effect on the
business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or (ii) the necessity of
compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

     Section 5.06.  Books and Records.  The Borrower will keep, and will cause
each Material Subsidiary to keep, proper books of record and account in which
full, true and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions in
relation to its business and activities in accordance with its customary
practices; and will permit, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to permit,
representatives of any Bank at such Bank's expense (accompanied by a
representative of the Borrower, if the Borrower so desires) to visit any of
their respective properties, to examine any of their respective books and
records and to discuss their respective affairs,

                                      33
<PAGE>

finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent
public accountants, all upon such reasonable notice, at such reasonable times
and as often as may reasonably be desired.

     Section 5.07.  Maintenance of Ownership of Principal Subsidiaries.  The
Borrower will maintain ownership of all shares of the common stock of each
Principal Subsidiary, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, free and
clear of all Liens, provided that any Principal Subsidiary may merge with and
into the Borrower or another Subsidiary.

     Section 5.08.  Negative Pledge.  The Borrower will not create, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it,
except:

       (a)  Liens granted by the Borrower existing on the date of this Agreement
securing Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate
principal amount not exceeding $100,000,000;

       (b)  any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower and not created
in contemplation of such event;

       (c)  any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by
the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

       (d)  any Lien on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for
the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset,
provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 180
days after the acquisition thereof;

       (e)  any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or
refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by any of the
foregoing clauses of this Section, provided that such Indebtedness is not
increased and is not secured by any additional assets;

       (f)  Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies
not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate
provisions are being maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;

       (g)  statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law, created in the ordinary
course of business and for amounts not past due for more than 60 days or which
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings which are
sufficient

                                      34
<PAGE>

to prevent imminent foreclosure of such Liens, are promptly instituted and
diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other
appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles;

       (h)  Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business
(including, without limitation, surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection
with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social
security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases,
contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations
and other similar obligations or arising as a result of progress payments under
government contracts;

       (i)  easements (including, without limitation, reciprocal easement
agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents,
reservations, encroachments, variations and other restrictions, charges or
encumbrances (whether or not recorded) affecting the use of real property;

       (j)  Liens with respect to judgments and attachments which do not result
in an Event of Default;

       (k)  Liens, deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids,
tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases
(permitted under the terms of this Agreement), public or statutory obligations,
surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, performance or other obligations arising in the
ordinary course of business; and

       (l)  other Liens including Liens imposed by Environmental Laws arising in
the ordinary course of its business which (i) do not secure Indebtedness, (ii)
do not secure any obligation in an amount exceeding $100,000,000 at any time at
which Investment Grade Status does not exist as to the Borrower and (iii) do not
in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially
impair the use thereof in the operation of its business.

     Section 5.09.  Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.  The Borrower
will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or (ii) sell,
lease or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, Substantial Assets to any
Person (other than a Subsidiary); provided that the Borrower may merge with
another Person if the Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and,
after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

     Section 5.10.  Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loans made under this
Agreement will be used by the Borrower for its general corporate purposes,
including liquidity support for outstanding commercial paper. None of such

                                      35
<PAGE>

proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether
immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any "margin stock"
within the meaning of Regulation U.

     Section 5.11.  Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, pay any funds to or
for the account of, make any investment in, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any assets, tangible or intangible, to, or participate in, or effect,
any transaction with, any Affiliate unless all such transactions between the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the one hand and any Affiliate on the other,
taken in the aggregate and not individually, shall be on an arms-length basis on
terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could have been
obtained from a third party who was not an Affiliate; provided that the
foregoing provisions of this Section shall not prohibit the Borrower and each
Subsidiary from declaring or paying any lawful dividend so long as, after giving
effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

     Section 5.12.  Indebtedness/Capitalization Ratio.  The ratio of
Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization will at no time exceed
65%.

                                   ARTICLE 6

                                   Defaults

     Section 6.01.  Events of Default.  If one or more of the following events
("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

       (a)  the Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal of any Loan or
shall fail to pay, within five days of the due date thereof, any interest, fees
or any other amount payable hereunder;

       (b)  the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained
in Sections 5.08, 5.09, 5.12 or the second sentence of 5.10, inclusive;

       (c)  the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a) or
(b) above) for 30 days after notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by
the Administrative Agent at the request of any Bank;

       (d)  any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by the
Borrower in this Agreement or in any certificate, financial statement or other

                                      36
<PAGE>

document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect
in any material respect when made (or deemed made);

       (e)  the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment in
respect of Material Debt (other than the Loans) when due or within any
applicable grace period;

       (f)  any event or condition shall occur and shall continue beyond the
applicable grace or cure period, if any, provided with respect thereto so as to
result in the acceleration of the maturity of Material Debt;

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

       (h)  an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against
the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or
other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a
trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any
substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding
shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or an order for
relief shall be entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary under
the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;

       (i)  any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount
or amounts aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 which it shall have become
liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of
intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Vested Liabilities
in excess of $50,000,000 (collectively, a "Material Plan") shall be filed under
Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or
any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under
Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to
administer any Material Plan or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary
of any Material Plan against any member of the ERISA Group to enforce Section
515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed
within 90 days thereafter; or a condition shall exist by reason of

                                      37
<PAGE>

which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any
Material Plan must be terminated;

       (j)  a judgment or other court order for the payment of money in excess
of $50,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary
and such judgment or order shall continue without being vacated, discharged,
satisfied or stayed or bonded pending appeal for a period of 45 days; or

       (k)  the Borrower shall cease to be a Subsidiary of Duke Energy
Corporation;

then, and in every such event, the Administrative Agent shall (i) if requested
by Banks having more than 66*% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice
to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate and
(ii) if requested by Banks holding more than 66% in aggregate principal amount
of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the Loans (together with accrued
interest thereon) to be, and the Loans shall thereupon become, immediately due
and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind,
all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that in the case of any
of the Events of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) above with respect to
the Borrower, without any notice to the Borrower or any other act by the
Administrative Agent or the Banks, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and
the Loans (together with accrued interest thereon) shall become immediately due
and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind,
all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

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

                                   ARTICLE 7

                           The Administrative Agent

     Section 7.01.  Appointment and Authorization.  Each Bank irrevocably
appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on
its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the Notes as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together
with all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

     Section 7.02.  Administrative Agent and Affiliates.  The Chase Manhattan
Bank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other

                                      38
<PAGE>

Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not
the Administrative Agent, and The Chase Manhattan Bank and its affiliates may
accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Borrower as if
it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

     Section 7.03.  Action by Administrative Agent.  The obligations of the
Administrative Agent hereunder are only those expressly set forth herein.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall
not be required to take any action with respect to any Default, except as
expressly provided in Article 6.

     Section 7.04.  Consultation with Experts.  The Administrative Agent may
consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

     Section 7.05.  Liability of Administrative Agent.  Neither the
Administrative Agent nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable to any Bank for any
action taken or not taken by it in connection herewith (i) with the consent or
at the request of the Required Banks or (ii) in the absence of its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of
its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into
or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with
this Agreement or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of
any of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower; (iii) the satisfaction of
any condition specified in Article 3, except receipt of items required to be
delivered to the Administrative Agent; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or
genuineness of this Agreement, the Notes or any other instrument or writing
furnished in connection herewith. The Administrative Agent shall not incur any
liability by acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate,
statement, or other writing (which may be a bank wire, telex or similar writing)
believed by it in good faith to be genuine or to be signed by the proper party
or parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of the
term "agent" in this Agreement with reference to the Administrative Agent is not
intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations
arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used
merely as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an
administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

                                      39
<PAGE>

     Section 7.06.  Indemnification.  Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance
with its Commitment, indemnify the Administrative Agent, its affiliates and
their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including counsel fees
and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as
result from the such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct) that
such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Agreement or any
action taken or omitted by such indemnitees thereunder.

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

     Section 7.08.  Successor Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent
may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower.
Upon any such resignation, the Borrower, with the consent of the Required Banks,
(such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), shall have the right
to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative
Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment,
within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of
resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Banks,
appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank
organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of any
State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$250,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent
hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative
Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights and
duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder; provided
that if such successor Administrative Agent is appointed without the consent of
the Borrower, such successor Administrative Agent may be replaced by the
Borrower with the consent of the Required Banks. After any retiring
Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the
provisions of this Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent.

     Section 7.09.  Administrative Agent's Fee.  The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times
previously agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                                      40
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 8

                            Change in Circumstances

       Section 8.01.  Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.
If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Euro-Dollar
Borrowing or Bid Rate (Indexed) Borrowing:

       (a)  the Administrative Agent is advised by the Euro-Dollar Reference
Banks that deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered
to the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the relevant market for such Interest
Period, or

       (b)  in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, Banks having 66*% or more
 of the aggregate amount of the affected Loans advise the Administrative Agent
that the London Interbank Offered Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent
will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their
Euro-Dollar Loans for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks, whereupon until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to
such suspension no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Banks to make Euro-
Dollar Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Euro-Dollar
Loans shall be suspended and (ii) each outstanding Euro-Dollar Loan shall be
converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then current Interest
Period applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent
at least one Domestic Business Day before the date of any Fixed Rate Borrowing
for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to
borrow on such date, (i) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Committed Borrowing,
such Borrowing shall instead be made as a Base Rate Borrowing and (ii) if such
Borrowing is a Bid Rate (Indexed) Borrowing, the Loans comprising such Borrowing
shall bear interest for each day from and including the first day to but
excluding the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base
Rate for such day.

       Section 8.02. Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the
adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable
                                      41
<PAGE>

agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its Euro-Dollar
Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund any of its Euro-Dollar Loans and such
Bank shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall
forth with give notice thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower, whereupon
until such Bank notifies the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that the
circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of
such Bank to make Euro-Dollar Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans
as or into Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to
the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section, such Bank shall designate a
different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for
giving such notice and will not be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank in the
good faith exercise of its discretion. If such notice is given, each Euro-Dollar
Loan of such Bank then outstanding shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either
(a) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Euro-
Dollar Loan if such Bank may lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to
such day or (b) immediately if such Bank shall determine that it may not
lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to such day.

     Section 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If on or after (x) the
date of this Agreement, in the case of any Committed Loan or any obligation to
make Committed Loans or (y) the date of any related Bid Rate Quote, in the case
of any Bid Rate Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or
any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) issued on or after
such date of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement
(including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding with respect to any Euro-
Dollar Loan any such requirement included in an applicable Euro-Dollar Reserve
Percentage) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit
extended by, any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or shall impose on any
Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or on the London interbank market any
other condition (other than in respect of Taxes or Other Taxes) affecting its
Fixed Rate Loans, its Note or its obligation to make Fixed Rate Loans and the
result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loan, or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its
Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with respect
thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within 15 days
after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the
Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate

                                      42
<PAGE>

such Bank for such increased cost or reduction; provided that no such
amount shall be payable with respect to any period commencing more than 90 days
prior to the date such Bank first notifies the Borrower of its intention to
demand compensation therefor under this Section 8.03(a).

       (b)  If any Bank shall have determined that, on or after the date of this
Agreement, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding
capital adequacy, or any change in any such law, rule or regulation, or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency given or made after the date of this Agreement, has or would
have the effect of reducing the rate of return on capital of such Bank (or its
Parent) as a consequence of such Bank's obligations hereunder to a level below
that which such Bank (or its Parent) could have achieved but for such adoption,
change, request or directive (taking into consideration its policies with
respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material,
then from time to time, within 15 days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to
the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank (or its Parent) for such
reduction; provided that no such amount shall be payable with respect to any
period commencing less than 30 days after the date such Bank first notifies the
Borrower of its intention to demand compensation under this Section 8.03(b).

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

       Section 8.04. Taxes. (a) For purposes of this Section 8.04, the following
terms have the following meanings:

       "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imports, deductions, charges or withholdings with respect to any payment by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any Note, and all liabilities with
respect thereto, excluding (i) in the case of each Bank and the Administrative
Agent, taxes imposed on its income, net worth or gross receipts and franchise or
similar taxes

                                      43
<PAGE>

imposed on it by a jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or in which its principal
executive office is located or, in the case of each Bank, in which its
Applicable Lending Office is located and (ii) in the case of each Bank, any
United States withholding tax imposed on such payments except to the extent that
such Bank is subject to United States withholding tax by reason of a U.S. Tax
Law Change.

     "Other Taxes" means any present or future stamp or documentary taxes and
any other excise or property taxes, or similar charges or levies, which arise
from any payment made pursuant to this Agreement or under any Note or from the
execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any
Note.

     "U.S. Tax Law Change" means with respect to any Bank or Participant the
occurrence (x) in the case of each Bank listed on the signature pages hereof,
after the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement and (y) in the
case of any other Bank, after the date such Bank shall have become a Bank
hereunder, and (z) in the case of each Participant, after the date such
Participant became a Participant hereunder, of the adoption of any applicable
U.S. federal law, U.S. federal rule or U.S. federal regulation relating to
taxation, or any change therein, or the entry into force, modification or
revocation of any income tax convention or treaty to which the United States is
a party.

     (b)  Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Bank
or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be made without
deduction for any Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that, if the Borrower shall be
required by law to deduct any Taxes or Other Taxes from any such payments, (i)
the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 8.04) such Bank or the Administrative 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, (iii) the
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority
or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (iv) the Borrower shall
furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.01,
the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

     (c)  The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank and the Administrative
Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without
limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section 8.04) paid by such Bank or the Administrative
Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and
expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall
be paid

                                      44
<PAGE>

within 15 days after such Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be)
makes demand therefor.

       (d)  Each Bank 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 Bank listed on the signature pages hereof and on
or prior to the date on which it becomes a Bank in the case of each other Bank,
and from time to time thereafter as required by law (but only so long as such
Bank remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower two completed
and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service form 1001 or 4224, as
appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service,
or other documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower, certifying that
such Bank is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United
States is a party which exempts the Bank from United States withholding tax or
reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest for the account of
such Bank or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States.

       (e)  For any period with respect to which a Bank has failed to provide
the Borrower with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 8.04(d) (unless such
failure is due to a U.S. Tax Law Change), such Bank shall not be entitled to
indemnification under Section 8.04(b) or 8.04(c) with respect to any Taxes or
Other Taxes which would not have been payable had such form been so provided,
provided that if a Bank, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced
rate of withholding tax, becomes subject to Taxes because of its failure to
deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such
Bank shall reasonably request to assist such Bank to recover such Taxes (it
being understood, however, that the Borrower shall have no liability to such
Bank in respect of such Taxes).

       (f)  If the Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to or for the
account of any Bank pursuant to this Section 8.04, then such Bank will take such
action (including changing the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office) as
in the good faith judgment of such Bank (i) will eliminate or reduce any such
additional payment which may thereafter accrue and (ii) is not otherwise
disadvantageous to such Bank.

       (g) If any Bank or the Administrative Agent receives a refund (including
a refund in the form of a credit against taxes that are otherwise payable by the
Bank or the Administrative Agent) of any Taxes or Other Taxes for which the
Borrower has made a payment under Section 8.04(b) or (c) and such refund was
received from the taxing authority which originally imposed such Taxes or Other
Taxes, such Bank or the Administrative Agent agrees to reimburse the Borrower to
the extent of such refund, provided that nothing contained in this

                                      45
<PAGE>

paragraph (g) shall require any Bank or the Administrative Agent to make
available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which
it deems to be confidential).

       Section 8.05.  Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans.
If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make or to continue or convert outstanding
Loans as or into Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02
or (ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03(a) or 8.04 with
respect to its Euro-Dollar Loans and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-
Dollar Business Days' prior notice to such Bank through the Administrative
Agent, have elected that the provisions of this Section shall apply to such
Bank, then, unless and until such Bank notifies the Borrower that the
circumstances giving rise to such suspension or demand for compensation no
longer apply:

       (a)  all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Bank as (or
continued as or converted to) Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may be, shall
instead be Base Rate Loans (on which interest and principal shall be payable
contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Banks), and

       (b)  after each of its Euro-Dollar Loans has been repaid, all payments of
principal which would otherwise be applied to repay such Loans shall be applied
to repay its Base Rate Loans instead.

If such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
suspension or demand for compensation no longer exist, the principal amount of
each such Base Rate Loan shall be converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan on the first
day of the next succeeding Interest Period applicable to the related Euro-Dollar
Loans of the other Banks.

       Section 8.06.  Substitution of Bank Termination Option.  If (i) the
obligation of any Bank to make or to convert or continue outstanding Loans as or
into Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02, (ii) any
Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04, or (iii) any Bank
exercises its right not to extend its Commitment Termination Date pursuant to
Section 2.01(c) or (iv) Investment Grade Status ceases to exist as to any Bank,
then:

       (a)  the Borrower shall have the right, with the assistance of the
Administrative Agent, to designate a substitute bank or banks (which may be one
or more of the Banks) mutually satisfactory to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent (whose consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) to purchase for cash, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto, the outstanding Loans
of such Bank and assume the Commitment of such Bank, without recourse to or

                                      46
<PAGE>

warranty by, or expense to, such Bank, for a purchase price equal to the
principal amount of all of such Bank's outstanding Loans plus any accrued but
unpaid interest thereon and the accrued but unpaid fees in respect of such
Bank's Commitment hereunder plus such amount, if any, as would be payable
pursuant to Section 2.14 if the outstanding Loans of such Bank were prepaid in
their entirety on the date of consummation of such assignment; and

       (b)  if at the time Investment Grade Status exists as to the Borrower,
the Borrower may elect to terminate this Agreement as to such Bank, provided
that (i)  the Borrower notifies such Bank through the Administrative Agent of
such election at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days before the effective date
of such termination and (ii) the Borrower repays or prepays the principal amount
of all outstanding Loans made by such Bank plus any accrued but unpaid interest
thereon and the accrued but unpaid fees in respect of such Bank's Commitment
hereunder plus all other amounts payable by the Borrower to such Bank hereunder,
not later than the effective date of such termination. Upon satisfaction of the
foregoing conditions, the Commitment of such Bank shall terminate on the
effective date specified in such notice.

                                   ARTICLE 9

                                 Miscellaneous

       Section 9.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire, telex, facsimile
transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x) in the
case of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at its address or telecopy or
telex number set forth on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any
Bank, at its address or telecopy or telex number set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire or (z) in the case of any party, such other address or telecopy or
telex number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to
the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. Each such notice, request or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by telecopy or telex, when such
telecopy or telex is transmitted to the telecopy or telex number specified in
this Section and the appropriate answerback or confirmation slip, as the case
may be, is received, (ii) if given by mail, 84 hours after such communication is
deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid
or (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in
this Section; provided that notices to the Administrative Agent under Article 2
or Article 3 shall not be effective until delivered.

                                      47
<PAGE>

     Section 9.02.  No Waivers.  No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent
or any Bank in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any
Note shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise
thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein provided shall
be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

     Section 9.03.  Expenses; Indemnification.  (a) The Borrower shall pay (i)
all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, including
reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Administrative
Agent, in connection with the preparation of this Agreement, any waiver or
consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any Default or alleged Default
hereunder and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Bank, including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel, in connection with such Event of Default and
collection and other enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom.

     (b)  The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
Bank, their respective affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents
and employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnitee") and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and
expenses of any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel, which may be incurred by such Indemnitee in connection
with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not
such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) relating to or arising out
of this Agreement or any actual or proposed use of proceeds of Loans hereunder;
provided that no Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for
such Indemnitee's own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction.

     Section 9.04.  Sharing of Set-offs.  Each Bank agrees that if it shall, by
exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment of
a proportion of the aggregate amount then due with respect to the Loans held by
it which is greater than the proportion received by any other Bank in respect of
the aggregate amount then due with respect to the Loans held by such other Bank,
the Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment shall purchase such
participations in the Loans held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments
shall be made, as may be required so that all such payments with respect to the
Loans held by the Banks shall be shared by the Banks pro rata; provided that
nothing in this Section shall impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right
of set-off or counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such
exercise to the payment of indebtedness of the Borrower other than its
indebtedness under this Agreement.

                                      48
<PAGE>

     Section 9.05.  Amendments and Waivers.  Any provision of this Agreement or
the Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is
in writing and is signed by the Borrower and the Required Banks (and, if the
rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, are affected thereby, by the
Administrative Agent); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless
signed by all the Banks, (i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Bank
(except (x) as contemplated by Section 2.17 or (y) for a ratable decrease in the
Commitments of all Banks) or subject any Bank to any additional obligation, (ii)
reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder,
(iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on any
Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or for termination of any
Commitment or (iv) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or the number of Banks, which shall be
required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this Section or
any other provision of this Agreement.

     Section 9.06.  Successors and Assigns.  (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of all Banks.

     (b)  Any Bank may, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed), at any time grant to one or more banks or
other institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its
Commitment or any or all of its Loans.   In the event of any such grant by a
Bank of a participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to
the Administrative Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for the performance
of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with
such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement.   Any agreement
pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a participating interest shall provide
that such Bank shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce the
obligations of the Borrower hereunder including, without limitation, the right
to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement; provided that such participation agreement may provide that such Bank
will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement
described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 9.05 without the consent of
the Participant.   The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall, to the
extent provided in its participation agreement, be entitled to the benefits of
Article 8 with respect to its participating interest, subject to the performance
by such Participant of the obligations of a Bank thereunder.   An assignment or
other transfer which is not permitted by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be
given effect for purposes of this Agreement

                                      49
<PAGE>

only to the extent of a participating interest granted in accordance with this
subsection (b).

       (c) Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or other
financial institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate part
(equivalent to an initial Commitment of not less than $20,000,000 (unless the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree)) of all, of its
rights and obligations under this Agreement and its Note (if any), and such
Assignee shall assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and
Assumption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto executed by
such Assignee and such transferor Bank, with (and only with and subject to) the
prior written consent of the Borrower (given in its sole discretion) and the
Administrative Agent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
provided that unless such assignment is of the entire right, title and interest
of the transferor Bank hereunder, after making any such assignment such
transferor Bank shall have a Commitment of at least $20,000,000 (unless the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise agree). Upon execution and
delivery of such instrument of assumption and payment by such Assignee to such
transferor Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such
transferor Bank and such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank party to this
Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank with a
Commitment as set forth in such instrument of assumption, and the transferor
Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent,
and no further consent or action by any party shall be required. Upon the
consummation of any assignment pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor
Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate
arrangements so that, if required by the Assignee, a Note is issued to the
Assignee. If the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or a state thereof, it shall, prior to the first date on which
interest or fees are payable hereunder for its account, deliver to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes in accordance with Section
8.04. All assignments shall be subject to a transaction fee established by, and
payable by the transferor Bank to, the Administrative Agent for its own account
(which shall not exceed $5,000).

       (d)  Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement and its Note (if any) to a Federal Reserve Bank.  No such
assignment shall release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder or
modify any such obligations.

       (e)  No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's rights
(including any Applicable Lending Office other than such Bank's initial
Applicable Lending Office) shall be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 8.03 or 8.04 than such Bank would have been entitled to receive
with

                                      50
<PAGE>

respect to the rights transferred, unless such transfer is made by reason
of the provisions of Section 8.02, 8.03 or 8.04 requiring such Bank to designate
a different Applicable Lending Office under certain circumstances or at a time
when the circumstances giving rise to such greater payment did not exist.

     Section 9.07.  Collateral.  Each of the Banks represents to the
Administrative Agent and each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not
relying upon any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in
the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.

     Section 9.08.  Confidentiality.  The Administrative Agent and each Bank
agrees to keep any information delivered or made available by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement confidential from anyone other than persons employed
or retained by such Bank and its affiliates who are engaged in evaluating,
approving, structuring or administering the credit facility contemplated hereby;
provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Bank from disclosing such
information (a) to any other Bank or to the Administrative Agent, (b) to any
other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of the credit
facility contemplated hereby, (c) upon the order of any court or administrative
agency, (d) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority,
(e) which had been publicly disclosed other than as a result of a disclosure by
the Administrative Agent or any Bank prohibited by this Agreement, (f) in
connection with any litigation to which the Administrative Agent, any Bank or
its subsidiaries or Parent may be a party, (g) to the extent necessary in
connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (h) to such Bank's or
Administrative Agent's legal counsel and independent auditors and (i) subject to
provisions substantially similar to those contained in this Section 9.08, to any
actual or proposed Participant or Assignee.

     Section 9.09. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and
each Note (if any) shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law
of the State of New York. The Borrower hereby submits to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York and of any New York State court sitting in New York City for purposes
of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Borrower irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court
and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum.

     Section 9.10.  Counterparts; Integration.  This Agreement may be signed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the
parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings,
oral or
                                      51
<PAGE>

written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

     Section 9.11.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE BORROWER, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE BANKS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO
SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                            By: /s/ David L. Hauser
                                                --------------------------------
                                            Title: Vice President & Treasurer
                                            Address: 422 South Church Street
                                                     Charlotte, NC 28202-1904
                                            Attention:  David L. Hauser
                                            Telecopy number: (704) 382-1452
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      52

<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$55,000,000                              THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Paul V. Farrell
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$55,000,000                              MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST
                                         COMPANY OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Robert Bottamedi
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000,000                              BANK OF AMERICA, NA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Michelle Schoenfeld
                                            Title: Associate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000,000                              BARCLAYS BANK PLC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Jonathan Berman
                                            Title: Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$30,000,000                              CITIBANK, N.A.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ J. Nicholas McKee
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$30,000,000                              FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Michael J. Kolosowsky
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000,000                              WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Christopher L. Fincher
                                            Title: Senior Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000,000                              THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Madeleine N. Pember
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Title: Assistant Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$30,000,000                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Steven Kalachman
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING
                                         GROUP LIMITED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Elizabeth M. Waters
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              BANK OF MONTREAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Mary Lee Latta
                                            Title: Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              BANKBOSTON, N.A.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Michael M. Parker
                                            Title: Managing Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              CIBC INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Denis P. O'Meara
                                            Title: Executive Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              DRESDNER BANK AG, NEW
                                         YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Andrew Schroeder
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Robert Preminger
                                            Title: Assistant Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Minami Miura
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ R. Adams Perry III
                                            Title: Senior Vice President &
                                                   Head of Corporate Banking
                                                   & Finance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Lisa M. Taylor
                                            Title: Second Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ John A. Fields, Jr.
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              TORONTO DOMINION (TEXAS), INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Carol Brandt
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment
----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Paul R. Morrison
                                            Title: Executive Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Andrew N. Taylor
                                            Title: Associate Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Tony Smith
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              MELLON BANK, N.A.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ Roger E. Howard
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$20,000,000                              SOCIETE GENERALE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         By: /s/ David Bird
                                            Title: Vice President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

__________________
<PAGE>

Total Commitments

$600,000,000
==================
<PAGE>

                             THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                             as Administrative Agent

                                --------------------------
                             By: /s/ Paul V. Farrell
                               Title: Vice President
                               Address: 270 Park Avenue
                                         New York, NY 10017
                               Attention: Paul V. Farrell
                               Telecopy number: (212) 270-3089
<PAGE>

                            Pricing Schedule
                            ----------------

     The "Facility Fee Rate" and the "Euro-Dollar Margin" for any day are the
respective percentages set forth below in the applicable row under the column
corresponding to the Status that exists on such day:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                    LEVEL I     LEVEL II    LEVEL III    LEVEL IV     LEVEL V     LEVEL VI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
Facility Fee            .055%       .060%        .065%        .070%       .085%        .100%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Euro-Dollar Margin
  Utilization  *25%     .145%       .165%        .185%        .205%       .215%        .250%
  Utilization **25%     .270%       .290%        .310%        .330%       .340%        .375%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     For purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the following
meanings:

     "Level I Status" exists at any date if, at such date, the Borrower is rated
"AA-" or higher by S&P  or  "Aa3" or higher by Moody's.

     "Level II Status" exists at any date if, at such date, (i) the Borrower is
rated "A+" or higher by S&P or "A1" or higher by Moody's and (ii) Level I Status
does not exist.

     "Level III Status" exists at any date if, at such date, (i) the Borrower is
rated "A" or higher by S&P or "A2" or higher by Moody's and (ii) neither Level I
Status nor Level II Status exists.

     "Level IV Status" exists at any date if, at such date, (i) the Borrower is
rated "A-" by S&P or "A3" by Moody's and (ii) neither Level I Status, Level II
Status nor Level III Status exists.

     "Level V Status" exists at any date if, at such date, (i) the Borrower is
rated "BBB+" by S&P or "Baa1" by Moody's and (ii) neither Level I Status, Level
II Status, Level III Status nor Level IV Status exists.

     "Level VI Status" exists at any date if, at such date, no other Status
exists.

     "Status" refers to the determination of which of Level I Status, Level II
Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status, Level V Status or Level VI Status
exists at any date.

     "Utilization" means, at any date, the percentage equivalent of a fraction
(i) the numerator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the

*  = less than
** = greater than or equal to

<PAGE>

Loans at such date and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of
the Commitments at such date.  If for any reason any Loans remain outstanding
following termination of the Commitments, Utilization shall be deemed to be in
excess of 25%.

     The credit ratings to be utilized for purposes of this Schedule are those
indicated for or assigned to the senior unsecured long-term debt securities of
the Borrower without third-party credit enhancement, and any rating indicated
for or assigned to any other debt security of the Borrower shall be disregarded.
The ratings in effect for any day are those in effect at the close of business
on such day.  A change in credit rating will result in an immediate change in
the applicable Status.  In the case of split ratings from S&P and Moody's, the
rating to be used to determine the applicable Status is the higher of the two.
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                     NOTE

                                                              New York, New York
                                                              August __, 1999

     For value received, Duke Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of _______________________ (the
"Bank"), for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal
amount of each Loan made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit
Agreement referred to below on the date specified in the Credit Agreement. The
Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such
Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Credit Agreement.
All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in lawful money of the
United States in Federal or other immediately available funds at the office of
The Chase Manhattan Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York.

     All Loans made by the Bank, the respective types and maturities thereof and
all repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank and, the
Bank, if the Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement of
its Note, may endorse on the schedule attached hereto appropriate notations to
evidence the foregoing information with respect to the Loans then outstanding;
provided that the failure of the Bank to make any such recordation or
endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under
the Credit Agreement.

     This note is one of the Notes referred to in the 364-Day Credit Agreement
dated as of August 23, 1999 among the Borrower, the banks listed on the
signature pages thereof and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent
(as the same may be amended from time to time, the "Credit Agreement").  Terms
defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for provisions for the prepayment
hereof and the acceleration of the maturity hereof.

                                        DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                        By___________________________
                                          Title:
<PAGE>

                                  Note (cont'd)

                        LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Date          Amount          Type        Amount of     Maturity    Notation
                   of Loan       of Loan       Principal      Date       Made By
                                                Repaid
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

      EXHIBIT B

                        FORM OF BID RATE QUOTE REQUEST
                        ------------------------------

                                                     [Date]

To:   The Chase Manhattan Bank
      (the "Administrative Agent")

From: Duke Capital Corporation

Re:   364-Day Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of August __,
      1999 among the Borrower, the Banks listed on the signature pages thereof
      and the Administrative Agent

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

Date of Borrowing: __________________

Principal Amount*             Interest Period**
----------------              ---------------
$

      Such Bid Rate Quotes should offer a Bid Rate [(General), (Indexed) or
both]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

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

                                          DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                          By______________________
                                            Title:

___________________
      *Amount must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.

      **Not less than one month (Bid Rate (Indexed) Auction) or not less than 7
days (Bid Rate (General) Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition
of Interest Period.
<PAGE>

     EXHIBIT C

                    FORM OF INVITATION FOR BID RATE QUOTES
                    --------------------------------------

To:  [Name of Bank]

Re:  Invitation for Bid Rate Quotes to Duke Capital Corporation (the "Borrower")

     Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of August
__, 1999 among the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and the undersigned, as
Administrative Agent, we are pleased on behalf of the Borrower to invite you to
submit Bid Rate Quotes to the Borrower for the following proposed Bid Rate
Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing:  __________________

Principal Amount              Interest Period
----------------              ---------------

$

     Such Bid Rate Quotes should offer a Bid Rate [(Indexed) (General) or both].
[The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]

     Please respond to this invitation by no later than [2:00 P.M.] [9:30 A.M.]
(New York City time) on [date].

                                               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                               By________________________
                                                 Authorized Officer
<PAGE>

     EXHIBIT D

                            FORM OF BID RATE QUOTE
                            ----------------------

To:  The Chase Manhattan Bank,
     as Administrative Agent
     270 Park Avenue
     New York, New York  10017
     Attention:

Re:  Bid Rate Quote to Duke Capital Corporation (the "Borrower")

     In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated
_____________, 19__, we hereby make the following Bid Rate Quote on the
following terms:

1.   Quoting Bank: ________________________________

2.   Person to contact at Quoting Bank:
     _____________________________

3.   Date of Borrowing: ____________________*

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

Principal Interest  Bid Rate
Amount**  Period*** [(Indexed)****]      [(General)*****]
--------  --------- ---------------      ----------------

__________________
     *As specified in the related Invitation.

     **Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal
amount requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual
offers exceeds the amount the Bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made for
$5,000,000 or a larger of multiple of $1,000,000.

     ***Not less than one month or less than 30 days, as specified in the
related Invitation, but no bid may be submitted for an Interest Period extending
beyond bidder's Commitment Termination Date. No more than five bids are
permitted for each Interest Period.

<PAGE>

$
$
provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Bid Rate Loans for which the
above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $____________.]**

     We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the
satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the 364-Day Credit
Agreement dated as of August __, 1999 among the Borrower, the Banks listed on
the signature pages thereof and yourselves, as Administrative Agent, irrevocably
obligates us to make the Bid Rate Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted,
in whole or in part.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             [NAME OF BANK]

Dated:                                       By:_________________________
                                                Authorized Officer

________________________________________________________________________________
     ****Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined for
the applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (rounded to the nearest
1/10,000 of 1%) and specify whether "PLUS" or "MINUS".

     *****Specify rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th
of 1%).
<PAGE>

     EXHIBIT E

                              OPINION OF GENERAL
                           COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

     [Effective Date]

To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
Referred to Below
c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank
as Administrative Agent
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am the General Counsel of Duke Capital Corporation (the "Borrower") and
have acted as its counsel in connection with the 364-Day Credit Agreement (the
"Credit Agreement") dated as of August 23, 1999 among the Borrower, the banks
listed on the signature pages thereof and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent.  Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as
therein defined.

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

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

       1.  The Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of Delaware and has all corporate powers and all
material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required
to carry on its business as now conducted.

       2.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit
Agreement and any Notes are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in
respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not
contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or
regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower or,
to
<PAGE>

my knowledge, of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other
instrument binding upon the Borrower or, to my knowledge, result in the creation
or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries.

       3.  The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Borrower and the Notes, if and when issued, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

       4.  Except as disclosed in the reports referred to in Section 4.04 of the
Credit Agreement, to my knowledge (but without independent investigation), there
is no action, suit or proceeding pending or threatened against or affecting, the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any
governmental body, agency or official, which would be likely to be decided
adversely to Borrower or such Subsidiary and, as a result, to have a material
adverse effect upon the business, consolidated financial position or
consolidated results of operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole or which in any manner draws into question
the validity of the Credit Agreement or any Notes.

       5.  Borrower is not a holding company under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.

     The phrase "to my knowledge", as used in the foregoing opinion, refers to
my actual knowledge without any independent investigation as to any such
matters.

     I am a member of the Bar of the State of North Carolina and do not express
any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of North
Carolina, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal
law of the United States of America.  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, I note that the governing law of the Loan Documents is expressed to
be the law of the State of New York; in giving the opinion set forth in
paragraph 3 above I have assumed, with your permission, that instead the
governing law is the law of the State of North Carolina.

                                       2
<PAGE>

     This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the above matter and may
not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished
to, any other person, firm or corporation without my prior written consent,
except for Additional Banks and Participants.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       3
<PAGE>

     EXHIBIT F

                       OPINION OF DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL,
                 SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                 [Effective Date]

To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
 Referred to Below
c/o The Chase Manhattan Bank,
as Administrative Agent
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have participated in the preparation of the 364-Day Credit Agreement
(the "Credit Agreement") dated as of August __, 1999 among Duke Capital
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks listed on the
signature pages thereof (the "Banks") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent"), and have acted as special
counsel for the Administrative Agent for the purpose of rendering this opinion
pursuant to Section 3.01(d) of the Credit Agreement.  Terms defined in the
Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

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

     Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

       1.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit
Agreement and the Notes are within the Borrower's corporate powers and have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.

       2.  The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Borrower and the Notes, if and when issued, constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.
<PAGE>

     In giving the foregoing opinion, we express no opinion as to the effect (if
any) of any law of any jurisdiction (except the State of New York) in which any
Bank is located which limits the rate of interest that such Bank may charge or
collect.

     This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above matter.
This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon
by or furnished to any other person, firm or corporation without our prior
written consent, except for Additional Banks and all Participants.

                         Very truly yours,

                                       2
<PAGE>

     EXHIBIT G

                      ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT dated as of _________, 19__ among [ASSIGNOR] (the "Assignor"),
[ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee"), DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION (the "Company") and THE
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent").

                            W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement") relates
to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of August __, 1999 among the Company,
the Assignor and the other Banks party thereto, as Banks, and the Administrative
Agent (the "Credit Agreement");

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

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

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

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

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

     Section 2.  Assignment.  The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the
extent of the Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such assignment

_______________________
     *The asterisked provisions shall be appropriately revised in the event of
an assignment after the Commitment Termination Date.
<PAGE>

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

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

     Section 4.  Consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.  This
Agreement is conditioned upon the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent pursuant to Section 9.06(c) of the Credit Agreement.  The execution of
this Agreement by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent is evidence of this
consent.  Pursuant to Section 9.06(c) the Borrower agrees to execute and deliver
a Note, if required by the Assignee, payable to the order of the Assignee to
evidence the assignment and assumption provided for herein.

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

                                       2
<PAGE>

     Section 5.  Non-reliance on Assignor.  The Assignor makes no representation
or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility with respect
to, the solvency, financial condition, or statements of any Borrower, or the
validity and enforceability of the obligations of any Borrower in respect of the
Credit Agreement or any Note.  The Assignee acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance on the Assignor, and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement and will continue to be responsible for
making its own independent appraisal of the business, affairs and financial
condition of the Borrowers.

     Section 6.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

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

     Section 8.  Administrative Questionnaire.  Attached is an Administrative
Questionnaire duly completed by the Assignee.

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

                                           ______________________________
                                        [ASSIGNOR]

                                        By
                                           Title:

                                           ______________________________
                                        [ASSIGNEE]

                                        By
                                           Title:

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                        DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION

                                        By
                                          ______________________________________
                                            Title:

                                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
                                   Administrative Agent

                                        By
                                          ______________________________________
                                           Title:

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT H

                            EXTENSION AGREEMENT

The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative
Agent under the Credit Agreement
referred to below
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Effective as of [date], the undersigned hereby agrees to extend its
Commitment and Commitment Termination Date under the 364-Day Credit Agreement
dated as of August __, 1999 among Duke Capital Corporation (the "Borrower"), the
banks parties thereto and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent (the
"Credit Agreement") for 364 days to [date to which its Commitment Termination
Date is to be extended] pursuant to Section 2.01(c) of the Credit Agreement.
Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

     This Extension Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the law of the State of New York. This Extension Agreement may be signed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

                    [NAME OF BANK]

                    By
                       ___________________________________
                       Title:
<PAGE>

Agreed and Accepted:

DUKE CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Borrower

By
   _____________________________________
   Title:

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Administrative Agent

By
   _____________________________________
   Title:

                                       2
<PAGE>

                          CROSS-REFERENCE TARGET LIST

     NOTE: Due to the number of targets some target names may not appear in the
target pull-down list. (This list is for the use of the wordprocessor only, is
not a part of this document and may be discarded.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

ARTICLE/SECTION       TARGET NAME   ARTICLE/SECTION       TARGET NAME   ARTICLE/SECTION  TARGET NAME  ARTICLE/SECTION   TARGET NAME
===============       ===========   ===============       ===========   ===============  ===========  ===============   ===========
<S>                                 <C>                                 <C>                           <C>
1.03..............types.borrowing   9.01.............notices.requests
2.........................credits   9.05...............amends.waivers
2.01..................commit.lend   9.06(b).....................grant
2.01(a)..........syndicated.loans   9.06(c)........rights.obligations
2.01(b)...........swingline.loans
2.01(c).................extension   EXHIBIT G REFERENCES:
2.02.......................notice   2......................assignment
2.02(b).........borrow.aggreg.amt   3........................payments
2.03..........money.market.borrow   8............change.circumstances
2.03(d)................submission   6.01(i).............material.plan
2.03(d)(i)........bank.may.submit
2.03(d)(ii)....money.market.quote
2.03(f)................acceptance
2.04....notice.banks.funding.loan
2.04(a)..............notice.banks
2.05........................notes
2.07...............interest.rates
2.07(b)........euro.bear.interest
2.07(c).........overdue.principal
2.09..............opt.termination
2.10(a)....synd.bor.loan.interest
2.10(b)........notice.of.interest
2.11........mandatory.termination
2.12...................opt.prepay
2.12(a)...........borrower.prepay
2.12(c)..............upon.receipt
2.13...........general.provisions
2.14..................fund.losses
2.15..................computation
?.....................with.tax.ex
?...............letters.of.credit
?...............bank.issue.credit
?..................borr.give.bank
?.......................no.letter
?.................receipt.benefic
?.....................obliga.borr
?................borr.indemnifies
2.16...........reg.d.compensation
?..........takeout.of.swngln.loan
?................unrefunded.swing
2.17................increased.com
2.17(a)...........increased.com.a
3......................conditions
3.01................effectiveness
3.01(a)...........effectiveness.d
3.02...................borrowings
3.02(a).......receipt by AA or IB
3.02(b)........aggregate.outstand
4.04...................finan.info
4.04(c)..............finan.info.c
4.05...................litigation
5.04...................main.exist
5.08...................neg.pledge
5.09..............con.merge.sales
5.10..............use.of.proceeds
5.12.............indebt/cap.ratio
6........................defaults
6.01...............events.default
6.01(c)..........events.default.c
7.....................admin.agent
8.............change.circumstance
8.01....................... basis
8.01(a)...................advised
8.02...................illegality
8.03.............inc.cost.red.ret
8.03(a)........inc.cost.red.ret.a
8.03(b)........inc.cost.red.ret.b
8.05....................base.rate
8.06............substitution.bank
2.03(g)......alloc.by.admin.agent
8.04........................taxes
</TABLE>

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