Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1999,

                                      AMONG

                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.,
                                  AS BORROWER,

                            THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

                        BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC,
                              AS SYNDICATION AGENT,

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                             AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT

                                       AND

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                             AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

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

                            BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
                        AS LEAD ARRANGER AND BOOK RUNNER
<PAGE>   2
         CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 1, 1999, among PENTON MEDIA,
INC., the LENDERS party hereto, BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC, as Syndication
Agent, THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as Documentation Agent and THE BANK
OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent.

         The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

         Section 1.1       Defined Terms

                  As used in this Credit Agreement, the following terms have the
meanings specified below:

                  "A Term Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender having
an A Term Commitment, the commitment of such Lender to make an A Term Loan
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of
such Lender's A Term Loan hereunder. The amount of each applicable Lender's A
Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1. The aggregate amount of the A Term
Commitments is $140,000,000.

                  "A Term Loan" means a Loan referred to in Section 2.1(b) and
made pursuant to Section 2.4.

                  "A Term Maturity Date" means June 30, 2006.

                  "ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Adjusted EBITDA" means, as of any date, EBITDA for the most
recent four consecutive fiscal quarter period in respect of which the financial
statements required by paragraphs (a) or (c) of Section 6.1 have been delivered,
adjusted on a consistent basis to give effect to all acquisitions, dispositions
and exchanges made by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries during such period as if
each had occurred on the first day of such period.

                  "Adjusted LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards,
if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such
Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

                  "Administrative Agent" means BNY, in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
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                  "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative
Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

                  "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls
or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

                  "Agent" means the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent
or the Documentation Agent, as the case may be.

                  "Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum
equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in
the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                  "Applicable Margin" means, at all times during the applicable
periods set forth below: (a) with respect to ABR Revolving Borrowings, ABR A
Term Loan Borrowings and Swingline Borrowings, the percentage set forth below
under the heading "Revolving, A Term and Swingline ABR Margin", (b) with respect
to Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings, Eurodollar A Term Loan Borrowings and fees
payable under Section 3.3(b), the percentage set forth below under the heading
"Revolving, A Term and LC Eurodollar Margin", (c) with respect to ABR B Term
Loan Borrowings, the percentage set forth below under the heading "B Term ABR
Margin", and (d) with respect to Eurodollar B Term Loan Borrowings, the
percentage set forth below under the heading "B Term Eurodollar Margin":

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          REVOLVING,       REVOLVING, A
WHEN THE LEVERAGE                         A TERM AND       TERM AND LC                            B TERM
RATIO IS GREATER                        SWINGLINE ABR       EURODOLLAR        B TERM ABR        EURODOLLAR
THAN OR EQUAL TO      AND LESS THAN         MARGIN            MARGIN            MARGIN            MARGIN
<S>                   <C>               <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
    4.50:1.00                              0.875%            2.125%            1.250%            2.500%
    4.00:1.00          4.50:1.00           0.625%            1.875%            1.125%            2.375%
    3.50:1.00          4.00:1.00           0.375%            1.625%            0.875%            2.125%
    3.00:1.00          3.50:1.00           0.250%            1.500%            0.750%            2.000%
                       3.00:1.00           0.000%            1.250%            0.500%            1.750%
</TABLE>

                  Changes in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in
the Leverage Ratio shall be based upon the certificate most recently delivered
under Section 6.1(e) and

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<PAGE>   4
shall become effective on the Rate Change Date with respect thereto.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, (i) if the Borrower
shall fail to deliver to the Administrative Agent any such certificate on or
prior to any date required hereby, the Leverage Ratio for purposes of this
defined term only shall be deemed to be greater than 4.50:1.00 from and
including such date to the earlier of (a) delivery of such certificate, and (b)
the next succeeding Rate Change Date, and (ii) subject to clause (i), during the
period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the applicable Rate Change
Date with respect to the certificate required by Section 6.1(e) delivered for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999, the Leverage Ratio for purposes of
this defined term only shall be deemed to be no lower than 3.00:1.00.

                  "Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any applicable
Lender, the percentage of the total Revolving Commitments represented by such
Lender's Revolving Commitment. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or
expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

                  "Approved Fund" means, with respect to any Lender that is a
fund that invests in commercial loans, any other fund that invests in commercial
loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or
by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

                  "Approved Subordinated Debt" means each of the following to
the extent that it is subordinated on terms and conditions substantially similar
to those set forth on Exhibit F: (a) unsecured indebtedness for borrowed money
of the Borrower on terms and conditions that are less restrictive on the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries than the terms and conditions of the Loan
Documents, and (b) unsecured guarantees thereof by one or more Subsidiary
Guarantors.

                  "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose
consent is required by Section 10.4), and accepted by the Administrative Agent,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.

                  "Availability Period" means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Maturity Date and
the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments.

                  "B Term Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender having
a B Term Commitment, the commitment of such Lender to make a B Term Loan
hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of
such Lender's B Term Loan hereunder. The amount of each applicable Lender's B
Term Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1. The aggregate amount of the B Term
Commitments is $75,000,000.

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<PAGE>   5
                  "B Term Loan" means a Loan referred to in Section 2.1(c) and
made pursuant to Section 2.4.

                  "B Term Maturity Date" means June 30, 2007.

                  "BNY" means The Bank of New York and its successors.

                  "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System of the United States of America.

                  "Borrower" means Penton Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

                  "Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3.

                  "Borrowing" means (a) Revolving Loans, A Term Loans or B Term
Loans, as applicable, of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same
date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period
is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.

                  "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required
by law to remain closed, provided that, when used in connection with a
Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which
banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank
market.

                  "Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the
obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or
other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP,
and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof
determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Change in Control" means (a) the beneficial ownership,
directly or indirectly, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of shares representing
30% or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and
outstanding securities of the Borrower, or (b) the occupation of a majority of
the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by
Persons who were not (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower as
of the Effective Date nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated, or (iii) on
such board of directors as of the Effective Date.

                  "Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or
regulation after the date of this Credit Agreement, (b) any change in any law,
rule or regulation or in

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the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after
the date of this Credit Agreement or (c) compliance by any Credit Party (or, for
purposes of Section 3.5(b), by any lending office of such Credit Party or by
such Credit Party's holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority
made or issued after the date of this Credit Agreement.

                  "Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are
Revolving Loans, A Term Loans, B Term Loans or Swingline Loans.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.

                  "Collateral" means any and all "Collateral" or "Mortgaged
Property", as defined in any applicable Security Document.

                  "Commitment" means the Revolving Commitment, the A Term
Commitment or the B Term Commitment, as the case may be.

                  "Commitment Fee Margin" means, at all times during the
applicable periods set forth below, the percentage set forth below under the
heading "Commitment Fee" and adjacent to such period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WHEN THE LEVERAGE
RATIO IS GREATER        AND EQUAL TO OR        COMMITMENT
THAN                       LESS THAN              FEE
----                       ---------          -----------
<S>                     <C>                   <C>
     4.00:1.00                                   0.500%
                          4.00:1.00              0.375%
</TABLE>

                  Changes in the Commitment Fee Margin resulting from a change
in the Leverage Ratio shall be based upon the certificate most recently
delivered under Section 6.1(e) and shall become effective on the Rate Change
Date with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
definition, if the Borrower shall fail to deliver to the Administrative Agent
any such certificate on or prior to any date required hereby, the Leverage Ratio
for purposes of this defined term only shall be deemed to be greater than
4.00:1.00 from and including such date to the earlier of (a) delivery of such
certificate, and (b) the next succeeding Rate Change Date.

                  "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
Person, whether through

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the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms
"Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.

                  "Credit Parties" means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Bank and the Lenders.

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

                  "Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings
and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 4.6.

                  "dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States
of America.

                  "Domestic Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary organized under
the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof.

                  "EBITDA" means, subject to Section 1.5, with respect to any
period (a) net income for such period, minus (b) the sum of, without
duplication, for such period (i) extraordinary gains, (ii) non-cash additions to
income, and (iii) non-recurring additions to income, plus (c) the sum of,
without duplication, for such period (i) extraordinary losses, (ii) interest
expense, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) provision for income taxes,
(vi) non-cash charges against income, and (vii) non-recurring charges to income;
in each case with respect to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions
specified in Section 5.1 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section
10.2).

                  "Environmental Laws" means all laws, rules, regulations,
codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding
agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority,
relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural
resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Material or to health and safety matters.

                  "Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or
otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental
remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Loan Party directly or
indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law,
(b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials,
(d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement
pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the
foregoing.

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<PAGE>   8
                  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time.

                  "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is treated as
a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for
purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a
single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

                  "ERISA Event" means (a) any "reportable event", as defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a
Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the
existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not
waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d)
of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with
respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any
Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a
plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan
or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability with respect to the
withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the
receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by
any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice,
concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a
Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization,
within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

                  "Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Article 8.

                  "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to any Credit Party or
any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation
of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed
on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its
principal office is located or, in the case of any Credit Party, in which its
applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by
the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is located and (c) in the case of a
Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such
Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Credit
Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such
Foreign Lender's failure to comply with

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Section 3.7(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor,
if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or
assignment), to receive additional amounts from such Loan Party with respect to
such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.7(a).

                  "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, a rate per
annum (expressed as a decimal, rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher
1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal
funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if the
day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal
Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the
next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day,
and (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds
Effective Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotations for such day
on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal
funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

                  "Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer,
principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

                  "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, as of any fiscal quarter
end, the ratio of (i) EBITDA to (ii) Fixed Charges, in each case for the period
comprised of the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended as reflected in the
financial statements in respect thereof delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or
6.1(c), as the case may be.

                  "Fixed Charges" means, subject to Section 1.5, for any period,
the sum of, without duplication, each of the following with respect to the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:
(i) Interest Expense, (ii) all expenditures during such period which would be
characterized as "Additions to property, plant and equipment" or similar
nomenclature, (iii) tax payments (including estimated tax payments), (iv) all
Restricted Payments paid pursuant to Section 7.8(c), (v) all Restricted Payments
paid to any non-Loan Party pursuant to Section 7.8(b), and (vi) all Required
Principal Payments.

                  "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the
laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the applicable Loan Party is
located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each
State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a
single jurisdiction.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in
effect from time to time in the United States of America.

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<PAGE>   10
                  "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United
States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof,
whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or
pertaining to government.

                  "Guarantee" of or by any Person (the "guarantor") means any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the
economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or
indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect,
(a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment
of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or
supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to
purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring
the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c)
to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity of the primary obligor as to enable the primary obligor
to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in
respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such
Indebtedness or obligation, provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
term "Guaranteed" has a meaning correlative thereto.

                  "Guarantee Agreement" means the Guarantee Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit D, among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

                  "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive
substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other
pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos
containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or
medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated
pursuant to any Environmental Law.

                  "Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate protection
agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection
agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price swap,
cap, collar, hedging or other like arrangement.

                  "IDC" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(g).

                  "Increase Request" means a request by the Borrower for an
increase of the total Revolving Commitments in accordance with Section 2.5(f).

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such
Person

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<PAGE>   11
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all
obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid
(including, without limitation, margin debt), (d) all obligations of such Person
under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property
acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the
deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts
payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of
others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or
acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has
been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h)
all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit
and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person in respect of bankers' acceptances, (k) the principal balance outstanding
under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan
or similar off-balance sheet financing product of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax
purposes but is classified as an operating lease under GAAP, and (l) all
obligations of such Person to pay a specified purchase price for goods or
services whether or not delivered or accepted (e.g., take-or-pay obligations) or
similar obligations. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person
is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result
of such Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity,
except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is
not liable therefor.

                  "Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

                  "Indemnitee" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.3(b).

                  "Initial Syndication Period" means the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on the day on which the Administrative Agent
notifies the Borrower in writing that the initial syndication of the credit
facilities established under this Credit Agreement has been completed, but in no
event later than three months after the Effective Date.

                  "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, as of any fiscal quarter end,
the ratio of (i) EBITDA to (ii) Interest Expense, in each case for the period
comprised of the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended as reflected in the
financial statements in respect thereof delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or
6.1(c), as the case may be.

                  "Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to
convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 3.2.

                  "Interest Expense" means, subject to Section 1.5, for any
period, the sum, without duplication, of each of the following with respect to
the Borrower and the

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<PAGE>   12
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (i)
all interest that accrued or accreted during such period, regardless of whether
it shall have been paid, (ii) the amount of debt discounts amortized during such
period, (iii) the amortization during such period of all fees payable in
connection with the incurrence of any debt (including any Indebtedness), and
(iv) the interest component of any rents payable under capital leases.

                  "Interest Payment Date" means (i) with respect to any ABR
Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December, (ii) with
respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable
to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each day prior
to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three
months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period, (iii) as to all
Revolving Loans, the Revolving Maturity Date, (iv) as to all A Term Loans, the A
Term Maturity Date, (v) as to all B Term Loans, the B Term Maturity Date, and
(vi) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Swingline Loan is
required to be repaid.

                  "Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three, six
or, with the consent of all of the applicable Lenders, nine or twelve months
thereafter, as the Borrower may elect, provided that (i) if any Interest Period
would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next
calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next
preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar
Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a
day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar
month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last
calendar month of such Interest Period and (c) during the Initial Syndication
Period, the Borrower may only select Interest Periods of not greater than one
month all of which shall commence on the same date and end on the same date. For
purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which
such Borrowing is made and, thereafter, shall be the effective date of the most
recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

                  "Interest Rate Protection Arrangement" means any interest rate
swap, cap or collar arrangement or any other derivative product customarily
offered by banks to their customers in order to reduce the exposure of such
customers to interest rate fluctuations, as the same may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                  "Issuing Bank" means BNY, in its capacity as issuer of Letters
of Credit.

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<PAGE>   13
                  "LC Disbursement" means a payment made by the Issuing Bank
pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

                  "LC Exposure" means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate
undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the
aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or
on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any
time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

                  "Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any
other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to a Revolving
Increase Supplement or an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such Person
that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Lenders" includes the Swingline
Lender.

                  "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued (and any
successive renewals thereof) pursuant to this Credit Agreement.

                  "Leverage Ratio" means, at any date of determination, the
ratio of (i) Total Debt on such date to (ii) Adjusted EBITDA on such date.

                  "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing
for any Interest Period, the rate of interest per annum as determined by the
Administrative Agent, equal to the rate, as reported by BNY to the
Administrative Agent, quoted by BNY to leading banks in the London interbank
market as the rate at which BNY is offering dollar deposits in an amount
approximately equal to its ratable share of such Eurodollar Borrowing for dollar
deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.

                  "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage,
deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security
interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under
any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement
relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option,
call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

                  "Loan Documents" means this Credit Agreement, the Notes, the
Guarantee Agreement and the Security Documents.

                  "Loan Parties" means the Borrower and the Subsidiary
Guarantors.

                  "Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower
pursuant to this Credit Agreement.

                  "Margin Stock" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Regulation U.

                                       12
<PAGE>   14
                  "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on
(a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the
ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations
under any Loan Document or (c) the rights of or benefits available to any Credit
Party under any Loan Document.

                  "Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than
Indebtedness under the Loan Documents) or obligations in respect of one or more
Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in
an aggregate principal amount exceeding $5,000,000. For purposes of determining
Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the obligations of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the
maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the
Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, would be required to pay if such
Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

                  "Mortgage" means a mortgage, deed of trust, assignment of
leases and rents or other security document granting a Lien on any Mortgaged
Property to secure the Obligations. Each Mortgage shall be satisfactory in form
and substance to the Administrative Agent.

                  "Mortgaged Property" means and includes each parcel of real
property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted
pursuant to Sections 6.12 or 6.13.

                  "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

                  "Net Proceeds" means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash
proceeds received in respect of such event, including (i) any cash received in
respect of any non-cash proceeds, but only as and when received, (ii) in the
case of a casualty, insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation
or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments, (b) net of the sum
of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries to third parties in connection with such event, (ii) in the
case of a sale, transfer, lease or other disposition of an asset, the amount of
all payments required to be made by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as a
result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than the Loans) secured by
such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory payment as a result of such event
and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable)
by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and the amount of any reserves established
by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities reasonably
estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred
or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the chief financial officer of the
Borrower); provided, however, that, with respect to any sale,

                                       13
<PAGE>   15
transfer, lease or other disposition of an asset (including, subject to Section
6.11, a casualty or other insured damage or condemnation or similar proceeding),
if the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Financial Officer to the
Administrative Agent by the time of such sale, transfer, lease or other
disposition setting forth the Borrower's intent to use the proceeds of such
sale, transfer, lease or other disposition to replace or repair the assets that
are the subject of such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition with other
assets within 180 days of receipt of such proceeds and no Event of Default shall
have occurred and shall be continuing at the time of such certificate or at the
proposed time of the application of such proceeds, such proceeds shall not
constitute Net Proceeds except to the extent not so used at the end of such
180-day period, at which time such proceeds shall be deemed Net Proceeds.

                  "Notes" means, (i) with respect to each Lender, a promissory
note evidencing such Lender's Loans payable to the order of such Lender (or, if
required by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns)
substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1, and (ii) with respect to the Swingline
Lender, a promissory note evidencing the Swingline Lender's Swingline Loans
payable to the order of the Swingline Lender (or, if required by the Swingline
Lender, to the Swingline Lender and its registered assigns) substantially in the
form of Exhibit C-2.

                  "Obligations" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Security Agreement.

                  "Other Taxes" means any and all current or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery
or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, the Loan Documents.

                  "Participant" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(e).

                  "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred
to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

                  "Perfection Certificate" means a certificate in the form of
Annex 2 to the Security Agreement or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.

                  "Permitted Encumbrances" means:

                           (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet
due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.4;

                           (b) landlords', vendors', carriers', warehousemen's,
mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's and other like Liens imposed by law,
arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not
overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section
6.4;

                                       14
<PAGE>   16
                           (c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course
of business in compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other social security laws or regulations;

                           (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance
bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary
course of business;

                           (e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do
not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article 8;

                           (f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and
similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary
course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the
ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

                           (g) Liens on Margin Stock to the extent that a
prohibition on such Liens would violate Regulation U.

                  "Permitted Investments" means:

                           (a) marketable securities (i) issued or directly and
unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States of
America or (ii) issued by any agency of the United States of America the
obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States of America, in each case maturing within one year after such date;

                           (b) marketable direct obligations issued by any state
of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state
or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year
after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, the highest
rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies ("S&P"), or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's");

                           (c) commercial paper maturing no more than 270 days
from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition
thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody's;

                           (d) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances
maturing within one year and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any
state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least "adequately
capitalized" (as defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking
regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such regulations) of not
less than $100,000,000; and

                                       15
<PAGE>   17
                           (e) shares of any money market mutual fund that (i)
has at least 95% of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments
referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, (ii) has net assets of not less than
$500,000,000, and (iii) has the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or
Moody's.

                  "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,
Governmental Authority or other entity.

                  "Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower,
any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated,
would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in
Section 3(5) of ERISA.

                  "Prepayment/Reduction Event" means:

                           (a) any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition
(including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any non-ordinary
course property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than (i)
dispositions described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 7.5, and (ii)
other dispositions resulting in aggregate Net Proceeds not exceeding $5,000,000
during any fiscal year of the Borrower;

                           (b) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any
taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding
of, any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than
casualties, insured damage or takings resulting in aggregate Net Proceeds not
exceeding $1,000,000 during any fiscal year; and

                           (c) the incurrence by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(a).

                  "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by BNY as its prime commercial lending rate; each
change in the Prime Rate being effective from and including the date such change
is publicly announced as being effective. The Prime Rate is not intended to be
lowest rate of interest charged by BNY in connection with extensions of credit
to borrowers.

                  "Rate Change Date" means the first Business Day of the month
immediately succeeding the date a certificate required by Section 6.1(e) is
delivered to the Administrative Agent (or, if such a certificate is delivered on
the first Business Day of a month, such first Business Day).

                  "Register" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(c).

                                       16
<PAGE>   18
                  "Regulation T" means Regulation T of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.

                  "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.

                  "Regulation X" means Regulation X of the Board as from time to
time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or
thereof.

                  "Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person,
such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees,
agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

                  "Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having
Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding A Term Loans, outstanding B Term Loans
and unused Revolving Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the
total Revolving Credit Exposures, outstanding A Term Loans, outstanding B Term
Loans and unused Revolving Commitments at such time.

                  "Required Principal Payments" means, for any period, the sum
of (i) with respect to all revolving credit and line of credit facilities
(including, without limitation, the facility evidenced hereby) of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate outstanding
principal balance of all Indebtedness thereunder at the beginning of such
period, minus (b) the aggregate amount of all commitments under such revolving
and line of credit facilities at the end of such period, plus (ii) with respect
to all other Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, all repayments of such Indebtedness
which were required to be made during such period.

                  "Restricted Payment" means, as to any Person, any dividend or
other distribution by such Person (whether in cash, securities or other
property) with respect to any shares of any class of equity securities of such
Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property),
including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase,
redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such
shares or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares.

                  "Revolving Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender
having a Revolving Commitment, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving
Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such
Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure, as such commitment may be reduced or
increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.5 or pursuant to assignments
by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.4. The initial amount of each
applicable Lender's Revolving Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.1, or in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such

                                       17
<PAGE>   19
Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The initial
aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments is $125,000,000.

                  "Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender
at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such
Lender's Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such
time.

                  "Revolving Increase Supplement" means an increase supplement
in the form of Exhibit G.

                  "Revolving Loan" means a Loan referred to in Section 2.1(a)
and made pursuant to Section 2.4.

                  "Revolving Maturity Date" means June 30, 2006.

                  "Secured Parties" means the "Secured Parties" as defined in
the Security Agreement.

                  "Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary
Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

                  "Security Documents" means the Security Agreement, the
Mortgages and each other security agreement, instrument or other document
executed or delivered pursuant to Sections 6.12 or 6.13 to secure any of the
Obligations.

                  "Statutory Reserve Rate" means a fraction (expressed as a
decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which
is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages
(including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed
as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is
subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall
include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve
requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets
that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or
any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve
percentage.

                  "subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent")
at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with
those of the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such
financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as
well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association or other entity of which securities or other ownership

                                       18
<PAGE>   20
interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the
ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the
general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by
the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

                  "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

                  "Subsidiary Guarantor" means any Subsidiary that executes and
delivers the Security Documents and the Guarantee Agreement, in each case in
accordance with Sections 5.1(g), 5.1(h), 6.12 and 6.13.

                  "Swingline Exposure" means, at any time, the aggregate
principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline
Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the
total Swingline Exposure at such time.

                  "Swingline Lender" means BNY in its capacity as lender of
Swingline Loans hereunder.

                  "Swingline Loan" means a Loan in dollars made pursuant to
Section 2.9.

                  "Taxes" means any and all current or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.

                  "Term Loan" means an A Term Loan or a B Term Loan, and "Term
Loans" means all A Term Loans and all B Term Loans.

                  "Total Debt" means all Indebtedness that would be reflected on
the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP, plus the
amount available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit.

                  "Transactions" means (a) the execution, delivery and
performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party, (b)
the borrowing of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, and (c)
the use of the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit.

                  "Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the
Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan
as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as
such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

                                       19
<PAGE>   21
         Section 1.2 Classification of Loans and Borrowings

                  For purposes of this Credit Agreement, Loans may be classified
and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a
"Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Loan").
Borrowings may also be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving
Borrowing") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type
(e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing").

         Section 1.3 Terms Generally

                  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and
neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will" shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". Unless the
context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such
agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such
amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference
herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and
assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar
import, shall be construed to refer to this Credit Agreement in its entirety and
not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Credit Agreement and (e) the
words "asset" and "property" shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and
properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Any
reference to an "applicable Lender" shall mean (i) in the case of Revolving
Borrowings, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit, Lenders having a Revolving
Commitment, (ii) in the case of A Term Borrowings, Lenders having an A Term
Commitment and (iii) in the case of B Term Borrowings, Lenders having a B Term
Commitment.

         Section 1.4 Accounting Terms; GAAP

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an
accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in
effect from time to time, provided that, if the Borrower notifies the
Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision
hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in
GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that Required Lenders request an
amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any
such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the

                                       20
<PAGE>   22
application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of
GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become
effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended
in accordance herewith. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to
a fiscal period shall refer to the relevant fiscal period of the Borrower.

         Section 1.5 Calculation of Certain Financial Terms

                           (a) In the event that any annual trade show produced
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary on a regular basis (a "Recurring Trade Show")
occurred both (i) more than once during any four fiscal quarter period (a "4Q
Period"), and (ii) during the last four weeks of such 4Q Period, then each of
EBITDA, Fixed Charges and Interest Expense shall be calculated with respect to
such 4Q Period as if all such Recurring Trade Shows that occurred during such 4Q
Period (other than the last such Recurring Trade Show) occurred instead in the
fiscal quarter immediately preceding such 4Q Period.

                           (b) In the event that any Recurring Trade Show did
not occur during any 4Q Period, but did occur during the four week period
immediately succeeding such 4Q Period, then each of EBITDA, Fixed Charges and
Interest Expense shall be calculated with respect to such 4Q Period as if the
Recurring Trade Show, if any, that last occurred during the fiscal quarter
immediately preceding such 4Q Period occurred instead in the last fiscal quarter
of such 4Q Period.

ARTICLE 2.       THE CREDITS

         Section 2.1 Commitments

                           (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, each Lender having a Revolving Commitment severally agrees to make
Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period
in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender's Revolving
Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender's Revolving Commitment. Within the
foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

                           (b) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Lender having an A Term Commitment severally agrees to make an A Term Loan to
the Borrower on the Effective Date in a principal amount equal to such A Term
Commitment. A Term Loans which are prepaid or repaid, in whole or in part, may
not be reborrowed.

                           (c) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Lender having a B Term Commitment severally agrees to make a B Term Loan to the
Borrower on the Effective Date in a principal amount equal to such B Term
Commitment. B Term Loans which are prepaid or repaid, in whole or in part, may
not be reborrowed.

                                       21
<PAGE>   23
         Section 2.2 Loans and Borrowings

                           (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a
Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the applicable Lenders ratably
in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, and each A Term Loan
and B Term Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of A Term Loans
or B Term Loans, as applicable, made by the applicable Lenders in accordance
with their respective A Term Commitments or B Term Commitments, as applicable.
The failure of any applicable Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it
shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder, provided that
the Revolving Commitments, A Term Commitments and B Term Commitments of the
applicable Lenders are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for any other
Lender's failure to make Loans as required. Subject to Section 3.4, each
Borrowing (other than a Swingline Borrowing) shall be comprised entirely of (i)
Revolving Loans, A Term Loans or B Term Loans, as applicable, and (ii) ABR Loans
or Eurodollar Loans, as applicable, in each case as the Borrower may request in
accordance herewith. Each Swingline Borrowing shall be a Swingline Loan. Each
applicable Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any
domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan,
provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Credit
Agreement.

                           (b) At the commencement of each Interest Period for
any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is
an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000. At the time
that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount
that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000,
provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is
equal to the entire unused balance of the total Revolving Commitments or in an
aggregate amount than is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC
Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.8(d). Borrowings of more than one Type
may be outstanding at the same time, provided that there shall not at any time
be more than a total of 10 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

                           (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Credit Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to
convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect
thereto would end after (i) the Revolving Maturity Date, in the case of
Revolving Loans, (ii) the A Term Maturity Date, in the case of A Term Loans, or
(iii) the B Term Maturity Date, in the case of B Term Loans.

         Section 2.3 Requests for Borrowings

                  To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three
Business Days before the date of the

                                       22
<PAGE>   24
proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00
a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed
Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall
be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent
of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent
signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall
specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

                           (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

                           (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a
         Business Day;

                           (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Revolving
         Borrowing, an A Term Borrowing or a B Term Borrowing;

                           (iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing
         or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

                           (v) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
         initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a
         period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period";

                           (vi) the location and number of the Borrower's
         account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the
         requirements of Section 2.4; and

                           (vii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the
         Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis immediately after giving effect to
         such Borrowing.

                  If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then
the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is
specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower
shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.
Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this
Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the
details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of
the requested Borrowing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Section 2.3, Swingline Borrowings shall be made in accordance with Section
2.9, and not this Section 2.3.

         Section 2.4 Funding of Borrowings

                  (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it
hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available
funds by 1:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative
Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders,
provided that Swingline Loans shall be made

                                       23
<PAGE>   25
only as provided in Section 2.9. Subject to Section 5.2, the Administrative
Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting or
otherwise transferring the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of
the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent and designated by the
Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, provided that ABR Revolving Loans
made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section
2.8(d) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank,
provided further that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the repayment of a
Swingline Loan as provided in Section 2.9(c) shall be remitted by the
Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender.

                  (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will
not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such
Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section,
paragraph (d) of Section 2.8 or paragraph (c) of Section 2.9 and may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding
amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the
applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable
Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each
day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to
but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the
case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined
by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate
that would be otherwise applicable to such Borrowing. If such Lender pays such
amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.

         Section 2.5 Termination, Reduction and Increase of Revolving
Commitments

                  (a) Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments
shall terminate on the Revolving Maturity Date.

                  (b) On each date below, the Revolving Commitments shall be
automatically reduced by an amount equal to (i) the total of the Revolving
Commitments as of September 30, 2003 multiplied by (ii) the percentage set forth
below adjacent to such date:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        DATE                    PERCENTAGE
                        ----                    ----------
<S>                                             <C>
            September 30, 2003                     7.5%
            December 31, 2003                      7.5%
</TABLE>

                                       24
<PAGE>   26
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        DATE                    PERCENTAGE
                        ----                    ----------
<S>                                             <C>
            March 31, 2004                         7.5%
            June 30, 2004                          7.5%
            September 30, 2004                     7.5%
            December 31, 2004                      7.5%
            March 31, 2005                         7.5%
            June 30, 2005                          7.5%
            September 30, 2005                      10%
            December 31, 2005                       10%
            March 31, 2006                          10%
            June 30, 2006                           10%
</TABLE>

                  (c) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to
time reduce, the Revolving Commitments, provided that (i) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any
concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.7, the
sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Revolving
Commitments, and (ii) each such reduction shall be in an amount that is an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $500,000.

                  (d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
election to terminate or reduce the Revolving Commitments under paragraph (c) of
this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such
termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date
thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent
shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the
Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable, provided that a notice
of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state
that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit
facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice
to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such
condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Revolving
Commitments hereunder shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving
Commitments hereunder shall be made ratably among the applicable Lenders in
accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments.

                                       25
<PAGE>   27
                  (e) In addition to any termination or reduction of the
Revolving Commitments under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section, the
Revolving Commitments shall be reduced as required under Section 2.7(b).

                  (f) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prior
to September 30, 2000, at its sole cost, expense and effort, request any one or
more of the Lenders to increase its Revolving Commitment (the decision to
increase the Revolving Commitment of a Lender to be within the sole and absolute
discretion of such Lender), or any other Person reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank to provide a new Revolving Commitment,
by submitting a Revolving Increase Supplement duly executed by the Borrower and
each such Lender or other Person, as the case may be. If such Revolving Increase
Supplement is in all respects reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent, the Administrative Agent shall execute such Revolving Increase Supplement
and deliver a copy thereof to the Borrower and each such Lender or other Person,
as the case may be. Upon execution and delivery of such Revolving Increase
Supplement by the Administrative Agent, (i) in the case of each such Lender,
such Lender's Revolving Commitment shall be increased to the amount set forth in
such Revolving Increase Supplement, (ii) in the case of each such other Person,
such other Person shall become a party hereto and shall for all purposes of the
Loan Documents be deemed a "Lender" having a Revolving Commitment as set forth
in such Revolving Increase Supplement, and (iii) in each case, the Revolving
Commitment of such Lender or such other Person, as the case may be, shall be as
set forth in the applicable Revolving Increase Supplement; provided, however,
that:

                           (A) immediately after giving effect thereto, the sum
                  of all increases in the aggregate Revolving Commitments shall
                  not exceed $60,000,000;

                           (B) each such increase shall be in an amount not less
                  than $10,000,000 or such amount plus an integral multiple of
                  $1,000,000;

                           (C) the Revolving Commitments shall not be increased
                  on more than two occasions;

                           (D) if Revolving Loans would be outstanding
                  immediately after giving effect to each such increase, then
                  simultaneously with such increase (1) each such Lender, each
                  such other Person and each other Lender (upon appropriate
                  notice thereof) shall be deemed to have entered into a master
                  assignment and acceptance agreement, in form and substance
                  substantially similar to Exhibit A, pursuant to which each
                  such other Lender shall have assigned to each such Lender and
                  each such other Person a portion of its Revolving Loans
                  necessary to reflect proportionately the Revolving Commitments
                  as adjusted in accordance with this subsection (f), and (2) in
                  connection with such assignment, each

                                       26
<PAGE>   28
                  such Lender and each such other Person shall pay to the
                  Administrative Agent, for the account of the other Lenders,
                  such amount as shall be necessary to appropriately reflect the
                  assignment to it of Revolving Loans, and in connection with
                  such master assignment each such other Lender may treat the
                  assignment of Eurodollar Borrowings as a prepayment of such
                  Eurodollar Borrowings for purposes of Section 3.6;

                           (E) each such other Person shall have delivered to
                  the Administrative Agent and the Borrower all forms, if any,
                  that are required to be delivered by such other Person
                  pursuant to Section 3.7; and

                           (F) the Borrower shall have delivered to the
                  Administrative Agent and each Lender a certificate of a
                  Financial Officer demonstrating pro-forma compliance with the
                  terms of this Agreement through the Revolving Maturity Date
                  and the Administrative Agent shall have received such
                  certificates, legal opinions and other items as it shall
                  reasonably request in connection with such increase.

         Section 2.6 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

                  (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to
the Administrative Agent for the account of each applicable Lender the then
unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan, A Term Loan and B Term Loan on
the Revolving Maturity Date, A Term Maturity Date and B Term Maturity Date,
respectively, and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount
of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of (x) the maturity date selected by the
Borrower for such Swingline Loan and (y) the Revolving Maturity Date.

                  (b) On each date below, the aggregate unpaid principal balance
of the A Term Loans shall be due and payable in an amount equal to (i)
$140,000,000 multiplied by (ii) the percentage set forth below adjacent to such
date:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            DATE                 PERCENTAGE
            ----                 ----------
<S>                              <C>
September 30, 2000                 1.25%
December 31, 2000                  1.25%

March 31, 2001                     1.25%
June 30, 2001                      1.25%
September 30, 2001                 2.50%
December 31, 2001                  2.50%

March 31, 2002                     2.50%
June 30, 2002                      2.50%
</TABLE>

                                       27
<PAGE>   29
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            DATE                 PERCENTAGE
            ----                 ----------
<S>                              <C>
September 30, 2002                 3.75%
December 31, 2002                  3.75%

March 31, 2003                     3.75%
June 30, 2003                      3.75%
September 30, 2003                 5.00%
December 31, 2003                  5.00%

March 31, 2004                     5.00%
June 30, 2004                      5.00%
September 30, 2004                 6.25%
December 31, 2004                  6.25%

March 31, 2005                     6.25%
June 30, 2005                      6.25%
September 30, 2005                 6.25%
December 31, 2005                  6.25%

March 31, 2006                     6.25%
June 30, 2006                      6.25%
</TABLE>

                  (c) On each date below, the aggregate unpaid principal balance
of the B Term Loans shall be due and payable in an amount equal to (i)
$75,000,000 multiplied by (ii) the percentage set forth below adjacent to such
date:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            DATE                 PERCENTAGE
            ----                 ----------
<S>                              <C>
September 30, 2000                 0.25%
December 31, 2000                  0.25%

March 31, 2001                     0.25%
June 30, 2001                      0.25%
September 30, 2001                 0.25%
December 31, 2001                  0.25%

March 31, 2002                     0.25%
June 30, 2002                      0.25%
September 30, 2002                 0.25%
December 31, 2002                  0.25%
</TABLE>

                                       28
<PAGE>   30
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            DATE                 PERCENTAGE
            ----                 ----------
<S>                              <C>
March 31, 2003                     0.25%
June 30, 2003                      0.25%
September 30, 2003                 0.25%
December 31, 2003                  0.25%

March 31, 2004                     0.25%
June 30, 2004                      0.25%
September 30, 2004                 0.25%
December 31, 2004                  0.25%

March 31, 2005                     0.25%
June 30, 2005                      0.25%
September 30, 2005                 0.25%
December 31, 2005                  0.25%

March 31, 2006                     0.25%
June 30, 2006                      0.25%
September 30, 2006                 23.5%
December 31, 2006                  23.5%

March 31, 2007                     23.5%
June 30, 2007                      23.5%
</TABLE>

                  (d) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing the debt of the Borrower to such
Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.

                  (e) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which
it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type
thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any
principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the
Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by
the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each
Lender's share thereof.

                  (f) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to
paragraphs (d) or (e) of this Section shall, to the extent not inconsistent with
any entries made in any promissory note, be prima facie evidence of the
existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein, provided that the
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation

                                       29
<PAGE>   31
of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Credit
Agreement.

         Section 2.7 Prepayment of Loans

                  (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from
time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the
requirements of this Section, provided that each prepayment of a Term Loan shall
be allocated to the A Term Loans and the B Term Loans, on a pro rata basis,
based on the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans.

                  (b) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds
are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any
Prepayment/Reduction Event, then, immediately after such Net Proceeds are
received, (i) the Borrower shall prepay the A Term Loans and the B Term Loans,
on a pro rata basis, in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Proceeds, and (ii)
following the repayment of the A Term Loans and the B Term Loans in full, the
Revolving Commitments shall be automatically reduced by an amount equal to the
excess of such Net Proceeds over the portion thereof, if any, used to prepay the
A Term Loans and the B Term Loans. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Lenders having outstanding B Term Loans may elect to forfeit any
prepayment of a B Term Borrowing under this Section 2.7(b), provided that all
such Lenders make such an election with respect to such prepayment. To make such
an election, such Lenders shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower
thereof by telephone not later than one Business Day after the Administrative
Agent shall have advised such Lenders of such prepayment in accordance with
Section 2.7(d). Each such telephonic election shall be irrevocable and shall be
confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a
written election in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by
each such Lender. Promptly following receipt of such election, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof, and any
amount that, but for this provision, would have been applied to the B Term Loans
shall instead be applied to the A Term Loans.

                  (c) In the event of any partial reduction or termination of
the Revolving Commitments, then (i) at or prior to the date of such reduction or
termination, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the
applicable Lenders of the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures after giving
effect thereto and (ii) if such sum would exceed the total Revolving Commitments
after giving effect to such reduction or termination, then the Borrower shall,
on the date of such reduction or termination, prepay Revolving Borrowings in an
amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

                  (d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by
telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, three Business

                                       30
<PAGE>   32
Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day
before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall
specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or
portion thereof to be prepaid, provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given
in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving
Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.5, then such notice of prepayment may
be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section
2.5. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each
partial prepayment of any Borrowing hereunder (other than Swingline Borrowings)
shall, when added to the amount of each concurrent prepayment of other
Borrowings (other than Swingline Borrowings), be in an integral multiple of
$500,000 and not less than $2,500,000. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be
applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Each prepayment
of A Term Loans or B Term Loans shall be applied ratably among the remaining
installments of principal required under Section 2.6(b) or 2.6(c), as
applicable. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent
required by Section 3.1.

         Section 2.8 Letters of Credit.

                  (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated
in dollars for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time
during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the
terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement and the terms and conditions of
any letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower
to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any
Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement shall
control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Issuing
Bank shall not be required to issue any Letter of Credit if prior thereto or
simultaneously therewith, the Borrower shall not have borrowed Revolving Loans.

                  (b) Notice of Issuance; Amendment; Renewal; Extension; Certain
Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment,
renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall
hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if
arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing
Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date
of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance
of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended,
renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or
extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of
Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the
amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof
and such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or
extend such Letter

                                       31
<PAGE>   33
of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a
letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank's standard form in connection
with any request for, and prior to the issuance of, a Letter of Credit. A Letter
of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and, upon
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Borrower
shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed
$5,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not
exceed the total Revolving Commitments.

                  (c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or
prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date that is one year
after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any
renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii)
the date that is ten Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date,
provided that any Letter of Credit may provide for the renewal thereof for
additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date that
is ten Business Days prior to the Revolving Maturity Date).

                  (d) Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC
Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then the Issuing Bank shall
either (1) notify the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Bank therefor, in which
case the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the
Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement and any accrued
interest thereon not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that
such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such
LC Disbursement prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such date, or if
such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such
date, then not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) the Business Day
that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to
12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of receipt or (ii) the Business Day
immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such
notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt, provided that,
if the LC Disbursement is equal to or greater than $1,000,000, the Borrower may,
subject to the conditions of borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance
with Section 2.3 or Section 2.9 that such payment be financed with an ABR
Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan, as applicable, in an equivalent amount
and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower's obligation to make such payment
shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing, or
(2) notify the Administrative Agent that the Issuing Bank is requesting that the
applicable Lenders make an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an amount equal to such LC
Disbursement and any accrued interest thereon, in which case (i) the
Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Lender of the details thereof
and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of such ABR Revolving
Borrowing, and (ii) each Lender shall, whether or not any Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any representation or warranty shall be accurate,
any condition to the making of any loan hereunder shall have been fulfilled, or
any other matter whatsoever, make the Loan to be made by it under this paragraph
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the

                                       32
<PAGE>   34
account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders, (A) on such date, in the event that such
Lender shall have received notice of such ABR Revolving Borrowing prior to 12:00
noon, New York City time, or (B) if such notice has not been received by such
Lender prior to such time on such date, then not later than 1:00 p.m., New York
City time, on (X) the Business Day that such Lender receives such notice, if
such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of
receipt or (Y) the Business Day immediately following the day that such Lender
receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the
day of receipt. Such Loans shall, for all purposes hereof, be deemed to be an
ABR Revolving Borrowing referred to in Section 2.1(a) and made pursuant to
Section 2.3, and the Lenders obligations to make such Loans shall be absolute
and unconditional. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to
the Issuing Bank by promptly crediting or otherwise transferring the amounts so
received, in like funds, to the Issuing Bank for the purpose of repaying in full
the LC Disbursement and all accrued interest thereon.

                  (e) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or
an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without
any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the applicable Lenders,
the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender having a Revolving Commitment, and
each such Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such
Letter of Credit equal to such Lender's Applicable Percentage of the aggregate
amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. If the Borrower fails
to make any payment required by paragraph (d) of this Section, or if any such
sum paid by the Borrower is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any
reason, the Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Lender of the
applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect
thereof and such Lender's Applicable Percentage thereof. Each applicable Lender
shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of an amount
equal to the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided
in Section 2.4 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.4 shall
apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the applicable Lenders),
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the
Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice
to the Lenders, (A) on such date, in the event that such Lender shall have
received notice thereof prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, or (B) if such
notice has not been received by such Lender prior to such time on such date,
then not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on (X) the Business Day that
such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00
noon, New York City time, on the day of receipt or (Y) the Business Day
immediately following the day that such Lender receives such notice, if such
notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so
received by it from the applicable Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any payment in respect of such LC Disbursement from the
Borrower pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, the Administrative Agent
shall

                                       33
<PAGE>   35
distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have
made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to
such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment
made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for
any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or Swingline
Loans as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve
the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. Each Lender
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant
to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional
and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any
amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and
continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving
Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset,
abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever; provided, however, that no
Lender shall be obligated to make any payment to the Administrative Agent for
any wrongful LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank as a result of acts or
omissions constituting willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the
Issuing Bank.

                  (f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations to
reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section shall be
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in
accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement under any and all
circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or
enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Credit Agreement, or any term or
provision therein or herein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a
Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or
any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment
by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or
other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or
(iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any
of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute
a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the
Borrower's obligations hereunder. Neither any Credit Party nor any of their
respective Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason
of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any
payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the
circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission,
interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or
other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any
document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of
technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the
Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the
Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages
(as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby
waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by
the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank's failure to exercise care when
determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a

                                       34
<PAGE>   36
Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly
agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part
of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each
such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the
generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented
that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a
Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept
and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further
investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or
refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not
in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

                  (g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly
following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a
demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly
notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or
will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or
delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to
reimburse the Issuing Bank and the applicable Lenders with respect to any such
LC Disbursement.

                  (h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC
Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in
full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall
bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is
made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC
Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans;
provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due
pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, then Section 3.1(c) shall apply.
Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the
Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by
any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing
Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

                  (i) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall
occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice
from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of
the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater
than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral
pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the
Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the
benefit of the applicable Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure
with respect to Letters of Credit as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid
interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral
shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately
due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the

                                       35
<PAGE>   37
occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in
clause (h) or (i) of Article 8. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative
Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the
Borrower under this Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have
exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal,
over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such
deposit, which investments shall be in direct short-term obligations of, or
short-term obligations the principal of and interest on which are
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, in each case
maturing no later than the expiry date of the Letter of Credit giving rise to
the relevant LC Exposure, such deposit shall not bear interest. Interest or
profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in
such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the
Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to
the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the
reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or,
if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of
Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC
Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this
Credit Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash
collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such
amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the
Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured
or waived.

                           Section 2.9      Swingline Loans

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower in dollars from
time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date to
the tenth Business Day preceding the Revolving Maturity Date in an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in the Swingline
Exposure exceeding $5,000,000 or result in the sum of the total Revolving Credit
Exposures exceeding the total Revolving Commitments, provided that the Swingline
Lender shall not be obligated to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an
outstanding Swingline Loan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Swingline Lender
shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan if (i) prior thereto or
simultaneously therewith the Borrower shall not have borrowed Revolving Loans,
(ii) any applicable Lender shall be in default of its obligations under this
Credit Agreement or (iii) any Credit Party shall have notified the Swingline
Lender and the Borrower in writing at least one Business Day prior to the
Borrowing Date with respect to such Swingline Loan, that the conditions set
forth in Section 5.2 have not been satisfied and such conditions remain
unsatisfied as of the requested time of the making of such Swingline Loan. Each
Swingline Loan shall be due and payable on the maturity thereof, provided that
in no event shall such maturity be later than the tenth Business Day preceding
the Revolving Maturity Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein
contained, all Swingline Loans shall at all times consist of ABR Borrowings.

                                       36
<PAGE>   38
                  (b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy) no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of the
relevant Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify
(i) the aggregate principal amount to be borrowed, (ii) the requested date
(which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the maturity date of the requested
Swingline Loan which shall be not later than seven Business Days after the
making of such Swingline Loan. The Swingline Lender will make the requested
amount available promptly on that same day, to the Administrative Agent (for the
account of the Borrower as set forth in Section 2.4) who, thereupon, will
promptly make such amount available to the Borrower in like funds as provided
therein or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of
an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.8(d) by remittance to the Issuing
Bank. Each Swingline Loan shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral
multiple of $100,000 and not less than $100,000.

                  (c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the
Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any
Business Day notify the Administrative Agent that the Swingline Lender is
requesting that the applicable Lenders make an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an
amount equal to the outstanding principal balance and accrued interest on the
Swingline Loans, in which case (i) the Administrative Agent shall notify each
applicable Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan
to be made as part of such ABR Revolving Borrowing, and (ii) each Lender shall,
regardless of whether any Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any
representation or warranty shall be accurate, any condition to the making of any
loan hereunder shall have been fulfilled, or any other matter whatsoever, make
the Loan to be made by it under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently
designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders, (A) on such date, in
the event that such Lender shall have received notice of such ABR Revolving
Borrowing prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, or (B) if such notice has not
been received by such Lender prior to such time on such date, then not later
than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on (X) the Business Day that such Lender
receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the day of receipt or (Y) the Business Day immediately following
the day that such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is not received
prior to such time on the day of receipt. Such Loans shall, for all purposes
hereof, be deemed to be an ABR Revolving Borrowing referred to in Section 2.1(a)
and made pursuant to Section 2.3, and the Lenders obligations to make such Loans
shall be absolute and unconditional. The Administrative Agent will make such
Loans available to the Swingline Lender by promptly crediting or otherwise
transferring the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Swingline Lender for
the purpose of repaying in full the Swingline Loans and all accrued interest
thereon.

                  (d) If the Borrower fails to make any payment with respect to
a Swingline Loan, or if any such sum paid by the Borrower is required to be
refunded to the Borrower

                                       37
<PAGE>   39
for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Lender of
the applicable Swingline Loan, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect
thereof and such Lender's Applicable Percentage thereof. Each applicable Lender
shall purchase a participation in such Swingline Loan by paying to the
Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of an amount equal to the payment
then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.4 with
respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.4 shall apply, mutatis
mutandis, to the payment obligations of the applicable Lenders), by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Administrative
Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders,
(A) on such date, in the event that such Lender shall have received notice
thereof prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, or (B) if such notice has not
been received by such Lender prior to such time on such date, then not later
than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on (X) the Business Day that such Lender
receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the day of receipt or (Y) the Business Day immediately following
the day that such Lender receives such notice, if such notice is not received
prior to such time on the day of receipt. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the
applicable Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of
any payment in respect of such Swingline Loan from the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Swingline Lender or,
to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to
reimburse the Swingline Lender, then to such Lenders and the Swingline Lender as
their interests may appear. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its
obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of
Swingline Loans is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default
or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such
payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction
whatsoever.

         Section 2.10 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs

                  (a) Each Loan Party shall make each payment required to be
made by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal of
Loans, LC Disbursements, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Sections
3.5, 3.6, 3.7 or 10.3, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
the date when due, in immediately available funds, without setoff or
counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the
discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the
next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All
such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its office at One
Wall Street, New York, New York, or such other office as to which the
Administrative Agent may notify the other parties hereto, except payments to be
made to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and
except that payments pursuant to Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 10.3 shall be made
directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall
distribute any such payments received by

                                       38
<PAGE>   40
it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly
following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that
is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest,
interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments
hereunder shall be made in dollars.

                  (b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and
available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal of
Loans, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest, fees and commissions then due
hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest,
fees and commissions then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled
thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest, fees and commissions then
due to such parties and (ii) second, towards payment of principal of Loans and
unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal of Loans and
unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

                  (c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or
counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of, or
interest on, any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline
Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the
aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements or
Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any
other applicable Lender, then the applicable Lender receiving such greater
proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans
and participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans of other applicable
Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall
be shared by the applicable Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate
amount of principal of, and accrued interest on, their respective Loans and
participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans, provided that (i) if any
such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving
rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the
purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any
payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express
terms of this Credit Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as
consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its
Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans to any assignee
or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate
thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Loan
Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do
so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to
the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff
and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

                  (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Loan Party prior to the date on which any payment is due to the
Administrative Agent for

                                       39
<PAGE>   41
the account of the applicable Credit Parties hereunder that such Loan Party will
not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Loan Party
has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance
upon such assumption, distribute to such Credit Parties the amount due. In such
event, if such Loan Party has not in fact made such payment, then each such
Credit Party severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on
demand the amount so distributed to such Credit Party with interest thereon, for
each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the
Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

                  (e) If any Credit Party shall fail to make any payment
required to be made by it pursuant to Sections 2.4(b), 2.8(e) or 2.9(d), then
the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Credit Party to satisfy such Credit Party's
obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully
paid.

ARTICLE 3. INTEREST, FEES, YIELD PROTECTION, ETC.

         Section 3.1       Interest

                  (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear
interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

                  (b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear
interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such
Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

                  (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under paragraphs (a) or (b) of Article 8, then, so
long as such Event of Default is continuing, all principal of and interest on
each Loan and each fee and other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall
bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to
(i) in the case of principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable
to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in
the case of any other amount, 2% plus the Alternate Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin relating to ABR B Term Loan Borrowings.

                  (d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears
on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan, provided that (i) interest accrued
pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in
the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than the prepayment
of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued
interest on the principal amount

                                       40
<PAGE>   42
repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment,
and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end
of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be
payable on the effective date of such conversion.

                  (e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a
year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate
Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall
be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and
in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate,
Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent,
and such determination shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error.

         Section 3.2 Interest Elections

                  (a) Each Borrowing (other than a Swingline Loan) initially
shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the
case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as
specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to
convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in
the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as
provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect
to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion
shall be allocated ratably among the applicable Lenders holding the Loans
comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be
considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline
Borrowings which may not be converted or continued.

                  (b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time
that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.3 if the Borrower
were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made
on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election
Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

                  (c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request
shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:

                           (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election
         Request applies and, if different options are being elected with
         respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be
         allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which

                                       41
<PAGE>   43
         case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv)
         of this paragraph shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

                           (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant
         to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

                           (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR
         Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

                           (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar
         Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving
         effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the
         definition of the term "Interest Period".

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

                  (d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election
Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the
details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing. (e) If
the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request prior to the
end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is
repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing
shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision
hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the
Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing, (i) no outstanding
Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii)
unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing
at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

         Section 3.3 Fees

                  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender having a Revolving Commitment, a commitment fee,
which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Commitment Fee Margin on the
daily amount of the unused Revolving Commitment plus the Swingline Exposure of
such Lender during the period from and including the date on which this Credit
Agreement shall have become effective in accordance with Section 10.6 to but
excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates. Accrued
commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June,
September and December of each year, each date on which the Revolving
Commitments are permanently reduced and on the date on which the Revolving
Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date
hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365

                                       42
<PAGE>   44
days (or 366 days in a leap year) and shall be payable for the actual number of
days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

                  (b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent
for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its
participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at rate per annum equal
to the Applicable Margin on the average daily amount of such Lender's LC
Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC
Disbursements) during the period from and including the date on which this
Credit Agreement shall become effective in accordance with Section 10.6 to but
excluding the later of the date on which such Lender's Revolving Commitment
terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and
(ii) to the Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue
at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and
the Issuing Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure attributable to
Letters of Credit (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC
Disbursements) during the period from and including the date on which this
Credit Agreement shall become effective in accordance with Section 10.6 to but
excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and
the date on which there ceases to be any such LC Exposure, as well as the
Issuing Bank's standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or
extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Accrued
participation fees and fronting fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day
of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing on the first
such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that all such fees shall be
payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such
fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate shall
be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to
this paragraph shall be payable within ten days after demand. All participation
fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and
shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day
but excluding the last day).

                  (c) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Credit Party, for its
own account, fees and other amounts payable in the amounts and at the times
separately agreed upon between the Borrower and such Credit Party.

                  (d) All fees and other amounts payable hereunder shall be paid
on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent
(or to the Issuing Bank, in each case of fees payable to it) for distribution,
in the case of commitment and Letter of Credit participation fees, to the
Lenders. Fees and other amounts paid shall not be refundable under any
circumstances.

         Section 3.4 Alternate Rate of Interest

                  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a
Eurodollar Borrowing:

                                       43
<PAGE>   45
                  (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do
not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as
applicable, for such Interest Period; or

                  (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by any applicable
Lender that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such
Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lender
of making or maintaining its Loan included in such Borrowing for such Interest
Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
applicable Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable
thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the
applicable Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer
exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any
Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall
be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

         Section 3.5       Increased Costs; Illegality

                  (a) If any Change in Law shall:

                           (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
                  special deposit or similar requirement against assets of,
                  deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by,
                  any Credit Party (except any such reserve requirement
                  reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

                           (ii) impose on any Credit Party or the London
                  interbank market any other condition affecting this Credit
                  Agreement, any Eurodollar Loans made by such Credit Party or
                  any participation therein or any Letter of Credit or
                  participation therein,

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Credit Party of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or the cost to such
Credit Party of issuing, participating in or maintaining any Letter of Credit
hereunder or to increase the cost to such Credit Party or to reduce the amount
of any sum received or receivable by such Credit Party hereunder (whether of
principal, interest or otherwise), then, subject to Section 3.5(c), the Borrower
will pay to such Credit Party such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Credit Party for such additional costs incurred or reduction
suffered.

                  (b) If any Credit Party determines that any Change in Law
regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate
of return on such Credit Party's capital or on the capital of such Credit
Party's holding company, if any, as

                                       44
<PAGE>   46
a consequence of this Credit Agreement or the Loans made, the Letters of Credit
issued or participations therein held by such Credit Party to a level below that
which such Credit Party or such Credit Party's holding company could have
achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Credit
Party's policies and the policies of such Credit Party's holding company with
respect to capital adequacy), then, subject to Section 3.5(c), from time to time
the Borrower will pay to such Credit Party such additional amount or amounts as
will compensate such Credit Party or such Credit Party's holding company for any
such reduction suffered.

                  (c) A certificate of a Credit Party setting forth the amount
or amounts necessary to compensate such Credit Party or its holding company, as
applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be
delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The
Borrower shall pay such Credit Party the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in Section 3.5(a) or Section 3.5(b), in no event shall
the Borrower have any obligation to reimburse any Lender pursuant to such
Sections for any additional costs incurred or reductions suffered by such Lender
more than 90 days prior to receipt by the Borrower of such certificate.

                  (d) Subject to the limitation set forth in Section 3.5(c),
failure or delay on the part of any Credit Party to demand compensation pursuant
to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Credit Party's right to
demand such compensation.

                  (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Credit
Agreement, if, after the date of this Credit Agreement, any Change in Law shall
make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to
give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any
Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrower and to the
Administrative Agent:

                           (i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans
                  will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be
                  made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional
                  Interest Periods and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such
                  duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans), whereupon any
                  request for a Eurodollar Borrowing or to convert an ABR
                  Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a
                  Eurodollar Borrowing, as applicable, for an additional
                  Interest Period shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a
                  request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan
                  as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert a
                  Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as applicable), unless such
                  declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

                           (ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding
                  Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in
                  which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically
                  converted to ABR Loans, as of the effective date of such
                  notice as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph.

                                       45
<PAGE>   47
In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) of this
paragraph, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have
been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such
Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied
to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the
conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans, as applicable. For purposes of this
paragraph, a notice to the Borrower by any Lender shall be effective as to each
Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest
Period currently applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such
notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.

         Section 3.6       Break Funding Payments

                  In the event of (a) the payment or prepayment (voluntary or
otherwise) of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of
an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of
Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert,
continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice
delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked
under Section 2.7(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the
assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period or maturity date applicable thereto as a result of a request by any
Borrower pursuant to Section 3.8(b), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall
compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such
event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an
amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of
interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such
event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to
such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the
then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow,
convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for
such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal
amount for such period at the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it
to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable
amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of
any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to
receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount
shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

         Section 3.7 Taxes

                  (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of
any Loan Party hereunder and under any other Loan Document shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes,
provided that, if such Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes from such

                                       46
<PAGE>   48
payments, then (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), the applicable Credit Party
receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii)
such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.

                  (b) In addition, the Loan Parties shall pay any Other Taxes to
the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

                  (c) Each Loan Party shall indemnify each Credit Party, within
ten days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes paid by such Credit Party on or with respect to any payment
by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party under the Loan Documents
(including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or
attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest
and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or
not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or
asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount
of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Credit Party, or by
the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Credit Party, shall
be conclusive absent manifest error.

                  (d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a
receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of
the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from
or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the
relevant Loan Party is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a
party, with respect to payments under the Loan Documents shall deliver to the
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation
prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will
permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

         Section 3.8 Mitigation Obligations

                  (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.5, or
if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.7,
then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending
office for funding or booking its

                                       47
<PAGE>   49
Loans or Letters of Credit (or any participation therein) hereunder or to assign
its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment
(i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Sections 3.5 or 3.7,
as applicable, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

                  (b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.5, or
if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.7, in
an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000, then the Borrower may, at its sole
expense (including the fees referred to in Section 10.4(b)) and effort, upon
notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to
assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in Section 10.4), all its interests, rights and
obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Revolving Commitment is
being assigned, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall
not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an
amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC
Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and
all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of
such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in
the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment
resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.5 or payments required
to be made pursuant to Section 3.7, such assignment will result in a reduction
in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any
such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by
such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require
such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

ARTICLE 4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                 The Borrower represents and warrants to the Credit Parties
that:

         Section 4.1 Organization; Powers

                  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as
now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be

                                       48
<PAGE>   50
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in,
and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is
required.

         Section 4.2 Authorization; Enforceability

                  The Transactions are within the corporate, partnership or
other analogous powers of each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to the
extent it is a party thereto and have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership or other analogous and, if required, equityholder action.
Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries to the extent it is a party thereto and constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation thereof, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally.

         Section 4.3 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

                  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval
of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental
Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and
effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter,
by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or
result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding
upon the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a
right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
on any asset of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (other than Liens
permitted by Section 7.2).

         Section 4.4 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

                  (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Credit
Parties (i) its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 containing
the consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and
cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
public accountants, and (ii) its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March
31, 1999 containing the consolidated balance sheet and statements of income and
cash flows of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal quarter
and the portion of the fiscal year then ended certified by its chief financial
officer. The consolidated financial statements referred to in clauses (i) and
(ii) above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and
results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such dates and for the indicated periods in accordance with
GAAP and are consistent with the books and records of the Borrower (which books
and records are correct and

                                       49
<PAGE>   51
complete), subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in
the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

                  (b) Except for the Disclosed Matters, the Borrower is unaware
that the Borrower or any Subsidiary has any material undisclosed liability
(contingent or otherwise). Since December 31, 1998, there has been no material
adverse change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         Section 4.5 Properties

                  (a) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has good title
to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material
to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with
its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such
properties for their intended purposes.

                  (b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries owns, or is
entitled to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other
intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other
Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.

                  (c) Schedule 4.5 sets forth the address of each real property
that is owned or leased by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries.

                  (d) Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries have
received notice of, or have knowledge of, any pending or contemplated
condemnation proceeding affecting any Mortgaged Property or any sale or
disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation. Neither any Mortgaged Property nor
any interest therein is subject to any right of first refusal, option or other
contractual right to purchase such Mortgaged Property or interest therein.

         Section 4.6 Litigation and Environmental Matters

                  (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before
any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of the
Subsidiaries (i) that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other
than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve any Loan Document or any
Transaction.

                  (b) Except for the Disclosed Matters, and except with respect
to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) have

                                       50
<PAGE>   52
failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply
with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law,
(ii) have become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) have received
notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) know of
any basis for any Environmental Liability.

                  (c) Since the date of this Credit Agreement, there has been no
change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the
aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a
Material Adverse Effect.

         Section 4.7 Compliance with Laws and Agreements

                  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable
to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments
binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually
or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

         Section 4.8 Investment and Holding Company Status

                  Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries are (a) an
"investment company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or (b) a "holding company" as defined in, or
subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

         Section 4.9 Taxes

                  Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has timely filed or
caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and
has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except
(a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its
books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         Section 4.10 ERISA

                  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur
that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability
is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit
obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of
the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more
than $8,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the
present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans
(based on

                                       51
<PAGE>   53
the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements
reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $8,000,000 the fair market value of
the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

         Section 4.11 Disclosure

                  The Borrower has disclosed to the Credit Parties all
agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any
of the Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that,
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates
or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
to any Credit Party in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents or
delivered thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so
furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided that, with
respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that
such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to
be reasonable at the time.

         Section 4.12 Subsidiaries

                  Schedule 4.12 sets forth the name of, and the ownership
interest of the Borrower in, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that
is a Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case as of the Effective Date.

         Section 4.13 Insurance

                  Schedule 4.13 sets forth a description of all insurance
maintained by or on behalf of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the
Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such
insurance that are due and payable have been paid.

         Section 4.14 Labor Matters

                  As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or
slowdowns against the Borrower or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower, threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor
Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law
dealing with such matters, except where any such violations, individually and in
the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. All material payments due from the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or for
which any claim may be made against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, on account
of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been
paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
The

                                       52
<PAGE>   54
consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to any right of termination
or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective
bargaining agreement to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is bound.

         Section 4.15 Solvency

                  Immediately after the consummation of each Transaction and
immediately following the making of each Loan, if any, and the issuance of each
Letter of Credit, if any, made or issued on the date thereof and after giving
effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loan and such Letter of
Credit, (a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities,
subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of
the property of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be
greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of
their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as
such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) each of the
Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors will be able to pay its debts and
liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) each of the Borrower and the
Subsidiary Guarantors will not have unreasonably small capital with which to
conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted
and is proposed to be conducted following such date.

         Section 4.16 Security Documents

                  (a) The Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of
the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a
legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined in
the Security Agreement) and, when (i) the pledged property constituting such
Collateral is delivered to the Administrative Agent, (ii) the financing
statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 6
to the Perfection Certificate and (iii) all other applicable filings under the
Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that are required under the Loan Documents
are made, the Security Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and
security interest in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder
in such Collateral (other than the Intellectual Property (as defined in the
Security Agreement)), in each case prior and superior in right to any other
Person, other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.2.

                  (b) When the Security Agreement is filed in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, the Security
Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in,
all right, title and interest of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in
the Intellectual Property (as defined in the Security Agreement) in which a
security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a
security agreement, financing statement or analogous document in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as

                                       53
<PAGE>   55
applicable, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other
than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.2 (it being
understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien
on registered trademarks, trademark applications and copyrights acquired by the
Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors after the date hereof).

                  (c) The Mortgages, if any, are effective to create, subject to
the exceptions listed in each title insurance policy covering such Mortgage, in
favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured
Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on all of the right, title and
interest of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in and to the Mortgaged
Properties thereunder and the proceeds thereof, and when such Mortgages are
filed in the appropriate offices, such Mortgages shall constitute a Lien on, and
security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Borrower and the
Subsidiary Guarantors in such Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, in
each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than with
respect to the rights of Persons pursuant to Liens expressly permitted by
Section 7.2.

         Section 4.17 Federal Reserve Regulations

                  (a) Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries are
engaged principally, or as one of their important activities, in the business of
extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.

                  (b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether
directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to
purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock or for any purpose that entails a
violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the regulations of
the Board, including Regulation T, U or X.

         Section 4.18 Year 2000

                  (a) Any reprogramming required to permit the proper
functioning, in and following the year 2000, of the Borrower's and the
Subsidiaries' computer systems (including, without limitation, software) and
equipment (whether owned by, leased to or otherwise under the control of, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary) containing embedded microchips and the testing of
all such systems and equipment, as so reprogrammed, will be completed by
September 30, 1999. The Borrower and each Subsidiary has identified its
significant vendor-supplied computer systems (including, without limitation,
software) and equipment (whether owned by, leased to or otherwise under the
control of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary) containing embedded microchips.
These vendor-supplied systems and equipment have been internally certified by
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as "Year 2000" compliant in accordance with
the Borrower's internal

                                       54
<PAGE>   56
certification procedures, which internal certification procedures are reasonable
in all respects.

                  (b) The cost to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of such
reprogramming and testing and of the reasonably foreseeable consequences of year
2000 to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (including reprogramming errors, but
excluding the failure of others' systems or equipment) will not result in 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 the Subsidiaries are and, with ordinary course
upgrading and maintenance, will continue for the term of this Credit Agreement
to be, sufficient to permit the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to conduct their
business without Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 5.       CONDITIONS

         Section 5.1       Effective Date

                  The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the
Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective
until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived
in accordance with Section 10.2):

                  (a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have
received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Credit
Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed
signature page of this Credit Agreement) that such party has signed a
counterpart of this Credit Agreement.

                  (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Note for
each Lender signed on behalf of the Borrower.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable
written opinion (addressed to the Credit Parties and dated the Effective Date)
from Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue on behalf of the Loan Parties, substantially in
the form of Exhibit B, and covering such other matters relating to the Loan
Parties, the Loan Documents and the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall
reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such
opinion.

                  (d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such
documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may
reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of
each Loan Party, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal
matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions,
all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
counsel.

                                       55
<PAGE>   57
                  (e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice
President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the
conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 5.2.

                  (f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and
other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to
the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses
required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

                  (g) The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts
of the Security Agreement signed on behalf of the Borrower and each Subsidiary
party thereto, together with the following:

                           (i) any stock certificates representing shares of
                  capital stock owned by or on behalf of any Loan Party as of
                  the Effective Date, excluding shares of IDC (except that stock
                  certificates representing shares of common stock of a
                  Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary may be limited to
                  65% of the outstanding shares of common stock of such
                  Subsidiary);

                           (ii) any promissory notes and other instruments
                  evidencing all loans, advances and other debt owed or owing to
                  any Loan Party as of the Effective Date;

                           (iii) stock powers and instruments of transfer,
                  endorsed in blank, with respect to such stock certificates,
                  promissory notes and other instruments;

                           (iv) all instruments and other documents, including
                  Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, required by law
                  or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be
                  filed, registered or recorded to create or perfect the Liens
                  intended to be created under the Security Agreement; and

                           (v) a completed Perfection Certificate, dated the
                  Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President
                  or a Financial Officer and the chief legal officer of the
                  Borrower, together with all attachments contemplated thereby,
                  including the results of a search of the Uniform Commercial
                  Code (or equivalent) filings made with respect to the Loan
                  Parties in the jurisdictions contemplated by the Perfection
                  Certificate and copies of the financing statements (or similar
                  documents) disclosed by such search and evidence reasonably
                  satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Liens
                  indicated by such financing statements (or similar documents)
                  are permitted by Section 7.2 or have been released.

                                       56
<PAGE>   58
                  (h) The Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts
of the Guarantee Agreement signed on behalf of each Domestic Subsidiary that
exists on the Effective Date.

                  (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence
satisfactory to it that the insurance required by Section 6.10 is in effect.

                  (j) The performance by each Loan Party of its obligations
under each Loan Document shall not (i) violate any applicable law, statute, rule
or regulation or (ii) conflict with, or result in a default or event of default
under, any material agreement of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary, and the
Administrative Agent shall have received one or more legal opinions and/or
officer's certificates to such effect, satisfactory to the Agents.

                  (k) The Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied as to the amount
and nature of any environmental and employee health and safety exposures to
which the Borrower and the Subsidiaries may be subject, and with the plans of
the Borrower with respect thereto.

                  (l) The Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied (i) that there
shall be no litigation or administrative proceeding, or regulatory development,
that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the
business, assets, operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or
material agreements of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b)
the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under any Loan
Document or (c) the rights of or benefits available to any Credit Party under
any Loan Document and (ii) with the current status of, and the terms of any
settlement or other resolution of, any litigation or other proceedings brought
against the Borrower or any Subsidiary by or on behalf of its subscribers or by
any Governmental Authority relating to its business.

                  (m) After giving effect to the Transactions occurring on the
Effective Date, none of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries shall have
outstanding any shares of preferred equity securities or any Indebtedness, other
than (i) Indebtedness incurred under the Loan Documents and (ii) Indebtedness
set forth on Schedule 7.1.

                  (n) The Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied in all respects
with the tax position and the contingent tax and other liabilities of, and with
any tax sharing agreements among, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and with
the plans of the Borrower with respect thereto.

                  (o) The Administrative Agent shall not have received written
notice from a Lender that a material adverse change or material adverse
condition in the business, assets, operations, properties, condition (financial
or otherwise), liabilities (including

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<PAGE>   59
contingent liabilities), prospects or material agreements of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, has occurred since December 31, 1998.

                  (p) The Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer of the
Borrower, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating
compliance with Sections 7.13, 7.14 and 7.15 on a pro forma basis immediately
after giving effect to the Transactions occurring on the Effective Date.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Credit Parties of the
Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank
to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of
the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 10.2) at or
prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 30, 1999 (and, in the event
such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Revolving Commitments shall
terminate at such time).

         Section 5.2       Each Credit Event

                  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion
of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend a
Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set
forth in this Credit Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date
of such Borrowing or the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension,
as applicable.

                  (b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such
Borrowing or such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, (i)
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) such Borrowing or
such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as applicable, is permitted by
each indenture relating to Approved Subordinated Debt to be incurred.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other
documentation and assurances as shall be reasonably required by it in connection
therewith.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of
Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the
Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section.

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<PAGE>   60
ARTICLE 6.        AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Until the Revolving Commitments have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable
under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit
have expired and all LC Disbursements have been reimbursed, the Borrower
covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

         Section 6.1 Financial Statements and Other Information

                  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and,
provided that the Administrative Agent shall have furnished to the Borrower the
name and address of each Lender promptly after any written request by the
Borrower therefor (which the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to do), each
Lender:

                  (a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, its Form
10-K containing its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of
income, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous
fiscal year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent
public accountants of recognized national standing (without a "going concern" or
like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to
the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial
statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and
results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

                  (b) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, (i) its
consolidating balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholders'
equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each
case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year and (ii) an
unaudited income statement for each of the Borrower's business lines, all
certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material
respects the results of operations of the Borrower on a consolidating basis in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

                  (c) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three
fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, its Form 10-Q containing its consolidated
balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash
flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion
of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance
sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year;

                                       59
<PAGE>   61
                  (d) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three
fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, (i) its consolidating balance sheet and
related statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end
of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding
period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of)
the previous fiscal year and (ii) an unaudited income statement for each of the
Borrower's business lines, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as
presenting fairly in all material respects the results of operations of the
Borrower on a consolidating basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

                  (e) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
under clauses (a) or (c) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the
Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default
has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to
be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth (A) reasonably detailed
calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 7.13, 7.14 and 7.15, and (B)
the Subsidiary Guarantors as of the date of such certificate and (iii) stating
whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the
date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.4 and, if any
such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial
statements accompanying such certificate;

                  (f) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements
under clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on
such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the
course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which
certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or
guidelines);

                  (g) by no later than December 31 of each fiscal year, a budget
and business plan for the immediately succeeding fiscal year in the form
approved by the Borrower's board of directors, together with a business forecast
for such succeeding fiscal year, all in form, scope and detail satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent and on a quarterly basis for each fiscal quarter of
such succeeding fiscal year;

                  (h) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies
of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said
Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the
Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

                                       60
<PAGE>   62
                  (i) promptly following any request therefor, such other
information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan
Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

         Section 6.2 Notices of Material Events

                  The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender prompt written notice of the following:

                  (a) the occurrence of any Default;

                  (b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or
proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or
affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined,
could in the good faith opinion of the Borrower reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together
with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to
result in liability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount
exceeding $3,000,000; and

                  (d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the
details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

         Section 6.3       Existence; Conduct of Business

                  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew
and keep in full force and effect (a) its legal existence, and (b) the rights,
licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its
business, provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger,
consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.3.

         Section 6.4 Payment of Obligations

                  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result
in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in
default, except where (a) the

                                       61
<PAGE>   63
validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books
adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the
failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         Section 6.5 Maintenance of Properties

                  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

         Section 6.6 Books and Records; Inspection Rights

                  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries
are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and
activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine
and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs,
finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at
such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

         Section 6.7 Compliance with Laws

                  The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to,
comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental
Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so,
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.

         Section 6.8 Use of Proceeds

                  The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit will be
used only (a) to refinance certain existing Indebtedness, (b) to make
acquisitions and investments not inconsistent with the terms hereof, and (c) for
working capital and other general corporate purposes not inconsistent with the
terms hereof. No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will
be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally
or ultimately, to purchase, acquire or carry any Margin Stock or for any purpose
that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Board, including
Regulations T, U and X.

         Section 6.9 Information Regarding Collateral

(a) The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice
of any change in (i) the legal name of any Loan Party or in any trade name used
to identify it in the conduct of its business or in the ownership of its
properties, (ii)

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<PAGE>   64
the location of the chief executive office of any Loan Party, its principal
place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records relating to
Collateral owned or held by it or on its behalf or any office or facility at
which Collateral owned or held by it or on its behalf with an aggregate book
value in excess of $50,000 is located (including the establishment of any such
new office or facility), (iii) the identity or organizational structure of any
Loan Party such that a filed financing statement becomes misleading or (iv) the
Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of any Loan Party. The Borrower agrees
not to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless
all filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that
are required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times
following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest in
all the Collateral. The Borrower also agrees promptly to notify the
Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged or
destroyed.

                  (b) Each year, at the time of delivery of annual financial
statements with respect to the preceding fiscal year pursuant to paragraphs (a)
and (b) of Section 6.1, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of a Financial Officer and the chief legal officer of the Borrower,
(i) setting forth the information required pursuant to Section 5 of the
Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such
information since the date of the Perfection Certificate or the date of the most
recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section and (ii) certifying that
all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or other appropriate filings,
recordings or registrations, including all refilings, rerecordings and
reregistrations, containing a description of the Collateral have been filed of
record in each governmental, municipal or other appropriate office in each
jurisdiction identified pursuant to clause (i) above, and all other actions have
been taken, to the extent necessary to protect and perfect the security
interests under the Security Agreement for a period of not less than 18 months
after the date of such certificate (except as noted therein with respect to any
continuation statements to be filed within such period).

         Section 6.10 Insurance

                  (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries
to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, (a)
adequate insurance for its insurable properties, all to such extent and against
such risks, including fire, casualty, business interruption and other risks
insured against by extended coverage, as is customary with companies in the same
or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) such
other insurance as is required pursuant to the terms of any Security Document.

         Section 6.11 Casualty and Condemnation

                  (a) The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any
portion of

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<PAGE>   65
any Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of
any Collateral or any part thereof or interest therein under power of eminent
domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding.

                  (b) If any event described in paragraph (a) of this Section
results in Net Proceeds (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation
award or otherwise), the Administrative Agent is authorized to collect such Net
Proceeds and, if received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, such Net Proceeds
shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent, provided that (i) to the extent
that the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries intends to use any such Net
Proceeds to repair, restore, reinvest or replace assets of the Borrower or any
of the Subsidiaries as provided in the proviso of the definition of the term
"Net Proceeds", the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the provision of such
proviso, deliver such Net Proceeds to the Borrower, (ii) otherwise, the
Administrative Agent shall, and the Borrower hereby authorizes the
Administrative Agent to, apply such Net Proceeds, to the extent that they are
Net Proceeds, to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.7 and (iii) all
proceeds of business interruption insurance shall be paid over to the Borrower
unless a Default has occurred and is continuing.

                  (c) If any Net Proceeds retained by or paid over to the
Administrative Agent as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
continue to be held by the Administrative Agent on the date that is 180 days
after the receipt of such Net Proceeds, then such Net Proceeds shall be applied
to prepay Borrowings as provided in Section 2.7(b).

         Section 6.12 Additional Subsidiaries

                  If any Domestic Subsidiary is formed or acquired after the
Effective Date, the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders in writing thereof within ten Business Days after the date on which such
Domestic Subsidiary is formed or acquired and the Borrower will cause such
Domestic Subsidiary to (i) execute and deliver the Guarantee Agreement (or
otherwise become a party thereto in the manner provided therein) and become a
party to each applicable Security Document in the manner provided therein, in
each case within ten Business Days after the date on which such Domestic
Subsidiary is formed or acquired, and (ii) promptly take such actions to create
and perfect Liens on such Subsidiary's assets to secure the Obligations as the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request.

         Section 6.13 Further Assurances

                  (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary
Guarantor to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the
filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, Mortgages and
other documents), that may be required under

                                       64
<PAGE>   66
any applicable law, or which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders
may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or
intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or priority of
any such Lien, all at the expense of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
The Borrower also agrees to provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to
time upon request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created
by the Security Documents.

                  (b) If any material assets (including any real property or
improvements thereto or any interest therein (other than a leasehold interest))
are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor after the Effective
Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement
that become subject to the Lien of the Security Agreement upon acquisition
thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
thereof. If requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the
Borrower will cause such assets (or any other assets or property (whether
currently owned or hereafter acquired) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) to be
subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will take, and cause the
Subsidiary Guarantors to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably
requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including
actions described in paragraph (a) of this Section, all at the expense of the
Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors, provided that nothing herein shall
obligate the Borrower or any Subsidiary to grant any leasehold mortgage.

                  (c) If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall
have requested any mortgage or other lien on real property (or any interest
therein) pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section (other than a leasehold
mortgage), the Borrower shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent (i)
counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Mortgaged Property signed on
behalf of the record owner/leasehold owner of such Mortgaged Property, (ii) a
policy or policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title
insurance company, insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first Lien
on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens except as
permitted by Section 7.2, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and
reinsurance as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably
request, (iii) such surveys as may be required pursuant to such Mortgages or as
the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, (iv) a
copy of the original permanent certificate or temporary certificate of occupancy
as the same may have been amended or issued from time to time, covering each
improvement located upon the Mortgaged Properties, that were required to have
been issued by the appropriate Governmental Authority for such improvement and
have been provided to the Borrower, (v) if requested by the Administrative
Agent, a phase I environmental report for each Mortgaged Property, each such
report to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vii) such
opinions of local counsel to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries with respect to
the

                                       65
<PAGE>   67
Mortgages as the Administrative Agent shall require and (viii) such other
customary documentation with respect to the Mortgages and the Mortgaged Property
as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request.

         Section 6.14 Environmental Compliance

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, use and operate all of its facilities and property in compliance with all
Environmental Laws, keep all necessary permits, approvals, certificates,
licenses and other authorizations relating to environmental matters in effect
and remain in compliance therewith, and handle all Hazardous Materials in
compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, except where noncompliance
with any of the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         Section 6.15 Interest Rate Protection Arrangements

                  Commencing no later than 60 days after the Effective Date, and
on each date thereafter, maintain Interest Rate Protection Arrangements, each in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, covering at least
50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans, which
agreements shall have an initial term of at least 3 years.

ARTICLE 7.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  Until the Revolving Commitments have expired or been
terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees and other
amounts payable under the Loan Documents shall have been paid in full and all
Letters of Credit have expired and all LC Disbursements have been reimbursed,
the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

         Section 7.1 Indebtedness

                  (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary
to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

                           (i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

                           (ii) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set
         forth in Schedule 7.1, including any extensions, renewals or
         replacements of any such Indebtedness that (A) do not increase the
         principal amount of such Indebtedness, and (B) are on terms not
         otherwise more disadvantageous to the Lenders;

                           (iii) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
         incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any
         fixed or capital

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<PAGE>   68
         assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness
         assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or
         secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof,
         and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that
         do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof, provided that
         (A) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such
         acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and
         (B) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this
         clause (iii) shall not exceed $3,000,000 at any time outstanding;

                           (iv) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a
         Subsidiary after the date hereof, provided that (A) such Indebtedness
         exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created
         in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a
         Subsidiary and (B) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness
         permitted by this clause (iv) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time
         outstanding;

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

                           (vi) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness
         (other than Approved Subordinated Debt) of any Subsidiary Guarantor and
         by any Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness (other than Approved
         Subordinated Debt) of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor;
         and

                           (vii) Approved Subordinated Debt.

                  (b) The Borrower will not, and it will not permit any
Subsidiary to, (i) issue any preferred equity securities or (ii) be or become
liable in respect of any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to purchase,
redeem, retire, acquire or make any other payment in respect of any shares of
equity securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or
other right to acquire any such shares of equity securities, except as permitted
under Section 7.8.

                  (c) The Borrower will not, and it will not permit any
Subsidiary to, be or become liable in respect of any Contingent Obligation if,
immediately after giving effect thereto, the aggregate unpaid amount of all
Contingent Obligations incurred or assumed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
would exceed $50,000,000. For purposes hereof, "Contingent Obligation" means any
obligation for the deferred purchase price of property under, or incurred in
connection with, any asset purchase agreement, stock purchase agreement, joint
venture agreement or other similar agreement, provided that "Contingent
Obligation" shall not include any such obligation to the extent payable solely
and exclusively in shares of common stock of the Borrower.

                                       67
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         Section 7.2 Liens

         The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create,
incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or
hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including
accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

                  (a) Liens created under the Loan Documents;

                  (b) Permitted Encumbrances;

                  (c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 7.2, provided
that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those
obligations which it secures on the date hereof and any extensions, renewals and
replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount
thereof; and

                  (d) security interests on fixed or capital assets acquired,
constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that (i)
such security interests secure only Indebtedness permitted by clause (iii) of
Section 7.1, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby
are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion
of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does
not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or
capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other
property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

         Section 7.3 Fundamental Changes

                  (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary
to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person
to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or
substantially all of its assets, or all or substantially all of the equity
securities of any of the Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time
thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing:

                           (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a
         transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving entity, any
         Subsidiary may merge into any Subsidiary Guarantor in a transaction in
         which such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving entity;

                           (ii) any Subsidiary may merge with any Person in a
         transaction that is not permitted by clause (i) of this Section 7.3(a),
         provided that such merger is permitted by Sections 7.4 or 7.5, as
         applicable;

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<PAGE>   70
                           (iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or
         otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to any Subsidiary
         Guarantor;

                           (iv) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may sell,
         transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets in a transaction
         that is not permitted by clause (iii) of this Section 7.3(a), provided
         that such sale, transfer, lease or other disposition is also permitted
         by Section 7.5;

                           (v) any Subsidiary (other than a Subsidiary
         Guarantor) may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good
         faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of
         the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders.

                  (b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than
businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries on the
date of execution of this Credit Agreement and businesses directly related
thereto.

         Section 7.4 Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger)
any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any
option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or
permit to exist any loans or advances to, make or permit to exist any Guarantee
of any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other
interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one
transaction or a series of transactions (including pursuant to any merger)) any
assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

                  (a) Permitted Investments;

                  (b) investments existing on the date hereof and set forth in
Schedule 7.4;

                  (c) investments made by the Borrower in the equity securities
of any Subsidiary Guarantor and made by any Subsidiary Guarantor in the equity
securities of any other Subsidiary Guarantor;

                  (d) loans or advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary
Guarantor and made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
Guarantor, provided that any such loans and advances made by a Loan Party shall
be evidenced by a promissory note which shall be pledged pursuant to the
Security Agreement;

                                       69
<PAGE>   71
                  (e) acquisitions made by the Borrower from any Subsidiary
Guarantor and made by any Subsidiary Guarantor from the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary Guarantor;

                  (f) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.1;

                  (g) investments existing on the date hereof in the common
shares of internet.com Corporation or any successor thereto ("IDC");

                  (h) other acquisitions and investments (other than investments
in the aggregate in excess of $1,000,000 in Margin Stock) made by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary, provided that (i) no such acquisition or investment shall be
"hostile" (whether in contemplation or consummation thereof), and (ii)
immediately after giving effect to each such acquisition (A) all of the
representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Credit
Agreement shall be true and correct (except to the extent relating solely to an
earlier time), and (B) the Borrower shall be in pro-forma compliance with all of
the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement; and

                  (i) other investments (other than investments in the aggregate
in excess of $1,000,000 in Margin Stock), loans, advances, Guarantees and
"non-hostile" acquisitions, provided that (1) the sum of (A) the aggregate
consideration paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with all
acquisitions made pursuant to this paragraph (i), (B) the aggregate amount of
all such other investments, loans and advances outstanding and (C) the amount of
obligations and liabilities outstanding in the aggregate that is Guaranteed
pursuant to all such other Guarantees shall not exceed $3,000,000 at any time,
and (2) at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

         Section 7.5 Asset Sales

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose (including pursuant
to a merger) of any asset, including any equity securities, nor will the
Borrower permit any of the Subsidiaries to issue any additional shares of its
equity securities, except:

                  (a) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of
inventory, used or surplus equipment and Permitted Investments, in each case in
the ordinary course of business;

                  (b) sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions made by
the Borrower to any Subsidiary Guarantor and made by any Subsidiary Guarantor to
the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor;

                                       70
<PAGE>   72
                  (c) the sale, transfer, lease or other disposition by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries of (i) the capital stock of, or all or
substantially all of the assets of, Curtin & Pease/Peneco, Inc., a Florida
corporation, (ii) the Borrower's fee interest in certain real property located
in Berea, Ohio, together with all or substantially all of the property, plant
and equipment therein located, and/or (iii) the common shares of IDC; and

                  (d) other sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions of
assets, provided that (i) the aggregate fair market value of all assets, sold,
transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this clause (d)
shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate at any time, (ii) all sales,
transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted by this clause (d) shall be
made for fair value and solely for cash consideration, and (iii) at the time
thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing.

         Section 7.6 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any
Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or
useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter
rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for
substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or
transferred.

         Section 7.7 Hedging Agreements

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Agreement, other than Hedging Agreements
entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business
or the management of its liabilities.

         Section 7.8 Restricted Payments

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay for or make, directly or
indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that (a) the Borrower may declare and
pay dividends with respect to its equity securities payable solely in additional
shares of its equity securities, (b) any Subsidiary may declare and pay
dividends with respect to its equity securities to the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary, (c) the Borrower may declare and pay cash dividends on its common
stock and the Borrower may repurchase shares of its issued and outstanding
common stock, provided that, in each such case under this clause (c), (i)
immediately before and after giving effect thereto, no Default shall or would
exist, and (ii) the aggregate sum paid in any fiscal year pursuant to this
clause (c) shall not exceed $10,000,000.

                                       71
<PAGE>   73
         Section 7.9 Transactions with Affiliates

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose (including pursuant
to a merger) any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire
(including pursuant to a merger) any property or assets from, or otherwise
engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except in the
ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less
favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an
arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, provided that this Section shall
not apply to any transaction that is permitted under Sections 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5
or 7.8 between or among the Loan Parties and not involving any other Affiliate.

         Section 7.10 Restrictive Agreements

                  The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist
any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any
condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create,
incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets or (b) the
ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect
to any shares of its equity securities or to make or repay loans or advances to
the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the
Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the foregoing shall not
apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Credit Agreement,
(ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on
the date hereof identified on Schedule 7.10 (but shall apply to any extension or
renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such
restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary
restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a
Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions
apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted
hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of this Section shall not apply to restrictions or
conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted
by this Credit Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the
property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of this Section
shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment
thereof.

         Section 7.11 Line of Business

                  The Borrower will not engage, or permit any Subsidiary to
engage, whether directly or indirectly, through interests in one or more
Subsidiaries, in any business other than businesses that the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries engage in as of the Effective Date.

                                       72
<PAGE>   74
         Section 7.12 Prepayments of Indebtedness

                  The Borrower will not prepay or obligate itself to prepay, in
whole or in part, any Indebtedness, or permit any of its Subsidiaries so to do,
other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents.

         Section 7.13 Interest Coverage Ratio

                  The Borrower will not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of
the end of any fiscal quarter during any period set forth below to be less than
the ratio set forth below with respect to such period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PERIOD                                       RATIO
                                              ------                                       -----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
                             Effective Date through September 29, 2001                   2.50:1.00
                           September 30, 2001 through September 29, 2002                 2.75:1.00
                                 September 30, 2002 and thereafter                       3.00:1.00
</TABLE>

         Section 7.14      Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

                  The Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 1.10:1.00.

         Section 7.15 Leverage Ratio

                  The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio at any time
during any period set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below
with respect to such period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PERIOD                                       RATIO
                                              ------                                       -----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
                             Effective Date through September 29, 2000                   5.00:1.00
                           September 30, 2000 through September 29, 2001                 4.50:1.00
                           September 30, 2001 through September 29, 2002                 4.00:1.00
                           September 30, 2002 through September 29, 2003                 3.50:1.00
                                 September 30, 2003 and thereafter                       3.00:1.00
</TABLE>

ARTICLE 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall occur:

                  (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan
or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as
the same shall

                                       73
<PAGE>   75
become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for
prepayment thereof or otherwise;

                  (b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or
on any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any fee,
commission or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a)
of this Article) payable under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall
become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period
of three Business Days;

                  (c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or
on behalf of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary in or in connection with any
Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver thereunder, or
in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished
pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or
modification hereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect
when made or deemed made;

                  (d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 6.2, 6.3(a), 6.8, 6.12 or
6.13 or in Article 7, or any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in any other Loan Document;

                  (e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document to which it is a
party (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article),
and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after such
Loan Party shall have obtained knowledge thereof;

                  (f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any
payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect
of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

                  (g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material
Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or
permits the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or
agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due,
or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof,
prior to its scheduled maturity, provided that this clause (g) shall not apply
to secured Indebtedness that becomes due solely as a result of the voluntary
sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

                  (h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an
involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or
other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a
substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar law now or

                                       74
<PAGE>   76
hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary
or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding
or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree
approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

                  (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily
commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization
or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the
institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any
proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for
or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator,
conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a
substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material
allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the
purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

                  (j) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit
in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

                  (k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an
aggregate amount in excess of $3,500,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower
or any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain
undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall
not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment
creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to
enforce any such judgment;

                  (l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of
the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have
occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding (i) $2,000,000 in any year
or (ii) $4,000,000 for all periods;

                  (m) any Loan Document shall cease, for any reason (other than
any omission or commission by any Credit Party), to be in full force and effect,
or any Loan Party shall so assert in writing or shall disavow any of its
obligations thereunder;

                  (n) any Lien purported to be created under any Security
Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a
valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral, with the priority required by the
applicable Security Document, except (i) as a result of the sale or other
disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted under the
Loan Documents or (ii) as a result of the Administrative Agent's failure to
maintain possession of any stock certificates, promissory notes or other
instruments delivered to it under the Security Agreement; or

                                       75
<PAGE>   77
                  (o) a Change in Control shall occur;

then, and in every such event (other than an event described in clause (h) or
(i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such
event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders
shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions,
at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Revolving Commitments, and
thereupon the Revolving Commitments shall terminate immediately and (ii) declare
the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which
case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be
declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so
declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all
fees and other obligations of each Loan Party accrued under the Loan Documents,
shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest
or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and
in case of any event described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the
Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the
Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and
other obligations of each Loan Party accrued under the Loan Documents, shall
automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

ARTICLE 9.        THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                  Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably appoints the
Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to
take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to
the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

                  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall
have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender
and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and
such Person 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
other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

                  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject
to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has
occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty
to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except
discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents
that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required
Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Credit Parties as shall

                                       76
<PAGE>   78
be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2), and (c)
except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have
any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower, any of the Subsidiaries or any other Loan
Party that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as
Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The
Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it
with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number
or percentage of the Credit Parties as shall be necessary under the
circumstances as provided in Section 10.2) or in the absence of its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not
to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Credit Party (and,
promptly after its receipt of any such notice, it shall give each Credit Party
and the Borrower notice thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall not be
responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement,
warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii)
the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder
or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the
covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth therein, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness thereof or any other
agreement, instrument or other document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition
set forth in Article 5 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of
items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

                  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and
shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request,
certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The
Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by
telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not
incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult
with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent
accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any
action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such
counsel, accountants or experts.

                  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties
and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by the Administrative Agent, provided that no such delegation shall
serve as a release of the Administrative Agent or waiver by the Borrower of any
rights hereunder. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform
any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their
respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding
paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the
Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective
activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided
for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

                                       77
<PAGE>   79
                  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may
resign at any time by notifying the Credit Parties and the Borrower. Upon any
such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation
with the Borrower, to appoint a successor (a) from among the Lenders, or (b)
with the consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, required), other than a Lender. If no successor shall have been so
appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment
within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its
resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Credit
Parties, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an
office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent
shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed
between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent's
resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.3 shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its
sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken
or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative
Agent.

                  Each Credit Party acknowledges that it has, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Credit Agreement. Each
Credit Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party and based on such
documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate,
continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based
upon any Loan Document, any related agreement or any document furnished
thereunder.

                  Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary,
no Agent acting in such capacity other than the Administrative Agent shall have
any duty or obligation under the Loan Documents.

ARTICLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 10.1      Notices

         Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly
permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications
provided for herein shall be in

                                       78
<PAGE>   80
writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by
certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

                  (a) if to the Borrower, to it at Penton Media, Inc., 1100
Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attention of Joseph NeCastro (Telephone
No. (216) 696-7000); Telecopy No. (216) 931-9891);

                  (b) if to the Administrative Agent, or BNY as Issuing Bank to
it at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention of: Sandra Morgan
(Telephone No. (212) 635-4692); Telecopy No. (212) 635-6365 or 6366 or 6367,
with a copy to The Bank of New York, at One Wall Street, New York, New York
10286, Attention of: Benjamin B. Todres (Telephone No. (212) 635-8745; Telecopy
No. (212) 635-8593);

                  (c) if to any other Credit Party, to it at its address (or
telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and
other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions
of this Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of
receipt.

         Section 10.2      Waivers; Amendments

                  (a) No failure or delay by any Credit Party in exercising any
right or power under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any
abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power,
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power. The rights and remedies of the Credit Parties under the Loan
Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that
they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or
consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be
effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section,
and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal
of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default,
regardless of whether any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default at the time.

                  (b) Neither this Credit Agreement nor any provision hereof may
be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in
writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, provided
that no such agreement shall (i) increase any Commitment of any Lender without
the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan
or any LC Disbursement, or

                                       79
<PAGE>   81
reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees or other amounts payable
under the Loan Documents, or reduce the amount of any scheduled reduction of the
Revolving Commitments, without the written consent of each Credit Party affected
thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of
any Loan or any LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees or other
amounts payable under the Loan Documents, or reduce the amount of, waive or
excuse any such payment, postpone the scheduled date of reduction or expiration
of the Revolving Commitments, or postpone the final expiration date of any
Letter of Credit beyond the Revolving Maturity Date, without the written consent
of each Credit Party affected thereby, (iv) change any provision hereof in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required by any Loan
Document, without the written consent of each Credit Party, (v) change any of
the provisions of this Section or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any
other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required
to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or
grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi)
release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its Guarantee under the Guarantee
Agreement (except as expressly provided in the Guarantee Agreement or as a
result of the termination of the existence of such Subsidiary Guarantor in a
transaction permitted by Section 7.3), or limit its liability in respect of such
Guarantee, without the written consent of each Lender, or (vii) release any of
the Collateral from the Liens of the Loan Documents (except as expressly
provided in the Security Agreement or in connection with a transaction permitted
by Section 7.3), without the consent of each Lender, and provided, further, that
no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties
of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder
without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be.

         Section 10.3 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

                  (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the
reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative
Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein, the preparation and administration of this Credit Agreement or any
amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of any Loan Document
(whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby shall be consummated),
(ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with
the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any
demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
any Credit Party, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel
for any Credit Party, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its
rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this
Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued
hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any
workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of
Credit.

                                       80
<PAGE>   82
                  (b) The Borrower shall indemnify each Credit Party and each
Related Party thereof (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against,
and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements
of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any
Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument
contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents of
their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions
or any other transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of
Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof including any refusal of the Issuing
Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents
presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms
of such Letter of Credit, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of
Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or
any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to
the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or (iv) any actual or prospective claim,
litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether
any Indemnitee is a party thereto, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to
any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

                  (c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount
required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank under
paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, an amount equal to
the product of such unpaid amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the sum of such Lender's Revolving Commitment plus the outstanding
principal balance of such Lender's A Term Loan plus the outstanding principal
balance of such Lender's B Term Loan and the denominator of which is the sum of
the total of all Lenders' Revolving Commitments plus the outstanding principal
balance of all Lenders' A Term Loans plus the outstanding principal balance of
all Lenders' B Term Loans (in each case determined as of the time that the
applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of, provided
that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or
related expense, as applicable, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank in its capacity as such.

                  (d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower
shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any
theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages
(as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or
as a result of, any Loan Document or any agreement, instrument or other document
contemplated thereby, the Transactions or any Loan or any Letter of Credit or
the use of the proceeds thereof.

                                       81
<PAGE>   83
                  (e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable
promptly but in no event later than ten days after written demand therefor.

         Section 10.4 Successors and Assigns

                  (a) The provisions of this Credit Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign
or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of each Credit Party (and any attempted assignment or
transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing
in this Credit Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer
upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the
Related Parties of each Credit Party) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or by reason of any Loan Document.

                  (b) Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all
or a portion of its Revolving Commitment, A Term Commitment and/or B Term
Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it), provided that (i) except in
the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate or an Approved Fund of a
Lender, each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of
an assignment of all or any portion of a Revolving Commitment or obligations in
respect of its LC Exposure or Swingline Exposure, the Issuing Bank and/or the
Swingline Lender, as the case may be), must give its prior written consent to
such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
(ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate or an
Approved Fund of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender's Revolving Commitment, A Term Commitment and/or B Term
Commitment, as applicable, the amount of the Revolving Commitment, A Term
Commitment and/or B Term Commitment, as applicable, of the assigning Lender
subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and
Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative
Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (iii) the parties to each assignment
shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and
Acceptance together with, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, a
processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (iv) the assignee, if it shall not
be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative
Questionnaire, and provided further, that any consent of the Borrower otherwise
required under this paragraph shall not be required if a Default has occurred
and is continuing. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to
paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in
each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto
and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance,
have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, and the
assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest

                                       82
<PAGE>   84
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations
under the Loan Documents (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance
covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan
Documents, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be
entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 10.3). Any assignment or
transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under the Loan Documents that does
not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of the Loan
Documents as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and
obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an
agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in New York City a
copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of,
and principal amount of the Revolving Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each
Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent clearly demonstrable error,
and the Borrower and each Credit Party may treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for
all purposes of this Credit Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.
The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Credit
Party, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice.

                  (d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and
Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's
completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a
Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph
(b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by
paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such
Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the
Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Credit Agreement
unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

                  (e) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or any
Credit Party, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each
such bank or other entity being called a "Participant") in all or a portion of
such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents (including all or
a portion of its Commitment and the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to it),
provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under the Loan Documents shall
remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Loan
Parties and the Credit Parties shall continue to deal solely and directly with
such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under the
Loan Documents. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells
such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right
to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or
waiver of any provision of any Loan Documents, provided that such agreement
or instrument may provide that such
                                       83
<PAGE>   85
Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment,
modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 10.2(b) that
affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrower
agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.5,
3.6 and 3.7 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its
interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent
permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 10.8 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees
to be subject to Section 2.10(c) as though it were a Lender.

                  (f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater
payment under Sections 3.5, 3.6 or 3.7 than the Lender would have been entitled
to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless
the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's
prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a
Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.7 unless the Borrower
is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant
agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.7(e) as though
it were a Lender.

                  (g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security
interest in all or any portion of its rights under the Loan Documents to secure
obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure
obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any
such pledge or assignment of a security interest, provided that no such pledge
or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its
obligations under the Loan Documents or substitute any such pledgee or assignee
for such Lender as a party hereto.

         Section 10.5 Survival

                  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made
by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or
delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other
Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties
hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of any Loan Document and the
making of any Loans and the issuance of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any
investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding
that any Credit Party may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or
incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended
hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal
of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any LC Disbursement or any fee or any
other amount payable under the Loan Documents is outstanding and unpaid or any
Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired
or terminated. The provisions of Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 10.3 and Article 9
shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the LC
Disbursements, the expiration or

                                       84
<PAGE>   86
termination of the Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments or
the termination of this Credit Agreement or any provision hereof.

         Section 10.6 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

                  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by
different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute
but one contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect
to fees payable to any Credit Party constitute the entire contract among the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous
agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter
hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.1, this Credit Agreement shall become
effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when
the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when
taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and
thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this Credit Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Credit Agreement.

         Section 10.7 Severability

                  In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in
this Credit Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being
understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular
jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in
any other jurisdiction). The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations
to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid
provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of
the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

         Section 10.8 Right of Setoff

                  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any
time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,
provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing
by it to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all
the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Credit
Agreement held by it, irrespective of whether or not it shall have made any
demand under this Credit Agreement and although such obligations may be
unmatured. The rights of each the Lenders and their respective Affiliates under
this

                                       85
<PAGE>   87
Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of
setoff) that it may have.

         Section 10.9 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

                  (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  (b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any
New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in
New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Credit Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, all claims in respect of any such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto
agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Credit Agreement shall
affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any other Credit Party may
otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Credit
Agreement or the other Loan Documents against the Borrower, or any of its
property, in the courts of any jurisdiction.

                  (c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Credit Agreement or the
other Loan Documents in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.
Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

                  (d) Each party to this Credit Agreement irrevocably consents
to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1.
Nothing in this Credit Agreement will affect the right of any party to this
Credit Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

         Section 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

                  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT
OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS

                                       86
<PAGE>   88
AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR
ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH
OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS
AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

         Section 10.11 Headings

                  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used
herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Credit
Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Credit Agreement.

         Section 10.12 Interest Rate Limitation

                  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any
time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges
and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law
(collectively the "charges"), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "maximum
rate") that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the
Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest
payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all of the charges
payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the maximum rate and, to the
extent lawful, the interest and the charges that would have been payable in
respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this
Section shall be cumulated, and the interest and the charges payable to such
Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above
the maximum rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest
thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been
received by such Lender.

         Section 10.13 Treatment of Certain Information

                  Each Credit Party agrees to use reasonable precautions to keep
confidential, in accordance with their customary procedures for handling
confidential information of the same nature, all information supplied by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Credit Agreement that (a) is clearly
identified by such Person as being confidential at the time the same is
delivered to such Credit Party, or (b) constitutes any financial statement,
financial projections or forecasts, budget, compliance certificate, audit
report, management letter or accountants' certification delivered hereunder
("Information"), provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit the
disclosure of any such Information (i) to such of their respective Related
Parties as need to know such Information, (ii) to the extent required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, or
requested by any bank regulatory authority,

                                       87
<PAGE>   89
(iii) on a confidential basis, to prospective lenders or their counsel, (iv) to
auditors or accountants, and any analogous counterpart thereof, (v) to any other
Credit Party, (vi) in connection with any litigation to which any one or more of
the Credit Parties is a party, (vii) to the extent such Information (A) is or
becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Credit
Agreement, (B) is or becomes available to any of the Credit Parties on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
or (C) was, is or becomes available to the Credit Parties on a non-confidential
basis prior to its disclosure to any of them by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
and (viii) to the extent the Borrower shall have consented to such disclosure in
writing.

                                       88
<PAGE>   90
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

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

                                             PENTON MEDIA, INC.

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   91
                                PENTON MEDIA INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                       as Administrative Agent

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name: Benjamin B. Todres
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title: Vice President
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   92
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   93
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   94
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      ALLFIRST BANK

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   95
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      BANK OF MONTREAL, CHICAGO BRANCH

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   96
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      BANKBOSTON, N.A.

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   97
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      CITY NATIONAL BANK

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   98
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   99
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      DRESDNER BANK AG, NEW YORK AND
                                      GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   100
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   101
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   102
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   103
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      NATIONAL CITY BANK

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   104
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      PARIBAS S.A.

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   105
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   106
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      SUNTRUST BANK, CENTRAL FLORIDA, N.A.

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   107
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      VAN KAMPEN SENIOR INCOME TRUST

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   108
                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                      VAN KAMPEN SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND

                                             By:
                                                --------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------
<PAGE>   109
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS.................................................................................   1

   SECTION 1.1 DEFINED TERMS...........................................................................   1
   SECTION 1.2 CLASSIFICATION OF LOANS AND BORROWINGS..................................................  20
   SECTION 1.3 TERMS GENERALLY.........................................................................  20
   SECTION 1.4 ACCOUNTING TERMS; GAAP..................................................................  20
   SECTION 1.5 CALCULATION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL TERMS..................................................  21

ARTICLE 2. THE CREDITS.................................................................................  21

   SECTION 2.1 COMMITMENTS.............................................................................  21
   SECTION 2.2 LOANS AND BORROWINGS....................................................................  22
   SECTION 2.3 REQUESTS FOR BORROWINGS.................................................................  22
   SECTION 2.4 FUNDING OF BORROWINGS...................................................................  23
   SECTION 2.5 TERMINATION, REDUCTION AND INCREASE OF REVOLVING COMMITMENTS............................  24
   SECTION 2.6 REPAYMENT OF LOANS; EVIDENCE OF DEBT....................................................  27
   SECTION 2.7 PREPAYMENT OF LOANS.....................................................................  30
   SECTION 2.8 LETTERS OF CREDIT.......................................................................  31
   SECTION 2.9 SWINGLINE LOANS.........................................................................  36
   SECTION 2.10 PAYMENTS GENERALLY; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF SETOFFS.............................  38

ARTICLE 3. INTEREST, FEES, YIELD PROTECTION, ETC.......................................................  40

   SECTION 3.1 INTEREST................................................................................  40
   SECTION 3.2 INTEREST ELECTIONS......................................................................  41
   SECTION 3.3 FEES....................................................................................  42
   SECTION 3.4 ALTERNATE RATE OF INTEREST..............................................................  43
   SECTION 3.5 INCREASED COSTS; ILLEGALITY.............................................................  44
   SECTION 3.6 BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS..................................................................  46
   SECTION 3.7 TAXES...................................................................................  46
   SECTION 3.8 MITIGATION OBLIGATIONS..................................................................  47

ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..............................................................  48

   SECTION 4.1 ORGANIZATION; POWERS....................................................................  48
   SECTION 4.2 AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABILITY...........................................................  49
   SECTION 4.3 GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS; NO CONFLICTS....................................................  49
   SECTION 4.4 FINANCIAL CONDITION; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.........................................  49
   SECTION 4.5 PROPERTIES..............................................................................  50
   SECTION 4.6 LITIGATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS....................................................  40
   SECTION 4.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND AGREEMENTS.....................................................  51
   SECTION 4.8 INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY STATUS...................................................  51
   SECTION 4.9 TAXES...................................................................................  51
   SECTION 4.10 ERISA..................................................................................  51
   SECTION 4.11 DISCLOSURE.............................................................................  52
   SECTION 4.12 SUBSIDIARIES...........................................................................  52
   SECTION 4.13 INSURANCE..............................................................................  52
   SECTION 4.14 LABOR MATTERS..........................................................................  52
   SECTION 4.15 SOLVENCY...............................................................................  53
   SECTION 4.16 SECURITY DOCUMENTS.....................................................................  53
   SECTION 4.17 FEDERAL RESERVE REGULATIONS............................................................  54
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>   110
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
   SECTION 4.18 YEAR 2000..............................................................................  54

ARTICLE 5. CONDITIONS..................................................................................  55

   SECTION 5.1 EFFECTIVE DATE..........................................................................  55
   SECTION 5.2 EACH CREDIT EVENT.......................................................................  58

ARTICLE 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.......................................................................  59

   SECTION 6.1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION..............................................  59
   SECTION 6.2 NOTICES OF MATERIAL EVENTS..............................................................  61
   SECTION 6.3 EXISTENCE; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..........................................................  61
   SECTION 6.4 PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS..................................................................  61
   SECTION 6.5 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES...............................................................  62
   SECTION 6.6 BOOKS AND RECORDS; INSPECTION RIGHTS....................................................  62
   SECTION 6.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS....................................................................  62
   SECTION 6.8 USE OF PROCEEDS.........................................................................  62
   SECTION 6.9 INFORMATION REGARDING COLLATERAL........................................................  62
   SECTION 6.10 INSURANCE..............................................................................  63
   SECTION 6.11 CASUALTY AND CONDEMNATION..............................................................  63
   SECTION 6.12 ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARIES................................................................  64
   SECTION 6.13 FURTHER ASSURANCES.....................................................................  64
   SECTION 6.14 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE...............................................................  66
   SECTION 6.15 INTEREST RATE PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS..................................................  66

ARTICLE 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS..........................................................................  66

   SECTION 7.1 INDEBTEDNESS............................................................................  66
   SECTION 7.2 LIENS...................................................................................  68
   SECTION 7.3 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES.....................................................................  68
   SECTION 7.4 INVESTMENTS, LOANS, ADVANCES, GUARANTEES AND ACQUISITIONS...............................  69
   SECTION 7.5 ASSET SALES.............................................................................  70
   SECTION 7.6 SALE AND LEASE-BACK TRANSACTIONS........................................................  71
   SECTION 7.7 HEDGING AGREEMENTS......................................................................  71
   SECTION 7.8 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.....................................................................  71
   SECTION 7.9 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES............................................................  72
   SECTION 7.10 RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENTS.................................................................  72
   SECTION 7.11 LINE OF BUSINESS.......................................................................  72
   SECTION 7.12 PREPAYMENTS OF INDEBTEDNESS............................................................  73
   SECTION 7.13 INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO................................................................  73
   SECTION 7.14 FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO............................................................  73
   SECTION 7.15 LEVERAGE RATIO.........................................................................  73

ARTICLE 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT...........................................................................  73

ARTICLE 9. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT....................................................................  76

ARTICLE 10. MISCELLANEOUS..............................................................................  78

   SECTION 10.1 NOTICES................................................................................  78
   SECTION 10.2 WAIVERS; AMENDMENTS....................................................................  79
   SECTION 10.3 EXPENSES; INDEMNITY; DAMAGE WAIVER.....................................................  80
   SECTION 10.4 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.................................................................  82
   SECTION 10.5 SURVIVAL...............................................................................  84
   SECTION 10.6 COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS...............................................  85
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   111
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
   SECTION 10.7 SEVERABILITY...........................................................................  5
   SECTION 10.8 RIGHT OF SETOFF........................................................................  5
   SECTION 10.9 GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS.............................  6
   SECTION 10.10 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL..................................................................  6
   SECTION 10.11 HEADINGS..............................................................................  7
   SECTION 10.12 INTEREST RATE LIMITATION..............................................................  7
   SECTION 10.13 TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INFORMATION......................................................  7
</TABLE>

SCHEDULES:

Schedule 2.1                   Commitments
Schedule 4.5                   Real Property
Schedule 4.6                   Disclosed Matters
Schedule 4.12                  Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.13                  Insurance
Schedule 7.1                   Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.2                   Existing Liens
Schedule 7.4                   Existing Investments
Schedule 7.10                  Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A                      Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B                      Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel
Exhibit C-1                    Form of Note
Exhibit C-2                    Form of Swingline Note
Exhibit D                      Form of Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit E                      Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit F                      Terms of Approved Subordinated Debt
Exhibit G                      Form of Revolving Increase Supplement<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

                               PENTON MEDIA, INC.

                           SENIOR EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN

         1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Senior Executive Bonus Plan (the "Plan")
is to attract and retain key executives for Penton Media, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and its Subsidiaries and to provide such persons
with incentives for superior performance. Incentive Bonus payments made under
the Plan are intended to constitute qualified "performance-based compensation"
for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, and Section 1.162-27 of the
Regulations, and the Plan shall be construed consistently with such intention.

         2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan,

                  "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
                  from time to time.

                  "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board or
                  any other committee appointed by the Board to administer the
                  Plan; provided, however, that in any event the Committee shall
                  be comprised of not less than two directors of the Company,
                  each of whom shall qualify as an "outside director" for
                  purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and Section
                  1.162-27(e)(3) of the Regulations.

                  "COMMON STOCK" means (i) shares of the common stock, par value
                  $.01, of the Company and (ii) any security into which Common
                  Stock may be converted by reason of any corporate capital
                  transaction.

                  "ELIGIBLE EXECUTIVE" means the Company's Chief Executive
                  Officer and each other executive officer of the Company that
                  the Committee determines is, or is likely to become, a
                  "covered employee" of the Company within the meaning of
                  Section 162(m) of the Code and Section 1.162-27(c)(2) of the
                  Regulations.

                  "INCENTIVE BONUS" shall mean, for each Eligible Executive, a
                  bonus opportunity amount determined by the Committee pursuant
                  to Section 5 below.

                  "MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES" means the achievement of a performance
                  objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for
                  Eligible Executives. Management Objectives may be described in
                  terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are
                  related to the performance of the individual Eligible

                                       1
<PAGE>   2
                  Executive or of the Subsidiary, division, department or
                  function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the
                  Eligible Executive is employed. The Management Objectives
                  shall be limited to specified levels of or growth in:

                           (i)      return on invested capital;

                           (ii)     earnings per share;

                           (iii)    net earnings;

                           (iv)     operating profit;

                           (v)      pre-tax profit;

                           (vi)     after-tax cash flow per share;

                           (vii)    business unit contribution profit;

                           (viii)   earnings before interest expense, income tax
                                    expense, depreciation and amortization;

                           (ix)     total shareholder return (including relative
                                    to an index);

                           (x)      return on assets;

                           (xi)     return on equity;

                           (xii)    sales growth; and/or

                           (xiii)   productivity improvement.

                  "REGULATIONS" mean the Treasury Regulations promulgated under
                  the Code, as amended from time to time.

                  "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture,
                  unincorporated association or other entity in which the
                  Company has a direct or indirect ownership or other equity
                  interest.

         3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee, which shall have full power and authority to construe, interpret and
administer the Plan and shall have the exclusive right to establish Management
Objectives and the amount of Incentive Bonus payable to each Eligible Executive
upon the achievement of the specified Management Objectives.

         4. ELIGIBILITY. Eligibility under this Plan is limited to Eligible
Executives designated by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.

         5. AWARDS.

                  (a) Not later than the 90th day of each fiscal year of the
         Company, the Committee shall establish the Management Objectives for
         each Eligible Executive and the amount of Incentive Bonus payable (or
         formula for determining such amount) upon full achievement of the
         specified Management Objectives. The Committee may further specify in
         respect of the specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable
         level of achievement below which no Incentive Bonus payment will be
         made and shall set forth a formula for determining the amount of any
         payment to be made if performance is at or above the minimum acceptable
         level but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management
         Objectives. The Committee may not modify any terms of awards

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
         established pursuant to this section, except to the extent that after
         such modification the Incentive Bonus would continue to constitute
         qualified "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Section
         162(m) of the Code.

                  (b) The Committee retains the discretion to reduce the amount
         of any Incentive Bonus that would be otherwise payable to an Eligible
         Executive (including a reduction in such amount to zero).

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the
         contrary, in no event shall the Incentive Bonus paid to an Eligible
         Executive under the Plan for a year exceed $2,000,000.

         6. COMMITTEE CERTIFICATION. As soon as reasonably practicable after the
end of each fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall determine whether
the Management Objective has been achieved and the amount of the Incentive Bonus
to be paid to each Eligible Executive for such fiscal year and shall certify
such determinations in writing. The Committee at such time shall further
specify, at its discretion, whether the amount of Incentive Bonus shall be paid
in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof. To the extent an
Incentive Bonus is paid in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares of
Common Stock shall be based on the closing price of Common Stock on the New York
Stock Exchange on the date of Committee certification. The Company shall not be
required to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan,
and any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.

         7. PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE BONUSES. Subject to a valid election made by an
Eligible Executive with respect to the deferral of all or a portion of his or
her Incentive Bonus, including any such deferral into the Company's Management
Stock Purchase Plan, Incentive Bonuses shall be paid within 30 days after
written certification pursuant to Section 6.

         8. NO RIGHT TO BONUS OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. Neither the establishment
of the Plan, the provision for or payment of any amounts hereunder nor any
action of the Company, the Board or the Committee with respect to the Plan shall
be held or construed to confer upon any person (a) any legal right to receive,
or any interest in, an Incentive Bonus or any other benefit under the Plan or
(b) any legal right to continue to serve as an officer or employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

         9. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right to withhold, or
require an Eligible Executive to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to
satisfy any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax
requirements imposed with respect to the payment of any Incentive Bonus.

         10. NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as expressly provided by the Committee,
the rights and benefits under the Plan shall not be transferable or assignable
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         11. EFFECTIVE DATE. Subject to its approval by the shareholders, this
Plan shall become effective for bonuses earned in years beginning with the year
2000 and shall remain effective until the fifth anniversary of the date of such
approval, subject to any further shareholder approvals (or reapprovals) mandated
for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, and subject
to the right of the Board to terminate the Plan, on a prospective basis only, at
any time.

                                       4

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