Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1
================================================================================

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                  dated as of

                                  May 31, 2002

                                     among

                           J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.,
                        J. C. PENNEY CORPORATION, INC.,
                      J. C. PENNEY PURCHASING CORPORATION,

                            The Lenders Party Hereto,

                              JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
                            as Administrative Agent,

                                       and

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                  as LC Agent

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

                          J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
                    as Sole Bookrunner and Co-Lead Arranger

                           CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON,
                              as Co-Lead Arranger

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

<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms ..............................................    1
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings .....................   28
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally ............................................   29
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP .....................................   29

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments ................................................   30
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings .......................................   30
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings ..........................   31
SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans ............................................   32
SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit ..........................................   34
SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings ......................................   41
SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections .........................................   42
SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of
                Commitments; Increase in
                Commitments ..............................................   44
SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .......................   47
SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans ........................................   48
SECTION 2.11. Fees .......................................................   49
SECTION 2.12. Interest ...................................................   50
SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest .................................   51
SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs ............................................   52
SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments .....................................   53
SECTION 2.16. Taxes ......................................................   54
SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment;
                Sharing of Set-offs ......................................   57
SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of
                Lenders ..................................................   60
SECTION 2.19. Extension of Maturity Date .................................   64
SECTION 2.20. Borrowing Subsidiaries .....................................   66

<PAGE>

                                                                               2

                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers .......................................   67
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability ..............................   67
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts .......................   67
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse
                Change ...................................................   68
SECTION 3.05. Properties .................................................   68
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters .......................   68
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements ........................   69
SECTION 3.08. Investment and Holding Company Status ......................   69
SECTION 3.09. Taxes ......................................................   69
SECTION 3.10. ERISA ......................................................   70
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure .................................................   70
SECTION 3.12. Material Subsidiaries ......................................   70

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   Conditions

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date .............................................   71
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event ..........................................   73
SECTION 4.03. Borrowing Subsidiaries .....................................   73

                                    ARTICLE V

                              Affirmative Covenants

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Ratings Change
                and Other Information ....................................   74
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events .................................   76
SECTION 5.03. Information Regarding Collateral ...........................   76
SECTION 5.04. Existence; Conduct of Business .............................   77
SECTION 5.05  Payment of Obligations .....................................   78
SECTION 5.06. Maintenance of Properties ..................................   78
SECTION 5.07. Insurance ..................................................   78
SECTION 5.08. Books and Records; Inspection Rights;
                Inventory Audits .........................................   78
SECTION 5.09. Compliance with Laws .......................................   79
SECTION 5.10. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit ......................   79
SECTION 5.11. Additional Guarantee Parties ...............................   79
SECTION 5.12. Further Assurances .........................................   80

<PAGE>

                                                                               3

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               Negative Covenants

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness ...............................................   80
SECTION 6.02. Liens ......................................................   82
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes ........................................   83
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances,
                Guarantees and Acquisitions ..............................   84
SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales ................................................   85
SECTION 6.06. Restrictive Agreements .....................................   86
SECTION 6.07. Leverage Ratio .............................................   87
SECTION 6.08. Asset Coverage Ratio .......................................   87
SECTION 6.09. Restriction on Non-Material
                Subsidiaries .............................................   87

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                Events of Default ........................   88

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                             The Administrative Agent ....................   91

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01. Notices ....................................................   94
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments ........................................   95
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .........................   96
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns .....................................   98
SECTION 9.05. Survival ...................................................  102
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration;
                Effectiveness ............................................  103
SECTION 9.07. Severability ...............................................  103
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff ............................................  103
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent
                to Service of Process ....................................  104
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .......................................  105
SECTION 9.11. Headings ...................................................  105
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality ............................................  105
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation ...................................  106
SECTION 9.14. Acknowledgment .............................................  106

<PAGE>

                                                                               4

SCHEDULES:

Schedule 1.01 -- Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 2.01 -- Commitments
Schedule 2.05 -- Issuing Banks
Schedule 3.06 -- Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.12 -- Material Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01 -- Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 -- Existing Liens
Schedule 6.04 -- Existing Investments
Schedule 6.06 -- Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A -- Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B -- Form of Opinion of Counsel of Holdings, the Parent Borrower and the
             Account Party
Exhibit C -- Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

<PAGE>

                   CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 31, 2002,
      among J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC., J. C. PENNEY CORPORATION,
      INC., J. C. PENNEY PURCHASING CORPORATION, the LENDERS party hereto,
      JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Administrative Agent, and
      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as LC Agent.

                      The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   Definitions

     SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings specified below:

     "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.

     "Account Parties" means the Parent Borrower and Purchasing.

     "Additional Costs" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.14(c).

     "Additional Grantor" means any Subsidiary of the Parent Borrower that is
designated by the Parent Borrower, with the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, to become a party to the Collateral Agreement for the
purpose of granting a security interest in such Subsidiary's inventory; provided
that the Parent Borrower shall cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to
be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary immediately upon such Subsidiary
becoming an Additional Grantor.

     "Additional Inventory" means, with respect to any Additional Grantor, any
inventory owned by such Additional Grantor that the Parent Borrower and the
Administrative Agent agree, in writing, shall be deemed to be "Collateral" under
the Collateral Agreement.

     "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

<PAGE>

                                                                               2

 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by
(b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

     "Administrative Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

     "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.

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

     "Applicable Lending Office" means, for each Issuing Bank or Lender, the
office or branch of such Issuing Bank or Lender (or an affiliate of such Issuing
Bank or Lender) designated in an Administrative Questionnaire delivered by such
Issuing Bank or Lender to the Administrative Agent or such other office or
branch of such Issuing Bank or Lender as such Issuing Bank or Lender may, from
time to time, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, specify to the
Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Account Parties as the office or
branch by which its Letters of Credit, Loans or Commitments, as applicable, are
to be made and maintained.

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

     "Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or
Eurodollar Revolving Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable
hereunder, as the

<PAGE>

                                                                               3

case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption
"ABR Spread", "Eurodollar Spread", "Standby Letter of Credit Fee Rate" or
"Commitment Fee Rate", as the case may be, based upon the corporate credit
ratings (or the equivalent thereof) (in each case, a "Rating") assigned by
Moody's and S&P, respectively, applicable on such date to the Parent Borrower:

================================================================================
     Ratings         ABR    Eurodollar   Stand-by Letter of      Commitment Fee
   Moody's/S&P:    Spread     Spread      Credit Fee Rate              Rate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Category 1
   $Baa1/BBB+       0.00%      1.00%            0.875%               0.175%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Category 2
    Baa2/BBB        0.25%      1.25%            1.125%               0.250%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Category 3
     Baa3/BBB-      0.50%      1.50%            1.375%               0.375%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Category 4
     Ba1/BB+        0.75%      1.75%            1.625%               0.500%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Category 5
     #Ba2/BB        1.25%      2.25%            2.125%               0.500%
================================================================================

     For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if either Moody's or S&P shall not have
in effect a Rating for the Parent Borrower (other than by reason of the
circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then such
rating agency shall be deemed to have established a Rating in Category 5 (unless
otherwise agreed to by the Required Lenders); (b) if the Ratings established or
deemed to have been established by Moody's and S&P for the Parent Borrower shall
fall within different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the
higher of the two Ratings unless one of the two Ratings is two or more
Categories lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be
determined by reference to the Category next below that of the higher of the two
Ratings; and (c) if the Ratings established or deemed to have been established
by Moody's and S&P for the Parent Borrower shall be changed (other than as a
result of a change in the rating system of Moody's or S&P), such change shall be
effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating
agency, irrespective of when notice of such change shall have been furnished by
Holdings or the Parent Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
pursuant to Section 5.01 or otherwise. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall
apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and
ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such
change. If the rating system of Moody's or S&P shall change, or if either such
rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt
obligations, the Parent Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith
to amend this definition to reflect such changed

<PAGE>

                                                                               4

rating system or the unavailability of Ratings from such rating agency and,
pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be
determined by reference to the Rating most recently in effect prior to such
change or cessation.

     "Assessment Rate" means, for any day, the annual assessment rate in effect
on such day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund classified as
"well-capitalized" and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a comparable
successor risk classification) within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Part 327 (or any
successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for insurance
by such Corporation of time deposits made in dollars at the offices of such
member in the United States; provided that if, as a result of any change in any
law, rule or regulation, it is no longer possible to determine the Assessment
Rate as aforesaid, then the Assessment Rate shall be such annual rate as shall
be determined by the Administrative Agent to be representative of the cost of
such insurance to the Lenders.

     "Asset Coverage Certificate" means a certificate setting forth the
calculation of the Asset Coverage Ratio and signed on behalf of the Parent
Borrower by a Financial Officer.

     "Asset Coverage Ratio" means, on any date, the ratio of (a) the book value
of all Eligible Inventory as of the last day of the fiscal month ended on or
most recently prior to such date, determined in accordance with GAAP as applied
on a consistent basis (including the deduction of any marked-down inventory
reserves in accordance with GAAP), to (b) the sum of (i) the total amount that
Holdings and the Subsidiaries would be required to pay (taking into account any
netting agreements) if all Swap Agreements to which they are parties were
terminated as of the last day of the fiscal quarter ended on or most recently
prior to such date (but only to the extent that such payment obligations
constitute Obligations) plus (ii) total Revolving Credit Exposures as of such
date.

     "Assignment and Assumption" means an assignment and assumption entered into
by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is
required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form
of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

<PAGE>

                                                                               5

     "Augmenting Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(d).

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

     "Base CD Rate" means the sum of (a) the Three-Month Secondary CD Rate
multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus (b) the Assessment Rate.

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

     "Borrowers" means the Parent Borrower and, if eligible to be a Borrower at
the time in accordance with Section 2.20, each Borrowing Subsidiary.

     "Borrowing" means (a) Revolving Loans 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.

     "Borrowing Request" means a request by a Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing
in accordance with Section 2.03.

     "Borrowing Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary with respect to which a
Subsidiary Borrower Election shall have been executed and delivered as provided
in Section 2.20 and with respect to which a Subsidiary Borrower Termination has
not been executed as provided in Section 2.20.

     "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.

<PAGE>

                                                                               6

     "Change in Control" means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or
indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person other than Holdings or a
wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings of any Equity Interest in the Parent
Borrower; (b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially
or of record, 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) other than any retirement or savings
plan for employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, of Equity Interests
representing more than 40% of either the aggregate ordinary voting power or the
aggregate equity value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity
Interests in Holdings, other than pursuant to a Permitted Holding Company
Reorganization; (c) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant
seats) on the board of directors of Holdings by Persons who were neither (i)
nominated by the board of directors of Holdings nor (ii) appointed by directors
so nominated; or (d) the occurrence of a "Change in Control", as defined in the
Subordinated Note Indenture.

     "Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after
the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in
the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after
the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or any Issuing Bank
(or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by
such Lender's or such Issuing Bank'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 Agreement.

     "Change in Location" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16.

     "Charges" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

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

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

     "Collateral" means any and all "Collateral", as defined in the Collateral
Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                                                               7

     "Collateral Agreement" means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among
the Guarantee Parties, the Additional Grantors and the Administrative Agent,
substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

     "Collateral and Guarantee Requirement" means the requirement that:

               (a) the Administrative Agent shall have received from each
          Guarantee Party and each Additional Grantor either (i) a counterpart
          of the Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of
          such Guarantee Party or (ii) in the case of any Person that becomes a
          Guarantee Party or an Additional Grantor after the Effective Date, a
          supplement to the Collateral Agreement, in the form specified therein,
          duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Guarantee Party or such
          Additional Grantor;

               (b) all documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial
          Code financing statements, required by law or reasonably requested by
          the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded to create
          the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Agreement and
          perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority
          required by, the Collateral Agreement, shall have been filed,
          registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for
          filing, registration or recording; and

               (c) each Guarantee Party and each Additional Grantor shall have
          obtained all consents and approvals required to be obtained by it in
          connection with the execution and delivery of the Collateral
          Agreement, the performance of its obligations thereunder and, in the
          case of the Parent Borrower and any Additional Grantor, the granting
          by it of the Liens thereunder.

     "Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such
Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of
Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the
maximum aggregate amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder,
as such commitment may be (a) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to
Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to
assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of
each Lender's Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its

<PAGE>

                                                                               8

Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Commitments is $1,500,000,000.

     "Commitment Increase" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(e).

     "Consenting Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for
such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in
determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) consolidated interest
expense for such period plus (ii) consolidated financing costs associated with
securitization programs for such period plus (iii) consolidated income tax
expense for such period plus (iv) all amounts attributable to depreciation and
amortization for such period plus (v) any extraordinary or other non-recurring
non-cash charges (it being understood that the write-down or write-off of any
inventory or accounts receivable shall not be construed to be a non-recurring
non-cash charge) for such period, provided that in the event Holdings or any
Subsidiary makes any cash payment in respect of any such non-cash charge, such
cash payment shall be deducted from Consolidated EBITDA in the period in which
such payment is made, and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent
included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, any extraordinary or other
non-recurring gains for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income or loss of
Holdings and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income of
any Person (other than Holdings) in which any other Person (other than Holdings
or any Subsidiary or any director holding qualifying shares in compliance with
applicable law) owns an Equity Interest, except to the extent of the amount of
dividends or other distributions actually paid to Holdings or any of the
Subsidiaries during such period, and (b) the income or loss of any Person
accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or
consolidated with Holdings or any Subsidiary or the date that such Person's
assets are acquired by Holdings or any Subsidiary.

     "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 the

<PAGE>

                                                                               9

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

     "Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
Default or which 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 3.06.

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

     "Eckerd Companies" means TDI Consolidated Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and its Subsidiaries.

     "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions specified in
Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

     "Eligible Inventory" means (a) all inventory of the Parent Borrower located
in the United States of America, other than consignment inventory (including
inventory subject to "sale or return" arrangements) and import inventory that is
in transit from a location outside of the United States of America, and (b) all
Additional Inventory located in the United States of America, other than
consignment inventory (including inventory subject to "sale or return"
arrangements) and import inventory that is in transit from a location outside of
the United States of America; provided that, unless and until the Liens granted
under the Collateral Agreement are released as provided in Section 9.02(c), any
such inventory or Additional Inventory shall constitute "Eligible Inventory"
only if such inventory is subject to a perfected first-priority Lien securing
the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Agreement.

     "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.

<PAGE>

                                                                              10

     "Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise
(including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines,
penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Subsidiary 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.

     "Equity Interests" means shares of capital stock, partnership interests,
membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a
trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options
or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such
equity interest.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and the final rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, as from time to time in effect.

     "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
that, together with Holdings, 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 Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan;
(e) the receipt by Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan
administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or
Plans (other than a termination initiated by Holdings or an ERISA Affiliate) or
to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the

<PAGE>

                                                                              11

incurrence by Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with
respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer
Plan; or (g) the receipt by Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or
the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from Holdings 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 VII.

     "Excluded Subsidiary" means, at any date, any Realty Company that is not a
Material Subsidiary as of such date. For purposes of determining whether a
Realty Company is a Material Subsidiary, the computations required by the
definition of the term "Material Subsidiary" shall be made including the
accounts of all Excluded Subsidiaries.

     "Existing Credit Agreements" means (a) the $1,500,000,000 Five-Year
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 1996, amended and restated as
of November 21, 1997, among the Parent Borrower, Funding, the financial
institutions named therein as lenders, JPMorgan Chase Bank (successor to the
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as agent for the lenders, and Bank
of America National Trust and Savings Association, Bankers Trust Company,
Citibank, N.A., Credit Suisse First Boston and NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as
managing agents, and (b) the Existing LC Agreement.

     "Existing Indentures" means (a) the Indenture dated as of May 1, 1981, as
amended, between the Parent Borrower and JPMorgan Chase Bank (successor to
Chemical Bank), as trustee, (b) the Indenture dated as of October 1, 1982, as
amended, between the Parent Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association
(successor to Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association), as
trustee, (c) the Indenture dated as of April 1, 1994, as amended, between the
Parent Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association (successor to Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association), as trustee, and (d) the Subordinated
Note Indenture.

<PAGE>

                                                                              12

     "Existing LC Agreement" means the Letter of Credit Agreement dated as of
August 17, 2001, among the Parent Borrower, Purchasing, the lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent.

     "Existing Letter of Credit" means (a) any letter of credit identified on
Schedule 1.01 that is outstanding on the Effective Date and (b) any letter of
credit that is outstanding under the Existing LC Agreement on the Effective
Date.

     "Extended Maturity Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Extending Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on
overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System
arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business
Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for 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, divisional vice president-chief accountant, treasurer, assistant
treasurer or controller of Holdings or the Parent Borrower.

     "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than that in which the Parent Borrower 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.

     "Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws
of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any State thereof
or the District of Columbia.

     "Funded Indebtedness" of any Person means, at any date for the
determination thereof, without duplication, the sum of (a) the outstanding
aggregate principal amount of all

<PAGE>

                                                                              13

Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or of a type described in clause
(c) or (d) of the definition of the term "Indebtedness", (b) the outstanding
aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of others of the type described
in the preceding clause (a) for the payment of which such Person is responsible
or liable as guarantor or otherwise and (c) the Securitization Amount as of such
date; provided that Funded Indebtedness shall not include (i) any obligations
under leases or any guarantees of obligations of others under leases, (ii) any
obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit, (iii) except as
provided in clause (b) above, any contingent obligations of such Person and (iv)
any Indebtedness of Holdings to any Subsidiary or of any Subsidiary to Holdings
or any other Subsidiary. It is understood that for the purposes of this
definition the term "principal" when used at any date with respect to any
Indebtedness issued at a discount shall mean the amount of principal of such
Indebtedness that could be declared due and payable on that date upon the
occurrence of one or more events permitting the acceleration of such
Indebtedness pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness.

     "Funding" means J. C. Penney Funding Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
of America.

     "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

<PAGE>

                                                                              14

any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so
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.

     "Guarantee Parties" means Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the Material
Subsidiaries (other than the Eckerd Companies) and each Non-Material Subsidiary
that is required to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement in order
for Holdings and the Parent Borrower to remain in compliance with the provisions
of Section 6.09.

     "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.

     "Holdings" means J. C. Penney Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "Increase Effective Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(e).

     "Increasing Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(d).

     "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person
under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property
acquired by such Person, (d) 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), (e) all Indebtedness of
others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or
acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has
been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g)
all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person,

<PAGE>

                                                                              15

(h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party
in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (i) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances. 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.

     "Information Memorandum" means the Confidential Information Memorandum
dated April 2002 relating to the Parent Borrower and the Transactions.

     "Initial Loans" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(e).

     "Initial Maturity Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Interest Election Request" means a request by a Borrower to convert or
continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

     "Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than
a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December, (b)
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 Borrowing 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
and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such 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 or six months
(or, with the consent of each Lender, nine or twelve months) thereafter, as the
applicable Borrower may elect; provided that (a) 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

<PAGE>

                                                                              16

month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding
Business Day and (b) 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. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing
initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of
a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent
conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

     "Issuing Bank" means any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that agrees (as
provided in Section 2.05(i)) to issue Letters of Credit, in its capacity as an
issuer of Letters of Credit, and its respective successors and assigns in such
capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i). The initial Issuing Banks are
identified in Schedule 2.05. Subject to the consent of the Parent Borrower,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, any Issuing Bank may, in its
discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by one or
more of its Affiliates, in which case the term "Issuing Bank" shall include any
such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

     "LC Agent" means Wachovia Bank, National Association.

     "LC Disbursement" means a payment made by an 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 Account Parties 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 2.01 and any other Person
that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption,
other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment and Assumption, or as otherwise provided in Section 2.08(d) or
Section 2.19(a). Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Lenders"
includes the Swingline Lenders.

<PAGE>

                                                                              17

     "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this
Agreement. Each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a Letter
of Credit as of the Effective Date. Each Letter of Credit shall be either a
Trade Letter of Credit or a Stand-by Letter of Credit.

     "Leverage Ratio" means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Funded Indebtedness
of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) as of such date to
(b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of
Holdings ended on such date. For the sole purpose of determining compliance with
Section 6.07, the Parent Borrower may elect (by notice to the Administrative
Agent) to deduct from Funded Indebtedness, on no more than one date of
determination of the Leverage Ratio during the term of this Agreement, an amount
equal to the aggregate amount of cash that, on such date, has been deposited by
the Parent Borrower in a collateral account controlled by the Administrative
Agent subject to a perfected Lien to secure the Obligations; provided that (i)
such deducted amount shall not exceed $300,000,000 and (ii) the cash deposited
by the Parent Borrower in such collateral account shall remain in such
collateral account until the next date of determination of the Leverage Ratio.

     "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any
Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service
(or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or
substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those
currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the
Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of
interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a
maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not
available at such time for any reason, then the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such
Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar
deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are
offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.

<PAGE>

                                                                              18

     "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 and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional
sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing
lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing)
relating to such asset.

     "Loan" means a loan made by a Lender to a Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement.

     "Loan Documents" means this Agreement and the Collateral Agreement.

     "Loan Parties" means Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the Borrowing
Subsidiaries, the Account Parties, the Additional Grantors and each Material
Subsidiary that is a Guarantee Party.

     "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a materially adverse effect on the
business, assets, operations or condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of a Borrower or an
Account Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or (c) a
material impairment of the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under
any Loan Document (other than any such impairment of rights or benefits that is
primarily attributable to (i) action taken by one or more Lenders (excluding any
action against one or more Lenders taken by Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any
Borrowing Subsidiary, any Account Party, their subsidiaries or their affiliates)
or (ii) circumstances that are unrelated to Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any
Borrowing Subsidiary, any Account Party, their Subsidiaries or their
Affiliates).

     "Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and
Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of
any one or more of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal
amount exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness,
the "principal amount" of the obligations of Holdings or any Subsidiary in
respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount
(giving effect to any netting agreements) that Holdings or such Subsidiary would
be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

<PAGE>

                                                                              19

     "Material Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary
of Holdings then having Net Tangible Assets representing more than 3% of the
total Net Tangible Assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

     "Maturity Date" means May 31, 2005, subject to Section 2.19.

     "Maturity Date Extension" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Maximum Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

     "Merger" has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the
term "Permitted Holding Company Reorganization".

     "Merger Subsidiary" has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition
of the term "Permitted Holding Company Reorganization".

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

     "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any of Holdings, the Parent Borrower, Purchasing or
any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant
to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code) is making or accruing an
obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding plan years
made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

     "Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount at which the assets of
Holdings and its Subsidiaries are reflected, in accordance with GAAP as in
effect on the date hereof, on the asset side of the consolidated balance sheet,
as at the close of a monthly accounting period (selected by the Parent Borrower)
ending within the 65 days next preceding the date of determination, of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries (after deducting all valuation and qualifying reserves
relating to such assets), except any of the following described items that may
be included among such assets:

          (a) trademarks, patents, goodwill and similar intangibles;

          (b) investments in and advances to Subsidiaries; and

<PAGE>

                                                                              20

          (c) capital lease property rights,

after deducting from such amount current liabilities (other than deferred tax
effects) as reflected, in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date hereof,
on such balance sheet.

     "New Holdco" has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the
term "Permitted Holding Company Reorganization".

     "Non-Consenting Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.19(a).

     "Non-Increasing Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(d).

     "Non-Material Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination, any
Subsidiary of Holdings (other than any Eckerd Company) that is not a Material
Subsidiary.

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

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

     "Parent Borrower" means J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

     "Participant" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

     "Participation Amount" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.05(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
Exhibit III to the Collateral Agreement or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.

     "Permitted Acquisition" means any acquisition of all or substantially all
the assets of, or Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business
of a Person

<PAGE>

                                                                              21

that does not engage, to any extent material to Holdings and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole), in any business other than businesses of the type conducted
by the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof and businesses
reasonably related, ancillary or complementary to the business or businesses of
the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary if, immediately after giving effect
thereto, (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result
therefrom, (b) all transactions related thereto are consummated in accordance
with applicable laws, (c) in the case of an acquisition of Equity Interests in a
Person, 80% of the Equity Interests in such Person, and any other Subsidiary
resulting from such acquisition, shall be owned directly or indirectly by a
Guarantee Party (other than Holdings) and all actions required to be taken, if
any, with respect to each Subsidiary resulting from such acquisition under
Sections 5.12 and 5.13 have been taken, (d) the Parent Borrower and the
Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such
acquisition, with the covenant contained in Section 6.07 recomputed as of the
last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Parent Borrower for
which financial statements are available as if such acquisition had occurred on
the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and (e) the
Parent Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers'
certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (a), (c) and (d) above, together
with all relevant financial information for the business or entity being
acquired. Notwithstanding clause (c) above, in the case of an acquisition of 80%
of the Equity Interests in a Person that satisfies the other conditions
applicable to a Permitted Acquisition, such acquisition shall not fail to
qualify as a Permitted Acquisition solely by reason of such Person having
subsidiaries that are not 80% owned by such Person immediately prior to such
acquisition, provided that, at the time of such acquisition, the Consolidated
EBITDA attributable to all such non-wholly owned subsidiaries for the period of
four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date of such
acquisition for which financial information is available does not exceed 25% of
Consolidated EBITDA of such acquired Person for the same period.

<PAGE>

                                                                              22

     "Permitted Encumbrances" means:

               (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or governmental
          charges or levies that are not yet due or are being contested in
          compliance with Section 5.05;

               (b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', landlords',
          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 5.05;

               (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 VII;

               (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 Holdings or any Subsidiary; and

               (g) the special property interest of a consignor in respect of
          goods subject to consignment;

provided that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any Lien
securing Indebtedness.

     "Permitted Holding Company Reorganization" means a transaction pursuant to
which (a) a new subsidiary ("New Holdco") is organized as a direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings, (b) New Holdco organizes a new subsidiary
(the "Merger Subsidiary"), which subsidiary is a wholly owned Subsidiary of New
Holdco and (c) the Merger Subsidiary merges with and into Holdings (the
"Merger"), pursuant to which (i) each outstanding share of capital

<PAGE>

                                                                              23

stock of any class in Holdings is converted into one share of capital stock of
the same class of New Holdco so that each Person that beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, capital stock of Holdings immediately prior to the
consummation of the Merger continues to beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, the same percentage of capital stock of the same class in New Holdco
following the consummation of the Merger, (ii) each share of capital stock of
New Holdco owned by the Parent Borrower immediately prior to the consummation of
the Merger is cancelled and ceases to exist immediately following the
consummation of the Merger, (iii) Holdings becomes a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of New Holdco and (iv) no other Person receives any consideration;
provided that no such transaction shall constitute a "Permitted Holding Company
Reorganization" unless, at or prior to the consummation of the Merger, (A) New
Holdco shall become a Guarantee Party and shall take all actions necessary to
satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement as a Guarantee Party and (B)
New Holdco, Holdings, the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall
enter into an amendment to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, providing for (1) the addition of New
Holdco as a party to this Agreement as a Loan Party subject to the same
obligations and provisions as are applicable to Holdings hereunder, (2) the
substitution of New Holdco for Holdings in the definition of the term "Change in
Control" and in all contexts applicable to consolidated financial calculations
and reporting requirements (including in the definition of the term "Leverage
Ratio") and (3) the addition of a new paragraph in Section 6.03 to the effect
that New Holdco shall not engage in any business or activity other than the
ownership of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of Holdings and
activities incidental thereto and that New Holdco will not acquire any assets
(other than shares of capital stock of Holdings, cash and Permitted Investments)
or incur any liabilities (other than liabilities under the Loan Documents and
other Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement, liabilities imposed by law,
including tax liabilities, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and
permitted business and activities).

          "Permitted Investments" means:

          (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and
     interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of
     America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed
     by the full faith and credit of the United

<PAGE>

                                                                              24

          States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the
          date of acquisition thereof;

               (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from
          the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of
          acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from
          Moody's;

               (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker's acceptances
          and time deposits maturing within 270 days from the date of
          acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money
          market deposit accounts issued or offered by, (i) any domestic or
          offshore office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the
          United States of America or any State thereof or (ii) any office
          located within the United States of America of a commercial bank
          organized under the laws of any other country, in each case which has
          a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than
          $500,000,000;

               (d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not
          more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and
          entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria
          described in clause (c) above; and

               (e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set
          forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the
          Investment Company Act of 1940 and (ii) have portfolio assets of at
          least $3,000,000,000.

     "Permitted Long-Term Indebtedness" means unsecured Indebtedness for
borrowed money of Holdings or the Parent Borrower; provided that such
Indebtedness shall mature later than, and shall not be subject to any scheduled
payment of principal, mandatory sinking fund requirement or similar repayment
obligation prior to, the Initial Maturity Date.

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

     "Plan" means any pension plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to
the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code that is
maintained for employees of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate.

<PAGE>

                                                                              25

     "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from
time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal
office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from
and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

     "Proposed Effective Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(d).

     "Purchasing" means J. C. Penney Purchasing Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.

     "Rating" has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of the
term "Applicable Rate".

     "Realty Company" means each of JCP Realty Inc. and its Subsidiaries that is
principally engaged in the business of managing and owning real estate and real
estate-related interests.

     "Register" has the meaning assigned to such term in clause (iv) of Section
9.04(b).

     "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.

     "Relevant Date" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16.

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

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

     "Revolving Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

     "Securitization Amount" means, at any date of determination thereof and in
respect of any securitization of accounts receivable of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries, (a) in the case of a securitization of such accounts receivable
structured as a borrowing of loans

<PAGE>

                                                                              26

secured by such accounts receivable, the outstanding principal amount of
Indebtedness issued in respect of such securitization that is secured by such
accounts receivable and (b) in the case of a securitization of such accounts
receivable structured as a sale of such accounts receivable (other than a sale
of such accounts receivable to a Subsidiary), the aggregate amount of cash
consideration received by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries from such sale,
but only in respect of accounts receivable that remain uncollected as of such
date.

     "S&P" means Standard & Poor's.

     "Stand-by Letter of Credit" means any Letter of Credit that is not a Trade
Letter of Credit.

     "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 (a) with
respect to the Base CD Rate, for new negotiable nonpersonal time deposits in
dollars of over $100,000 with maturities approximately equal to three months and
(b) with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, 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.

     "Subordinated Note Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of October 15,
2001, between the Parent Borrower and The Bank of New York, as trustee, in
respect of the Subordinated Notes.

     "Subordinated Notes" means the Parent Borrower's 5% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due October 15, 2008.

     "Subsequent Borrowing" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.08(e).

<PAGE>

                                                                              27

     "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
(a) of which securities or other ownership 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, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise
Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the
parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

     "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of Holdings, including the Parent
Borrower but excluding any Excluded Subsidiary.

     "Subsidiary Borrower Election" means an agreement executed by the Parent
Borrower and a Subsidiary, and delivered to and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent, pursuant to which the Parent Borrower designates such
Subsidiary to be, and such Subsidiary agrees to be, a Borrower hereunder, in
accordance with Section 2.20. Each Subsidiary Borrower Election shall be in a
form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

     "Subsidiary Borrower Termination" means a notice executed by the Parent
Borrower and delivered to the Administrative Agent terminating a Subsidiary's
status as a Borrower hereunder in accordance with Section 2.20.

     "Swap Agreement" means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward,
future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or
settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or
debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or
measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar
transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom
stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services
provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of
Holdings or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

     "Swingline Exposure" means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of
all Swingline Loans

<PAGE>

                                                                              28

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 JPMorgan Chase Bank and each other Lender that
agrees to be a Swingline Lender hereunder as provided in Section 2.04, in each
case in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

     "Swingline Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

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

     "Three-Month Secondary CD Rate" means, for any day, the secondary market
rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in effect on such
day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) by
the Board through the public information telephone line of the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York (which rate will, under the current practices of the Board, be
published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week
following such day) or, if such rate is not so reported on such day or such next
preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations for
three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New York City
received at approximately 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day (or, if
such day is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) by the
Administrative Agent from three negotiable certificate of deposit dealers of
recognized standing selected by it.

     "Trade Letter of Credit" means any Letter of Credit issued for the purpose
of providing the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of
any materials, goods or services by an Account Party in the ordinary course of
business of such Account Party.

     "Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan
Party of the Loan Documents to which it is or is to be a party, the borrowing of
Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

     "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.

<PAGE>

                                                                              29

     "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.

     SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this
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 also may 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 1.03. 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 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 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.

     SECTION 1.04. 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 Holdings or the Parent Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that
Holdings or the Parent Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to

<PAGE>

                                                                              30

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 Holdings or the Parent Borrower that the 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 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. It is understood that all financial
computations hereunder with respect to Holdings and the Subsidiaries (including
computations of Consolidated EBITDA and Net Tangible Assets and compliance with
Section 6.07) shall be made excluding the accounts of all Excluded Subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Credits

     SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers from time to
time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will
not result in (a) such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such
Lender's Commitment or (b) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures
exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and
reborrow Revolving Loans.

     SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made
as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably
in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to
make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of
its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are
several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure to
make Loans as required.

     (b) Subject to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised
entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the applicable Borrower may request
in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at
its option may make any Eurodollar

<PAGE>

                                                                              31

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 relevant Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.

     (c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an
integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000. At the time that
each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000;
provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is
equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required
to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section
2.05(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple
of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and
Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any
time be more than a total of 12 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower
shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing
if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the
Maturity Date.

     SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving
Borrowing, a 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 proposed
Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the day of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such
notice given by the Parent Borrower of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the
reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be
given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on 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
and signed by the relevant Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing
Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

<PAGE>

                                                                              32

            (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 an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar
     Borrowing;

           (iv) 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"; and

            (v) the location and number of the relevant Borrower's account to
     which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements
     of Section 2.06.

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the
requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period
is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then
the relevant 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 Lender
of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as
part of the requested Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, the Swingline Lenders agree to make Swingline Loans to the
Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $75,000,000
or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total
Commitments; provided that no Swingline Lender shall be required to make a
Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing
limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers
may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

     (b) To request a Swingline Loan, a Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent and the applicable Swingline Lender of such request by telephone
(confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and
shall specify the requested date (which

<PAGE>

                                                                              33

shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The
applicable Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the
relevant Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of such
Borrower with such Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to
finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e),
by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

     (c) A 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 require
the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion
of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate
amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon
receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to
each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender's Applicable Percentage of
such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally
agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender, such Lender's
Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges
and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans
pursuant to this paragraph 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 Commitments, and
that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding
or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this
paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as
provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section
2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders),
and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Swingline
Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent
shall notify the relevant Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan
acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such
Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the
applicable Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by a Swingline Lender from a
Borrower (or other party on behalf of such Borrower) in respect of a Swingline
Loan of such Borrower after receipt by such Swingline Lender of the proceeds of
a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the
Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the

<PAGE>

                                                                              34

Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to
the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and
to such Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such
payment so remitted shall be repaid to such Swingline Lender or to the
Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is
required to be refunded to such Borrower for any reason. The purchase of
participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve
the relevant Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

     (d) The Parent Borrower may designate any Lender to be a Swingline Lender
hereunder subject to the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and such Lender. Any such
designation shall not be effective until confirmed in a written agreement signed
by the Parent Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender.

     SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, (i) any Account Party may request the issuance of
Letters of Credit for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to the
applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the
Availability Period, and (ii) the Issuing Banks agree to issue Letters of
Credit. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit
application or other agreement submitted by an Account Party to, or entered into
by an Account Party with, any Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

     (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), an Account Party shall hand
deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements
for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the
applicable Issuing Bank (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

<PAGE>

                                                                              35

beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare,
amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the applicable
Issuing Bank, such Account Party also shall submit a letter of credit
application on such Issuing Bank's standard form in connection with any request
for 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 applicable Account Party shall be deemed to represent and
warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or
extension, the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the
total Commitments.

     Each Issuing Bank shall provide to the LC Agent and the Administrative
Agent not later than 3:00 p.m. (or promptly thereafter, if unable to do so by
3:00 p.m.), New York City time, on the first Business Day of each calendar week
a report of such Issuing Bank setting forth (i) the aggregate amount of all
Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank that are outstanding as of 3:00
p.m. on the last Business Day of the preceding calendar week, (ii) the average
daily undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank for
each calendar day during the period since the last calendar day covered by the
preceding weekly report (or, in the case of the first weekly report, during the
period from and including the Effective Date) and (iii) the aggregate amount of
LC Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed as of the time of
such report. In addition to providing such weekly reports, each Issuing Bank
shall, from time to time upon request of the LC Agent or the Administrative
Agent, provide the LC Agent and the Administrative Agent with information of the
type referred to in the immediately preceding sentence on a more frequent basis.

     The LC Agent shall provide to each Lender not later than 3:00 p.m. (or
promptly thereafter, if unable to do so by 3:00 p.m.), New York City time, on
the first Business Day of each calendar month a report setting forth the
aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit that are outstanding as of the date of
the most recent weekly reports delivered by the Issuing Banks to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (i) of the immediately preceding
paragraph.

     Neither the LC Agent nor the Administrative Agent nor any Issuing Bank
shall have any duty or obligation at any time to monitor the LC Exposure
relative to the total Commitments and neither the LC Agent nor the
Administrative

<PAGE>

                                                                              36

Agent nor any Issuing Bank shall have any liability in respect of the issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit to the extent that such
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension results in the total Revolving Credit
Exposures exceeding the total Commitments. It shall be the responsibility of the
Borrowers and the Account Parties to ensure that, after giving effect to the
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the sum of
the total Revolving Credit Exposures does not exceed the total Commitments.

     (c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the
close of business on the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity
Date.

     (d) 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 applicable Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing
Bank in respect of such Letter of Credit hereby grants to each Lender, and each
Lender hereby acquires from such 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. In consideration and in
furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally
agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable
Issuing Bank, such Lender's Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made
by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the applicable Account Party on the
date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement
payment required to be refunded to an Account Party for any reason. 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 Commitments, and
that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding
or reduction whatsoever.

     (e) Reimbursement. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in
respect of a Letter of Credit, (i) the applicable Account Party shall reimburse
such LC Disbursement by paying to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to such LC
Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that
such LC Disbursement is made, if such Account Party shall have received notice
of such LC

<PAGE>

                                                                              37

Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such
notice has not been received by such Account Party prior to such time on such
date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (A) the Business
Day that such Account Party receives such notice, if such notice is received
prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (B) the
Business Day immediately following the day that such Account Party receives such
notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt;
provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $10,000,000, the Parent
Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request
in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an
ABR Revolving Borrowing by the Parent Borrower or a Swingline Loan to the Parent
Borrower in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, such Account
Party's obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the
resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan; or (ii) such Issuing Bank
may, if arrangements to do so have been agreed upon in writing by the Parent
Borrower, a Borrowing Subsidiary or an Account Party and such Issuing Bank,
obtain reimbursement of such LC Disbursement by debiting directly from an
account of the Parent Borrower, such Borrowing Subsidiary or such Account Party
maintained with such Issuing Bank (or one of its Affiliates) an amount equal to
such LC Disbursement; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to
prevent the applicable Account Party from reimbursing LC Disbursements of an
Issuing Bank in accordance with alternate procedures agreed upon with such
Issuing Bank, so long as such reimbursements are made no later than required
under clause (i) above. If such Account Party fails to make such payment when
due or the applicable Issuing Bank is unable to debit the designated account of
the Parent Borrower, the relevant Borrowing Subsidiary or the relevant Account
Party for the full amount of the LC Disbursement, in each case as provided in
the preceding sentence, the applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the LC Agent
(and upon receipt of such notice the LC Agent shall notify each Lender and the
Administrative Agent) of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due
from such Account Party in respect thereof and (in the case of such notice from
the LC Agent to each Lender) such Lender's Applicable Percentage thereof.
Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the
Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from such
Account Party (the "Participation Amount"), in the same manner as provided in
Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall
apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and

<PAGE>

                                                                              38

the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the
amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the
Administrative Agent of any payment from such Account Party pursuant to this
paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the
applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments
pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders
and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a
Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC
Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan
as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve such
Account Party of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

     (f) Obligations Absolute. An Account Party's obligation to reimburse LC
Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and
irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of
Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (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 an 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, such Account Party's obligations hereunder.
Neither the LC Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any Issuing
Bank, 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 any Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall
not be construed to excuse the applicable Issuing Bank from

<PAGE>

                                                                              39

liability to the applicable Account Party to the extent of any direct damages
(as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby
waived by such Account Party to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered
by such Account Party that are caused by the applicable Issuing Bank's failure
to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented
under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto
expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or wilful misconduct on
the part of the applicable Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction) or such other standard of care as shall be separately
agreed to in writing by such Issuing Bank and the applicable Account Party, such
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 which appear on their
face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the
applicable 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 applicable Issuing Bank shall, promptly
following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a
demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly
notify the LC Agent, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Account Party
by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), or by such other means of communication
(if any) as have been agreed upon by such Account Party and such Issuing Bank,
of such demand for payment and whether such 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 such Account Party of its obligation to
reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC
Disbursement.

     (h) Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement,
then, unless the applicable Account Party 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 such Account Party
reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR

<PAGE>

                                                                              40

Revolving Loans; provided that, if such Account Party fails to reimburse such LC
Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section
2.12(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for
the account of the applicable 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 an Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to
the extent of such payment.

     (i) Designation and Replacement of Issuing Banks. An Account Party may
designate any Lender to be an Issuing Bank hereunder, subject to such Lender's
agreement, in its sole discretion, to become an Issuing Bank. Such Account Party
shall notify the Administrative Agent of any such designation. An Issuing Bank
may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the applicable Account
Party, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor
Issuing Bank (which must be a Lender). The Administrative Agent shall notify the
Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such
replacement shall become effective, the applicable Account Party shall pay all
unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to
Section 2.11(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i)
the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an
Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued
thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term "Issuing Bank" shall be deemed
to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor
and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the
replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain
a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an
Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it
prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters
of Credit.

     (j) Cash Collateralization. If (i) the Administrative Agent has declared
the Loans outstanding hereunder due and payable pursuant to Article VII and (ii)
the Liens on the Collateral have been released pursuant to Section 9.02(c),
then, on the Business Day that an Account Party receives notice from the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of cash
collateral pursuant to this paragraph, such Account Party shall deposit in an
account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent
and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure
as of such date

<PAGE>

                                                                              41

attributable to Letters of Credit issued for the account of such Account Party
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 occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to
Holdings, any Borrower or any Account Party described in clause (h) or (i) of
Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as
collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of such Account
Party under this 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 deposits,
which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the
Administrative Agent and at such Account Party's risk and expense, such deposits
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 any Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements in
respect of Letters of Credit issued for the account of such Account Party for
which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so
applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of
such Account Party for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the
Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy the other Obligations.

     SECTION 2.06. 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 as provided
in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the
applicable Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like
funds, to an account of such Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent
in New York City and designated by such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing
Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of
an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the
Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

     (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the proposed date of

<PAGE>

                                                                              42

any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative
Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing (or, in respect of the reimbursement
of an LC Disbursement under Section 2.05(e), such Lender's Participation
Amount), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share (or such Lender's Participation Amount, as applicable) available on such
date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon
such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower (or the applicable
Issuing Bank, as applicable) a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender
has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing (or such Lender's
Participation Amount, as applicable) available to the Administrative Agent, then
the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower (or the applicable Issuing
Bank, as applicable) 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 such Borrower
(or such Issuing Bank, as applicable) to but excluding the date of payment to
the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender or such Issuing
Bank, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by
the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable
to ABR Loans. If (x) with respect to such Borrowing, such Lender pays such
amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing or (y) with respect to such
reimbursement of such LC Disbursement, the applicable Account Party shall
reimburse the applicable LC Disbursement before the applicable Lender or Issuing
Bank reimburses the Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, then the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive or retain the amount due to it
as provided above together with interest payable by such Account Party with
respect to the period commencing on the date that the Administrative Agent
funded its payment to the applicable Issuing Bank.

     SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially
shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the
case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period
as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the applicable Borrower may
elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such
Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect
Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. Such Borrower may
elect different

<PAGE>

                                                                              43

options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which
case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the 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 relevant Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time
that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower
were requesting a Revolving 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 such
Borrower.

     (c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the
following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

            (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 case the information to be specified pursuant to
     clauses (iii) and (iv) below 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 relevant Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

<PAGE>

                                                                              44

     (d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such
Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.

     (e) If the relevant Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election
Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing 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 Parent Borrower, then,
so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving
Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii)
unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR
Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

     SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in
Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate
on the Maturity Date.

     (b) The Parent Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time
reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments
shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less
than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Parent Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the
Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in
accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures would
exceed the total Commitments.

     (c) The Parent Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) 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
Parent Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a
notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Parent 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 Parent Borrower (by
notice to the Administrative Agent on or

<PAGE>

                                                                              45

prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any
termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction
of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with
their respective Commitments.

     (d) The Parent Borrower may, at any time and from time to time prior to the
Maturity Date, by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
request that the Commitments be increased by an aggregate principal amount not
to exceed $500,000,000. Each such notice shall set forth the amount of the
requested increase in the Commitments and the date (the "Proposed Effective
Date") on which such increase is requested to become effective (which date shall
not be less than 60 days after the date of such notice) and shall offer each
Lender the opportunity to increase its Commitment by its Applicable Percentage
of the proposed increase in the amount of the total Commitments. Each Lender
shall, by notice to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent given not
less than 30 days prior to the Proposed Effective Date, either agree to increase
its Commitment by all or a portion of the offered amount (each Lender so
agreeing to increase its Commitment being referred to herein as an "Increasing
Lender") or decline to increase its Commitment (and any Lender that does not
deliver such a notice within such period shall be deemed to have declined to
increase its Commitment)(each Lender so declining or deemed to have declined
being referred to herein as a "Non-Increasing Lender"). In the event that, on
the 30th day prior to the Proposed Effective Date, the Lenders have agreed
pursuant to the preceding sentence to increase their Commitments by an aggregate
amount less than the increase in the total Commitments requested by the Parent
Borrower, the Parent Borrower may arrange for one or more banks or other
financial institutions (any such bank or other financial institution being
referred to herein as an "Augmenting Lender"), which may (but need not) include
any Lender, to extend Commitments in an aggregate amount equal to the
unsubscribed amount of such Commitments; provided that (i) each Augmenting
Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of
the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and
(ii) each Borrower, each Account Party and each applicable Increasing Lender and
Augmenting Lender shall execute all such documentation as the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably request to evidence its Commitment and its status as a
Lender. Increases and new Commitments created pursuant to this paragraph shall
become effective on the Proposed Effective Date and the Administrative Agent
shall notify each affected Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the

<PAGE>

                                                                              46

foregoing, no increase in the total Commitments shall become effective under
this paragraph unless (i) on the Proposed Effective Date, the conditions set
forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied (with all
references in such paragraphs to a Borrowing being deemed to be references to
such increase) and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to
that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of Holdings or
the Parent Borrower and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received
documents reasonably satisfactory to it consistent with those delivered on the
Effective Date under clauses (b) and (c) of Section 4.01 as to the corporate
power and authority of the Borrowers and the Account Parties to borrow hereunder
after giving effect to such increase.

     (e) On the effective date (a "Increase Effective Date") of any increase in
the total Commitments pursuant to paragraph (d) above (each a "Commitment
Increase"), (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding (the
"Initial Loans") immediately prior to giving effect to such Commitment Increase
on the related Increase Effective Date shall be deemed to be paid, (ii) each
Increasing Lender and each Augmenting Lender that shall have been a Lender prior
to such Commitment Increase shall pay to the Administrative Agent in same day
funds an amount equal to the difference between (A) the product of (I) such
Lender's Applicable Percentage (calculated after giving effect to such
Commitment Increase and the deemed payment of the Initial Loans, but prior to
the making of the related Subsequent Borrowings) multiplied by (II) the amount
of the related Subsequent Borrowings and (B) the product of (I) such Lender's
Applicable Percentage (calculated without giving effect to such Commitment
Increase, the deemed payment of the Initial Loans and the making of the related
Subsequent Borrowings) multiplied by (II) the amount of such Initial Loans,
(iii) each Augmenting Lender that shall not have been a Lender prior to such
Commitment Increase shall pay to Administrative Agent in same day funds an
amount equal to the product of (A) such Augmenting Lender's Applicable
Percentage (calculated after giving effect to such Commitment Increase and the
deemed payment of the Initial Loans, but prior to the making of the related
Subsequent Borrowings) multiplied by (B) the amount of the related Subsequent
Borrowings, and (iv) after the Administrative Agent receives the funds specified
in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, the Administrative Agent shall pay to each
Non-Increasing Lender the portion of such funds that is equal to the difference
between (A) the product of (I) such Non-Increasing Lender's Applicable
Percentage (calculated without giving effect to such Commitment Increase, the

<PAGE>

                                                                              47

deemed payment of the Initial Loans and the making of the related Subsequent
Borrowings) multiplied by (II) the amount of such Initial Loans, and (B) the
product of (I) such Non-Increasing Lender's Applicable Percentage (calculated
after giving effect to such Commitment Increase and the deemed payment of the
Initial Loans, but prior to the making of the related Subsequent Borrowings)
multiplied by (II) the amount of the related Subsequent Borrowings, (v) after
the effectiveness of such Commitment Increase, each Borrower shall be deemed to
have made new Borrowings (the "Subsequent Borrowings") pursuant to Section 2.02
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such
Initial Loans owed by such Borrower and of the Types and for the Interest
Periods specified in a Borrowing Request delivered to the Administrative Agent
in accordance with Section 2.03, (vi) each Non-Increasing Lender, each
Increasing Lender and each Augmenting Lender shall be deemed to hold its
Applicable Percentage of each related Subsequent Borrowing (calculated after
giving effect to such Commitment Increase and the deemed payment of the Initial
Loans, but prior to the deemed making of the related Subsequent Borrowings) and
(vii) the relevant Borrower shall pay each Increasing Lender and each
Non-Increasing Lender any and all accrued but unpaid interest on such Initial
Loans. The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (i) above in respect of each
Eurocurrency Loan shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.15 if the relevant Increase Effective Date occurs
other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto.

     SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Borrower
hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan
owed by such Borrower to such Lender on the Maturity Date and (ii) to each
Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan owed to
such Swingline Lender by such Borrower on the earlier of the Maturity Date and
the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of
a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is
made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, such
Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans of such Borrower then outstanding.

     (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender
resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of

<PAGE>

                                                                              48

principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.

     (c) 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 each 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.

     (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b)
or (c) of this Section shall 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 of each Borrower to repay
its Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     (e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a
promissory note. In such event, the applicable Borrower shall prepare, execute
and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and
in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced
by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after
assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory
notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such
promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

     SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans. (a) Each Borrower shall have the right
at any time and from time to time to prepay any of its Borrowings in whole or in
part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

     (b) In the event and on each occasion that the sum of the Revolving Credit
Exposures exceeds the maximum amount of Revolving Credit Exposures permitted by
Section 6.08, the Borrowers shall prepay Borrowings (or, if no such Borrowings
are outstanding, each Account Party shall deposit cash collateral in an account
with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j)) in an aggregate
amount equal to such excess.

<PAGE>

                                                                              49

     (c) The applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in
the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the applicable Swingline Lender) by
telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the
case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the
case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City
time, on 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 Commitments as
contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if
such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly
following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each
partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would
be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type
as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be
applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments
shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.

     SECTION 2.11. Fees. (a) The Parent Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which
shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily unused amount of the Commitment
of such Lender during the period from and including Effective Date to but
excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees
shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year and on the date on which the 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 360 days and shall be payable
for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the
last day). For purposes of computing commitment fees, the Commitment of a Lender
shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and
LC Exposures of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be
disregarded for such purposes).

<PAGE>

                                                                              50

     (b) The Parent Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its
participations in (A) Stand-by Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the
Applicable Rate, and (B) Trade Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at a rate
equal to 50% of the Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate
applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the determination date, in each case
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 Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which
such Lender's Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to
have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall
accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum, on the average daily amount of the LC
Exposure in respect of Stand-by Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank
(excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements)
during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the
later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there
ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank's standard fees with
respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit
or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees
accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year shall be payable in arrears on the third Business Day
following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the
Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on
which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on
which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees
payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within
10 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 Parent Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its
own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon
between the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

     (d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in
immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable
Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case
of commitment fees and participation fees, to the

<PAGE>

                                                                              51

Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

     SECTION 2.12. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing
(including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate
plus the Applicable Rate.

     (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 Rate.

     (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any
Loan or any fee or other amount payable by any Borrower or any Account Party
hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or
otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before
judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue 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 rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this
Section.

     (d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each
Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon
termination of the Commitments; 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 a prepayment of an ABR
Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on
the principal amount 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 Revolving 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 or Adjusted
LIBO Rate shall be determined by the

<PAGE>

                                                                              52

Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.

     SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of
any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

          (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 for such Interest Period; or

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

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

     SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs. (a) Subject to Section 2.18, 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 Lender (except any such reserve requirement
     reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank; or

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

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lender of making or maintaining any

<PAGE>

                                                                              53

Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to
increase the cost to such Lender or such Issuing Bank of participating in,
issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of
principal, interest or otherwise), then the relevant Borrower will pay to such
Lender and the relevant Account Party will pay to such Issuing Bank, as the case
may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or
reduction suffered in accordance with Section 2.18.

     (b) Subject to Section 2.18, if any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines
that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the
effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or such Issuing Bank's
capital or on the capital of such Lender's or such Issuing Bank's holding
company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or
participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of
Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or
such Issuing Bank or such Lender's or such Issuing Bank's holding company could
have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such
Lender's or such Issuing Bank's policies and the policies of such Lender's or
such Issuing Bank's holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from
time to time the relevant Borrower will pay to such Lender and the relevant
Account Party will pay to such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such
Lender's or such Issuing Bank's holding company for any such reduction suffered
in accordance with Section 2.18.

     (c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount
or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its
holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section shall be delivered to the Parent Borrower and shall be conclusive
absent manifest error. The relevant Borrower shall pay such Lender and the
relevant Account Party shall pay such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the
amount shown as due on any such certificate (such amount hereinafter referred to
as the "Additional Costs") within 30 days after receipt thereof.

     (d) Subject to Section 2.18, failure or delay on the part of any Lender or
any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not
constitute a

<PAGE>

                                                                              54

waiver of such Lender's or such Issuing Bank's right to demand such
compensation.

     SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment 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
2.10(c) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any
Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto as a result of a request by the Parent Borrower pursuant to Section
2.18, then, in any such event, the relevant Borrower shall compensate each
Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of
a Eurodollar Loan, 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 which 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 which would accrue on
such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which 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 Parent Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The
relevant Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

     SECTION 2.16. Taxes. (a) If any Borrower or any Account Party shall be
required by reason of any change occurring after the date of this Agreement in
applicable law or regulation or tax treaty or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the force of
law) to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable by such Borrower
or such

<PAGE>

                                                                              55

Account Party (as the case may be) hereunder or under any other Loan Document to
any Issuing Bank, any Lender or to the Administrative Agent, then except as
otherwise provided in this Section 2.16 and subject to Section 2.18, (i) the sum
payable shall be increased by the amount necessary so that after making all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section 2.16) such Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent
(as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have
received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower or such Account
Party (as the case may be) shall make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower or
such Account Party (as the case may be) shall pay the full amount deducted to
the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.

     (b) In addition, the Borrowers and the Account Parties agree to pay any
present or future Other Taxes which arise from any payment made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or registration
of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any such Loan Document other
than any Other Taxes imposed upon any assignment or participation of a Lender's
rights, interests and obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided that the
amount such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) shall be
required to pay to a particular Lender in respect of Other Taxes shall not
exceed 1% of the aggregate amount of the Commitment of such Lender on which such
Other Taxes are imposed; provided further that if a Lender is actually aware of
the application of any Other Tax to any such payment, execution, delivery or
registration, such Lender shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower of such
Other Tax and the relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case
may be) shall thereafter have the benefit of the provisions of Section 2.18(b).

     (c) Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes withheld by the
relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may be) in respect
of any payment to any Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent, such
Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) will furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.01, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or, if such a
receipt is not available, a certificate of the treasurer or any assistant
treasurer of such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) setting
forth the amount of such payment and the date on which such payment was made.

<PAGE>

                                                                              56

     (d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement contained
herein, the agreements and obligations contained in this Section 2.16 shall
survive the payment in full of the principal of and interest on all Loans made
hereunder and reimbursement obligations in respect of all Letters of Credit
issued hereunder.

     (e) On the date hereof (or, in the case of an entity that becomes an
Issuing Bank or a Lender after the date hereof, on the date such entity becomes
an Issuing Bank or a Lender) and thereafter as required by applicable law, each
Issuing Bank and Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
outside the United States shall deliver to the Parent Borrower and the
Administrative Agent such certificates, documents or other evidence, and any
amendments or supplements to such certificates, documents, or other evidence, as
required by the Code or Treasury Regulations issued pursuant thereto, properly
completed and duly executed by such Issuing Bank or Lender (or the
Administrative Agent) establishing that payments made under this Agreement or
under any other Loan Document to such Issuing Bank or Lender (or the
Administrative Agent) are (i) not subject to withholding under the Code because
such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by such Issuing Bank or
Lender (or the Administrative Agent) of a trade or business in the United States
or (ii) totally exempt from United States tax under a provision of an applicable
tax treaty. Unless the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent have
received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments
hereunder are not subject to Taxes or are subject to Taxes at a rate reduced by
an applicable tax treaty, the Borrowers and the Account Parties shall withhold
Taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate in the case of
payments to or for any Issuing Bank or Lender (or to the Administrative Agent)
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States.

     (f) Neither the Borrowers nor the Account Parties shall be required to pay
any additional amounts to any Issuing Bank or Lender (or to the Administrative
Agent) pursuant to paragraph (a) above if the obligations to pay such additional
amounts would not have arisen but for a failure by such Issuing Bank or Lender
(or the Administrative Agent) to comply with the provisions of paragraph (e)
unless such failure results from a change occurring after the date of this
Agreement in applicable law or regulations or tax treaty or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged

<PAGE>

                                                                              57

with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the
force of law).

     (g) Neither the Borrowers nor the Account Parties shall be liable under
this Section 2.16 to any Issuing Bank, Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, that has changed the location of its principal office or any of its
Applicable Lending Offices after the date (the "Relevant Date") on which it
first becomes a party to this Agreement (a "Change in Location") for any Taxes
that would have not been imposed but for a Change in Law enacted, promulgated,
or effective before the Relevant Date, but only to the extent such Taxes exceed
the amount the relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may
be) was required to pay such Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this
Section 2.16 immediately prior to such Change in Location.

     (h) If any Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent shall become
aware that it is entitled to receive a refund in respect of Taxes indemnified
and paid by a Borrower or an Account Party, such Issuing Bank, Lender or the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Parent Borrower of the
availability of such refund and shall, within 30 days after receipt of a request
by the Parent Borrower, apply for such refund at the Parent Borrower's expense.
If any Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent receives a refund in
respect of any Taxes for which such Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative
Agent has received payment from a Borrower or an Account Party hereunder, it
shall within 30 days after the receipt thereof repay the lesser of such refund
and the amount paid by such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be)
with respect to such Taxes to the applicable Borrower or the applicable Account
Party, as applicable, in each case net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
of such Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent and with interest
received by such Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent from the
relevant taxing authority attributable to such refund; provided that such
Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be), upon the request of such
Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, agree to return
any such refund (plus interest, penalties and other charges) to such Issuing
Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, in the event such
Issuing Bank, Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to pay such refund
to any Governmental Authority.

     (i) Each Issuing Bank, Lender, and the Administrative Agent severally (but
not jointly) represents

<PAGE>

                                                                              58

and warrants that, as of the date such person becomes a party to this Agreement,
payments made by the Borrowers and the Account Parties to such Issuing Bank,
Lender or the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement are
effectively connected with the conduct by such Issuing Bank, Lender or the
Administrative Agent of a trade or business in the United States.

     SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) Each Borrower and each Account Party shall make each payment required to be
made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of
LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or
otherwise) prior to the time expressly required hereunder for such payment (or,
if no such time is expressly required, prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time,
on the date when due), in immediately available funds, without set-off 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 offices at 270
Park Avenue, New York, New York, except payments to be made directly to an
Issuing Bank or a Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that
payments pursuant to Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 shall be made directly
to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any
such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the
appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment under
any Loan Document 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 under each Loan Document 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, unreimbursed LC
Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied
(i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably
among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest
and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal
and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC
Disbursements then due to such parties.

<PAGE>

                                                                              59

     (c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim
or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any
of its Revolving 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 Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements
and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by
any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall
purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and
participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the
extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC
Disbursements and 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 any Borrower or any Account Party pursuant to and in accordance with the
express terms of this 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 to any assignee or participant,
other than to Holdings or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the
provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each of the Borrowers and each of the
Account Parties 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
Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) rights of set-off and
counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were
a direct creditor of such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) in
the amount of such participation.

     (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Borrower or an Account Party prior to the date on which any payment is due to
the Administrative Agent from such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case
may be) for the account of the Lenders or an Issuing Bank hereunder that such
Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) will not make such payment,
the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower or such Account Party (as
the case may be) has made such payment on such date in

<PAGE>

                                                                              60

accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the
Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In
such event, if the relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case
may be) has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the
applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such
Lender or such Issuing Bank 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
Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance
with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

     (e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it
pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b) or 2.17(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 Lender to satisfy such Lender's obligations under
such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

     SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If, with
respect to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, an event or circumstance
occurs that would entitle such Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise
any of the rights or benefits afforded by Section 2.14 or 2.16(a), such Lender
or the Administrative Agent, promptly upon becoming aware of the same, shall
take all steps as may be reasonably available (including designating a different
Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or
participating in Letters of Credit or assigning its rights and obligations
hereunder to another of its offices, or furnishing the proper certificates under
any applicable tax laws, tax treaties, conventions and governmental regulations
to the extent that such certificates are legally available to such Lender or to
the Administrative Agent) to eliminate or mitigate the effects of any event
resulting in the ability of such Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise
rights under any of such Sections; provided that neither any Lender nor the
Administrative Agent shall be under any obligation to take any step that, in its
reasonable judgment, would (i) result in its incurring Additional Costs or Taxes
in performing its obligations hereunder unless the Borrowers and the Account
Parties have expressly agreed to reimburse it therefor or (ii) be materially
disadvantageous to such Lender or to the

<PAGE>

                                                                              61

Administrative Agent. Within 60 days after the occurrence of any event giving
rise to any rights or benefits provided by Sections 2.14 and 2.16(a) in favor of
any Lender or the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Administrative Agent
(i) will notify the Parent Borrower of such event or circumstance and (ii)
provide the Parent Borrower with a certificate setting forth in reasonable
detail (x) the event or circumstance giving rise to any benefit under Sections
2.14 and 2.16(a), (y) the effective date of, and the time period during which,
compensation for any Additional Costs or Taxes are being claimed and (z) the
determination of amount or amounts claimed thereby and detailed calculations
with respect thereto; provided that, if such Lender or the Administrative Agent
does not give the Parent Borrower such notice and certificate within the 60-day
period set forth in this sentence, the relevant Borrower or the relevant Account
Party (as the case may be) shall be required to indemnify such Lender or the
Administrative Agent only for such Additional Costs and Taxes as are
attributable to the period from and after the first date as of which such notice
and certificate have been received by the Parent Borrower. Such Lender or the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower of any change in
circumstances with respect to the event specified in the above-described notice
and certificate as promptly as practicable after such Lender or the
Administrative Agent obtains knowledge thereof. Such certificate shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither any
Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall deliver the notice and certificate
described in this paragraph (a) to the Parent Borrower in respect of any
Additional Costs or Taxes unless it is then the general policy of such Lender or
the Administrative Agent to pursue similar rights and remedies in similar
circumstances under comparable provisions of other credit agreements.

     (b) With respect to Sections 2.14 and 2.16, the Parent Borrower shall have
the right, should any Lender request any compensation or indemnity thereunder,
to (i) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (A)
promptly terminate such Lender's Commitment by irrevocable written notice of
such termination to such Lender and the Administrative Agent without the
necessity of complying with Sections 2.08(b) and (c) hereof, (B) reduce the
total Commitments by the amount of such Lender's Commitment and (C) pay or
prepay in immediately available funds all Loans owing to such Lender, accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it
hereunder, or (ii) require such Lender to assign all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement,

<PAGE>

                                                                              62

without recourse to or representation or warranty by such Lender, to an assignee
in accordance with Section 9.04; provided that (x) such assignment shall not
conflict with any statute, law, rule, regulation, order or decree of any
Governmental Authority and (y) the assigning Lender shall have received from the
relevant Borrower and the relevant Account Party and/or such assignee full
payment in immediately available funds of the principal of and interest accrued
on the Loans to the date of such assignment made by it hereunder and all other
amounts owed to it hereunder that are subject to such assignment. The Parent
Borrower shall have the right, should the Administrative Agent request any
compensation or indemnity under such Sections, to require the Administrative
Agent to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to a successor
Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     (c) With respect to Section 2.14 or 2.16, (i) other than with respect to
Section 2.16(b), neither any Lender nor the Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to exercise any right or benefit afforded thereby and neither the
Borrowers nor the Account Parties shall be obligated to reimburse any Lender or
the Administrative Agent pursuant to such Sections unless (x) such Lender or the
Administrative Agent has delivered to the Parent Borrower in accordance with
Section 9.01 the notice and the certificate described in Section 2.18(a) hereof
and (y) the Parent Borrower has had a 30-Business Day period following the
receipt of such notice and certificate (if the Parent Borrower in good faith
disagrees with the assertion that any payment under such Sections is due or with
the amount shown as due on such certificate and so notifies the Lender or the
Administrative Agent of such disagreement within 10 Business Days following
receipt of the notice and certificate) to negotiate with the requesting Lender
or the Administrative Agent, which negotiations shall be conducted by the
respective parties in good faith, and to agree upon another amount that will
adequately compensate such Lender or the Administrative Agent, it being
expressly understood that if the Parent Borrower does not provide the required
notice of its disagreement as provided above, the relevant Borrower or the
relevant Account Party (as the case may be) shall pay the amount shown as due on
the certificate on the tenth Business Day following receipt thereof and further
if the Parent Borrower does provide such required notice, and negotiations are
entered into but do not result in agreement by the Parent Borrower and such
Lender or the Administrative Agent within the 30-Business Day period, then the
relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may be)

<PAGE>

                                                                              63

shall pay the amount shown as due on the certificate on the last day of such
period, but in either event not earlier than the date as of which the relevant
Additional Costs or Taxes are incurred, (ii) other than with respect to Other
Taxes, unless the appropriate notice and certificate are delivered to the Parent
Borrower within the 60-day period described in Section 2.18(a), the relevant
Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may be) shall be liable only
for Additional Costs, Taxes or amounts required to be paid which are
attributable to the period from and after the date such notice and certificate
have been received by such Borrower or such Account Party, as applicable, (iii)
neither the Borrowers nor the Account Parties shall be liable for any amounts
incurred as a result of any change in an Applicable Lending Office of any
Issuing Bank or Lender to the extent that such Issuing Bank or Lender shall have
had knowledge at the time of such change in Applicable Lending Office that
reimbursement or recoupment under Section 2.14 would arise as a result of such
change, (iv) each Lender or the Administrative Agent shall in good faith
allocate all Additional Costs, Taxes and payments required to be made fairly
among all its commitments (whether or not it seeks compensation from all
affected borrowers), (v) in no event shall the Borrowers or the Account Parties
be liable for any taxes (other than Other Taxes) that would not have been
imposed but for a connection between such Lender or the Administrative Agent
(other than by reason of the activities contemplated by this Agreement) and the
relevant taxing jurisdiction, (vi) neither any Lender nor the Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to exercise any right or benefit afforded hereby or
receive any payment otherwise due under Sections 2.14 and 2.16 (including,
without limitation, any repayment by any Borrower or any Account Party (as the
case may be) of any refund of Taxes pursuant to Section 2.16(h)) which arises
from any gross negligence, fraud or wilful misconduct of any Lender or the
Administrative Agent, or the failure of such Lender or the Administrative Agent
to comply with the terms of this Agreement, (vii) if Lender or the
Administrative Agent shall have recouped any amount or received any offsetting
tax benefit (other than a refund of Taxes as described in Section 2.16(h)) or
reserve or capital benefits theretofore paid to it by any Borrower or any
Account Party (as the case may be), such Lender or the Administrative Agent
shall promptly pay to such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be)
an amount equal to the amount of the recoupment received by such Lender or the
Administrative Agent reduced by any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such
Lender or the Administrative Agent attributable to such recoupment, as
determined in good faith by such Lender or the Administrative Agent, and (viii)
the

<PAGE>

                                                                              64

liability of the Borrowers and the Account Parties to any Lender or the
Administrative Agent with respect to any taxes shall be reduced to the extent
that such Lender or the Administrative Agent receives an offsetting tax benefit
(or could have received such a benefit by taking reasonable measures to receive
it); provided that there shall not be any reductions pursuant to this clause
(viii) with respect to any tax benefit (x) the existence of which such Lender or
Administrative Agent is unaware, (y) the claiming of which would result in any
cost or tax to such Lender or the Administrative Agent (unless the relevant
Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may be) shall have agreed to
pay its reasonably allocable portion of such cost or tax) and (z) unless the
relevant Borrower or the relevant Account Party (as the case may be) shall agree
to indemnify the Lender or the Administrative Agent to the extent any tax
benefit taken into account under this clause (viii) is thereafter lost or
becomes unavailable.

     (d) In addition to their obligations under Section 2.14 hereof, each of the
Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to execute and deliver, and
to make any required filings of, all certificates, agreements, documents,
reports, statements and other instruments as are reasonably necessary to
effectuate the purposes of this Section 2.18 and Sections 2.14 and 2.16. The
Parent Borrower agrees to pay all filing fees incurred by any Lender or the
Administrative Agent in performing its obligations under this Section 2.18.

     SECTION 2.19. Extension of Maturity Date. (a) The Parent Borrower may, not
later than the date that is six months prior to the Maturity Date, by written
notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, request that the Maturity
Date (such date being referred to hereinafter as the "Initial Maturity Date") be
extended (the "Maturity Date Extension") to be the date that is two years after
the Initial Maturity Date (such date being referred to herein as the "Extended
Maturity Date"). Such notice shall offer each Lender the opportunity to extend
the maturity of its Commitment to the Extended Maturity Date. Each Lender shall,
by notice to the Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent given not less
than 30 days prior to the Initial Maturity Date, either agree to extend the
maturity of its Commitment (each Lender so agreeing to extend the maturity of
its Commitment being referred to herein as a "Consenting Lender") or decline to
extend the maturity of its Commitment (and any Lender that does not deliver such
a notice within such period shall be deemed to have declined to extend the
maturity of its Commitment)(each

<PAGE>

                                                                              65

Lender so declining or deemed to have declined being referred to herein as a
"Non-Consenting Lender"). In the event that, on the 30th day prior to the
Initial Maturity Date, less than 100% of the Lenders have agreed pursuant to the
preceding sentence to extend the maturity of their Commitments, then during the
period prior to the Initial Maturity Date, the Parent Borrower may either (x)
elect to continue this Agreement at a reduced size with the Consenting Lenders
or (y) arrange for one or more banks or other financial institutions (any such
bank or other financial institution being referred to herein as an "Extending
Lender"), which may (but need not) include any Lender, to extend Commitments (to
become effective on the Initial Maturity Date) in an aggregate amount equal to
the amount of the total Commitments held by the Non-Consenting Lenders; provided
that (i) each Extending Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be
subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld) and (ii) the Borrowers, the Account Parties and each
Extending Lender shall execute all such documentation as the Administrative
Agent shall reasonably request to evidence such Extending Lender's Commitment
and its status as a Lender. New Commitments created pursuant to this paragraph
shall become effective on the Initial Maturity Date, provided that the
conditions to the Maturity Date Extension are satisfied. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Maturity Date Extension and the new Commitments of any Extending
Lenders shall not become effective unless, on a date selected by the Parent
Borrower by notice to the Administrative Agent that is within five Business Days
prior to the Initial Maturity Date, each of the following conditions are
satisfied: (i) the total amount of the Commitments of the Consenting Lenders and
new Commitments of the Extending Lenders exceeds 50% of the Commitments in
effect prior to giving effect to the termination of the Commitments of the
Non-Consenting Lenders and the effectiveness of the new Commitments of the
Extending Lenders; (ii) the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties
set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct and no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, in each case as of such date, and the
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated such date and
signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Parent
Borrower, to such effect; and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall have received
documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date under clauses
(b) and (c) of Section 4.01 (or, with respect to a Borrowing Subsidiary, clauses
(a) and (b) of Section 4.03) as to the corporate power and authority

<PAGE>

                                                                              66

of the Borrowers and the Account Parties to borrow hereunder after giving effect
to the Maturity Date Extension.

     (b) In the event that the Maturity Date Extension becomes effective in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section, on the Initial Maturity Date (i)
the Commitments of the Non-Consenting Lenders shall terminate, each
Non-Consenting Lender shall be released from its participation obligations in
respect of any outstanding Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans and each
Borrower or each Account Party, as applicable, shall pay to the Administrative
Agent, for distribution to the Non-Consenting Lenders, the outstanding principal
of their respective Loans and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all
accrued fees and other amounts then owing to the Non-Consenting Lenders
hereunder, (ii) the new Commitments of the Extending Lenders, if any, shall
become effective, (iii) the participation obligations hereunder in respect of
any outstanding Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans shall be reallocated in
accordance with the Commitments in effect after giving effect to the foregoing
clauses and (iv) if there are any Loans then outstanding from Consenting Lenders
and any new Commitments of Extending Lenders have become effective (with the
result that the Loans comprising each Borrowing are not held by the Consenting
Lenders and Extending Lenders pro rata in accordance with their Commitments),
the Borrowers shall give a notice of optional prepayment hereunder in respect of
all such outstanding Loans and may (but shall not be required to) give a
Borrowing Request hereunder to fund such prepayment.

     (c) Concurrently with and following the effectiveness of the Maturity Date
Extension, the term "Maturity Date", as such term is used herein (except to the
extent such term is used in this Section) or under any other Loan Document,
shall be deemed to mean the Extended Maturity Date.

     SECTION 2.20. Borrowing Subsidiaries. The Parent Borrower may, at any time
and from time to time so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
designate any Subsidiary (other than any Eckerd Company or any Foreign
Subsidiary) to be a Borrowing Subsidiary hereunder by delivering to the
Administrative Agent a Subsidiary Borrowing Election with respect to such
Subsidiary. The eligibility of any Borrowing Subsidiary to borrow hereunder
shall terminate when the Administrative Agent receives a Subsidiary Borrower
Termination with respect to such Subsidiary. Each Subsidiary Borrower Election
delivered to the Administration Agent shall be duly executed on behalf of

<PAGE>

                                                                              67

the relevant Subsidiary and the Parent Borrower, and each Subsidiary Borrower
Termination delivered to the Administrative Agent shall be duly executed on
behalf of the Parent Borrower. The delivery of a Subsidiary Borrower Termination
shall not affect any obligation of the relevant Subsidiary incurred in its
capacity as a Borrower, and such Subsidiary shall continue to constitute a
Borrowing Subsidiary for all purposes hereof (other than the right to borrow
Loans) until all its obligations hereunder as a Borrower have been discharged
and paid in full. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the
Lenders and the Issuing Banks of its receipt of any Subsidiary Borrower Election
or Subsidiary Borrower Termination.

                                   ARTICLE III

                         Representations and Warranties

     Each of Holdings, the Parent Borrower and Purchasing represents and
warrants to the Lenders that:

     SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties 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 is qualified to do business in, and is in
good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required,
except, in each case, where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to be entered
into by each Loan Party are within such Loan Party's corporate powers and have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder
action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Holdings,
the Parent Borrower and Purchasing and constitutes, and each other Loan Document
to which any Loan Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such
Loan Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings,
the Parent Borrower, Purchasing or such Loan Party (as the case may be),
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general

<PAGE>

                                                                              68

principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.

     SECTION 3.03. 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 (i) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect or as to which the failure to
be made or obtained and to be in full force and effect would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect, (ii) filings necessary to perfect Liens created under
the Collateral Agreement and (iii) filings of periodic reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, (b) will not violate any applicable law or
material regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of
Holdings or any Subsidiary or any material order of any Governmental Authority,
(c) will not violate or result in a default under any material provision of any
indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any
payment to be made by Holdings or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries, except Liens created under the Credit Agreement.

     SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) Holdings
has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and
statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the
fiscal year ended January 26, 2002, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public
accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such period in accordance
with GAAP.

     (b) Since January 26, 2002, there has been no material adverse change in
the business, assets, operations or condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

     SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of Holdings and its Subsidiaries has
good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal
property material to the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole), except for minor defects in title and leases being contested, in each
case, that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as
currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

<PAGE>

                                                                              69

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

     SECTION 3.06. 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 Holdings, the Parent Borrower
or Purchasing, threatened against or affecting Holdings or any of its
Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse
determination and that, if adversely determined, would, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed
Matters) or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents or the Transactions.

     (b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other
matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect, neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has 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) has
become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any
claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for
any Environmental Liability.

     (c) Since the date of this 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 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any
Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures,
material agreements and other material instruments binding upon it or its
property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate,
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is
continuing.

<PAGE>

                                                                              70

     SECTION 3.08. Investment and Holding Company Status. No Loan Party is (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 3.09. Taxes. Each of Holdings and its 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 shown to be due and payable on such
returns, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which Holdings or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set
aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do
so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 3.10. 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, would 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 the fair market value of the assets
of such Plan by a material amount, and the present value of all accumulated
benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (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
the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans by a material
amount.

     SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the
other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished
by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank
or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other
information so furnished and taken as a whole with such other information)
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, Holdings, the Parent Borrower and

<PAGE>

                                                                              71

Purchasing represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based
upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

     SECTION 3.12. Material Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name of
each Subsidiary of Holdings that is a Material Subsidiary as of the Effective
Date.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   Conditions

     SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
and of each 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 9.02):

          (a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from
     each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this 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 Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart
     of this Agreement.

          (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written
     opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the
     Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of each of Shearman & Sterling,
     special New York counsel for the Loan Parties, and Charles R. Lotter, Esq.,
     General Counsel of Holdings, substantially in the form of Exhibits B-1 and
     B-2, and covering such other matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan
     Documents or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably
     request. Each of Holdings, the Parent Borrower and Purchasing hereby
     requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

          (c) 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,

<PAGE>

                                                                              72

     the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

          (d) 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 Parent Borrower, confirming compliance with the
     conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.

          (e) 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 at least two Business Days prior to the Effective Date,
     reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be
     reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party hereunder.

          (f) The Collateral and Guarantee Requirement shall have been satisfied
     and the Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection
     Certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by an executive officer or
     Financial Officer of the Parent Borrower, together with all attachments
     contemplated thereby, and the Administrative Agent shall have received the
     results of a search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) filings
     made with respect to the Parent Borrower 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 6.02
     or have been released.

          (g) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the
     insurance required by the Collateral Agreement is in effect.

          (h) Prior to or concurrently with the effectiveness of the
     Commitments, the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreements shall be
     terminated and all loans and other amounts accrued or owing thereunder
     shall be paid.

          (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received an initial Asset
     Coverage Certificate calculating the Asset Coverage Ratio as of the last
     day of the most recent fiscal month ended at least 10 days prior to the

<PAGE>

                                                                              73

     Effective Date, giving pro forma effect to any Loans being made or Letters
     of Credit being issued on the Effective Date as if such Loans were made or
     such Letters of Credit were issued on the last day of such calendar month.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Parent Borrower and the Lenders of the
Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of each 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 9.02) at
or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 14, 2002 (and, in the event
such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate
at such time).

     SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a
Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend,
renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:

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

          (b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such
     Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter
     of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

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

     SECTION 4.03. Borrowing Subsidiaries. The obligation of each Lender to make
a Loan on the occasion of the first Borrowing by a Borrowing Subsidiary is
subject to receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Subsidiary Borrower Election
with respect to such Borrowing Subsidiary in

<PAGE>

                                                                              74

accordance with Section 2.20 and to the satisfaction of the following further
conditions:

          (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received one or more favorable
     written opinions of counsel for such Borrowing Subsidiary reasonably
     acceptable to the Administrative Agent, with respect to (i) the
     organization and existence of such Borrowing Subsidiary, (ii) the due
     authorization, execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Borrower Election,
     (iii) the legality, validity and binding effect on such Borrowing
     Subsidiary of the Subsidiary Borrower Election and this Agreement and (iv)
     such other matters relating to such Borrowing Subsidiary as the
     Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

          (b) 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 such
     Borrowing Subsidiary and its authorization to be a Borrower, all in form
     and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
     counsel.

The Administrative Agent shall promptly provide to each Lender any documentation
with respect to any Borrowing Subsidiary that was delivered to the
Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              Affirmative Covenants

     Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of
and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in
full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC
Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each of Holdings, the Parent Borrower
and Purchasing covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

     SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information.
The Parent Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to
each Lender:

<PAGE>

                                                                              75

          (a) as soon as available and, in any event, within 120 days after the
     end of each fiscal year of Holdings, its audited consolidated balance
     sheets and related statements of operations, 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 KPMG 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
     Holdings and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in
     accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

          (b) as soon as available and, in any event, within 60 days after the
     end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of
     Holdings, its consolidated balance sheets and related statements of
     operations, 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, all certified by one of its
     Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the
     financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its
     consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP
     consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the
     absence of footnotes;

          (c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
     clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of Holdings
     or the Parent 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 reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with
     Section 6.07 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 3.04 and, if any such change has
     occurred, specifying the effect of such

<PAGE>

                                                                              76

     change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

          (d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all
     periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by
     Holdings 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 Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

          (e) promptly after Moody's or S&P shall have announced a change in the
     Rating established or deemed to have been established for the Parent
     Borrower, written notice of such Rating change;

          (f) within 15 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, an Asset
     Coverage Certificate (together with any other supplemental reporting and
     supporting documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent)
     calculating the Asset Coverage Ratio as of the last day of such fiscal
     quarter; and

          (g) promptly following any request therefor, such other information
     regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of
     Holdings or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of any Loan
     Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

     SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Parent Borrower will furnish
to the Administrative Agent for distribution to 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
     Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof that, if adversely
     determined, would 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, would result in liability of
     Holdings and its

<PAGE>

                                                                              77

     Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $100,000,000; and

          (d) any other development that results in, or would 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 Parent 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 5.03. Information Regarding Collateral. (a) The Parent Borrower
will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any change (i)
in the corporate name of the Parent Borrower or any Additional Grantor, (ii) in
the identity or type of organization or corporate structure of the Parent
Borrower or any Additional Grantor, (iii) in the Federal Taxpayer Identification
Number or other identification number of the Parent Borrower or any Additional
Grantor or (iv) in the jurisdiction of organization of the Parent Borrower or
any Additional Grantor. Holdings and the Parent Borrower agree 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 Parent 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 clause (a) of Section 5.01, the
Parent Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a
Financial Officer and the chief legal officer of the Parent Borrower (i) setting
forth the information required pursuant to the Perfection Certificate or
confirming that there has been no change in such information since the date of
the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date 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 (or delivered to the Administrative Agent for filing or recording) in
each

<PAGE>

                                                                              78

governmental, municipal or other appropriate office in each jurisdiction
identified pursuant to clause (i) above to the extent necessary to protect and
perfect the security interests under the Collateral 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 5.04. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each of Holdings and the
Parent Borrower will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, do or
cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force
and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and
franchises material to the conduct of the business of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole); provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit
any merger, consolidation, liquidation, transfer of assets or dissolution
permitted under Section 6.03.

     SECTION 5.05. Payment of Obligations. Each of Holdings and the Parent
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations,
including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, would result in a Material Adverse
Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a)
the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings, (b) Holdings, the Parent 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 would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 5.06. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Each of Holdings and
the Parent Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep and
maintain all property material to the conduct of the business of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) in good working order and condition,
ordinary wear and tear excepted; provided that nothing in this Section shall
prevent Holdings or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operations or
maintenance of any of its properties no longer deemed by Holdings or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, to be useful in the conduct of its business.

     SECTION 5.07. Insurance. Each of Holdings and the Parent Borrower will, and
will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially
sound and reputable insurance companies (a) insurance in such amounts (with no
greater risk retention) and against such risks as are customarily maintained by
companies of

<PAGE>

                                                                              79

established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the
same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required to be maintained
pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. The Parent Borrower will furnish to the
Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent, information in reasonable
detail as to the insurance so maintained.

     SECTION 5.08. Books and Records; Inspection Rights; Inventory Audits. Each
of Holdings and the Parent Borrower will, and will cause each of its
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 in accordance with GAAP. Each of Holdings and the Parent
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any
representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon
reasonable prior notice and without disruption of the normal and ordinary
conduct of the business of Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any such Subsidiary,
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. Each of Holdings and the Parent Borrower will, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent or any
auditor that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, at any time upon
reasonable prior notice (but, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, no more than once during any calendar year), to perform audits of,
conduct independent appraisals of and/or monitor the inventory of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries.

     SECTION 5.09. Compliance with Laws. Each of Holdings and the Parent
Borrower will, and will cause each of its 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, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 5.10. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the
Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes, including working
capital requirements, liquidity and the repayment of maturing commercial paper
and other Indebtedness of the Parent Borrower and Purchasing (including
Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreements). No part of the proceeds of
any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any

<PAGE>

                                                                              80

purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board,
including Regulations T, U and X. Letters of Credit will be issued to support
obligations of the Account Parties in respect of purchases of inventory in the
ordinary course of business, as well as other obligations of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries incurred without violation of this Agreement.

     SECTION 5.11. Additional Guarantee Parties. If any Subsidiary (other than
any Eckerd Company or any Foreign Subsidiary) becomes a Material Subsidiary or
otherwise becomes a Guarantee Party after the Effective Date, Holdings and the
Parent Borrower shall, within three Business Days after such Subsidiary becomes
a Material Subsidiary or a Guarantee Party (as applicable), notify the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and cause the Collateral and
Guarantee Requirement to be satisfied with respect to such Subsidiary.

     SECTION 5.12. Further Assurances. Each of Holdings and the Parent Borrower
will, and will cause each Guarantee Party and each Additional Grantor to,
execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and
instruments, and take all such further actions, which may be required under any
applicable law, or which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may
reasonably request, to cause the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to be and
remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Guarantee Parties and the Additional
Grantors. Holdings and the Parent Borrower also agree 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 Collateral Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               Negative Covenants

     Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and
interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and
all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall
have been reimbursed, each of Holdings, the Parent Borrower and Purchasing
covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

     SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. Neither Holdings nor the Parent Borrower will,
nor will they permit any

<PAGE>

                                                                              81

Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness,
except:

          (a) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

          (b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule
     6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness
     that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (other than
     in respect of any premium or fee payable in connection with such extension,
     renewal or replacement) or result in an earlier maturity date or decreased
     weighted average life thereof; provided that (i) any Indebtedness in
     respect of any extension, renewal or replacement of the Subordinated Notes
     shall be subordinate to the Obligations on terms no less favorable to the
     Lenders than the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Notes and
     (ii) Indebtedness in respect of which the holders thereof have the
     unconditional right to require the issuer thereof to effect a redemption of
     such Indebtedness for cash prior to the stated maturity date of such
     Indebtedness shall be treated as maturing on the nearest such redemption
     date for purposes of the foregoing calculations;

          (c) Indebtedness of Holdings to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary
     to Holdings or any other Subsidiary;

          (d) Guarantees by Holdings of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by
     any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of (i) so long as such Subsidiary also
     guarantees the Obligations on a pari passu basis, Holdings or (ii) any
     other Subsidiary;

          (e) Indebtedness of Holdings or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the
     acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital 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 (i) such Indebtedness
     is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the
     completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate
     principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not
     exceed $850,000,000 at any time outstanding;

<PAGE>

                                                                              82

          (f) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the
     date hereof; provided that (i) 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 (ii) the aggregate
     principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (f) shall not
     exceed $150,000,000 at any time outstanding;

          (g) Permitted Long-Term Indebtedness;

          (h) other unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not
     exceeding $150,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

          (i) other Indebtedness of the Eckerd Companies; provided that (i) the
     aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Eckerd Companies permitted under
     this Section and outstanding at any time (other than Indebtedness permitted
     by clause (c) of this Section) shall not exceed $500,000,000 and (ii) no
     Eckerd Company shall be permitted to guarantee any Indebtedness of Holdings
     or any other Subsidiary (other than an Eckerd Company) unless such Eckerd
     Company also guarantees the Obligations on a pari passu basis.

     SECTION 6.02. Liens. Neither Holdings nor the Parent Borrower will, nor
will they 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 Holdings or any Subsidiary
     existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that
     (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of Holdings or
     any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which
     it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements
     thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof,
     other than in respect of any premium or fee payable in connection with such
     extension, renewal or replacement;

<PAGE>

                                                                              83

          (d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the
     acquisition thereof by Holdings or any Subsidiary or existing on any
     property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date
     hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that
     (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such
     acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii)
     such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or
     any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations
     which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person
     becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and
     replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount
     thereof, other than in respect of any premium or fee payable in connection
     with such extension, renewal or replacement;

          (e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved
     by Holdings or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests
     secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such
     security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior
     to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such
     construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does
     not exceed 100% of 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 Holdings or any Subsidiaries;

          (f) Liens in respect of leases or subleases granted to other Persons
     in the ordinary course of business and not materially interfering with the
     conduct of business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

          (g) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention,
     consignment (including "sale or return" arrangements) or similar
     arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Parent Borrower or
     any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in accordance
     with the past practices of the Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
     provided that the aggregate amount of such goods shall not exceed
     $500,000,000;

          (h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a
     matter of law securing payment

<PAGE>

                                                                              84

     of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

          (i) Liens on accounts receivable of the Parent Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries that arise from the securitization of such accounts
     receivable;

          (j) Liens (other than Liens on any inventory constituting Collateral)
     securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Parent Borrower; and

          (k) other Liens (other than Liens on any inventory constituting
     Collateral) securing monetary obligations in an aggregate amount not
     exceeding $125,000,000 at any time.

     SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) Neither Holdings nor the Parent
Borrower will, nor will they 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 the assets of the
Parent Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, 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 Person
may merge into the Parent Borrower in a transaction in which the Parent Borrower
is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Person may merge into or consolidate with
any Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary
and (if any party to such merger or consolidation is a Guarantee Party or an
Additional Grantor) is a Guarantee Party or an Additional Grantor (as
applicable) and (iii) any Subsidiary (other than a Guarantee Party or an
Additional Grantor) may liquidate or dissolve if the Parent Borrower determines
in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of
the Parent Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;
provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned
Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also
permitted by Section 6.04.

     (b) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
engage to any extent material to Holdings and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by Holdings
and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses
reasonably related, ancillary

<PAGE>

                                                                              85

or complementary to the business or businesses of Holdings or any Subsidiary.

     SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.
Neither Holdings nor the Parent Borrower will, nor will they permit any
Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with
any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any
Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any
option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or hold
any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or hold any
investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise
acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other
Person constituting a business unit, except:

          (a) Permitted Investments;

          (b) investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule
     6.04;

          (c) investments by Holdings and its Subsidiaries in Equity Interests
     in their respective Subsidiaries;

          (d) loans or advances made by Holdings to any Subsidiary and made by
     any Subsidiary to Holdings or any other Subsidiary;

          (e) Guarantees by Holdings of Indebtedness and other obligations of
     any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness and other obligations
     of (i) so long as such Subsidiary also guarantees the Obligations on a pari
     passu basis, Holdings or (ii) any other Subsidiary; provided that no Eckerd
     Company shall be permitted to guarantee any Indebtedness or other
     obligations of Holdings or any other Subsidiary (other than an Eckerd
     Company) unless such Eckerd Company also guarantees the Obligations on a
     pari passu basis;

          (f) investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or
     reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with,
     customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

          (g) Permitted Acquisitions; and

<PAGE>

                                                                              86

          (h) other investments in an aggregate amount not exceeding $25,000,000
     at any time.

     SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales. Neither Holdings nor the Parent Borrower will,
nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by it, nor will
Holdings and the Parent Borrower permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional
Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, except:

          (a) sales of inventory, used or surplus equipment and Permitted
     Investments in the ordinary course of business;

          (b) disposals of inventory pursuant to promotional or similar
     activities in the ordinary course of business;

          (c) sales, transfers and dispositions to the Parent Borrower or a
     Subsidiary;

          (d) sales of accounts receivable pursuant to a securitization thereof;

          (e) sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than
     Equity Interests in a Subsidiary) that are not permitted by any other
     clause of this Section; provided that the aggregate fair market value of
     all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this
     clause (e) during any fiscal year of Holdings shall not exceed 5% of the
     total Net Tangible Assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the first
     day of such fiscal year;

          (f) transfers and dispositions of interests in real property
     (including leasehold interests) in exchange for consideration that
     constitutes interests in real property (including leasehold interests) to
     the extent that any such transfer or disposition qualifies as a "like-kind"
     exchange under Section 1031 of the Code; and

          (g) this Section shall not be construed to prohibit transfers of cash
     by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that are not prohibited by any other
     provision of this Agreement;

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted
hereby (other than those permitted by

<PAGE>

                                                                              87

clauses (b) and (c) above) shall be made for fair value and (other than (i)
those permitted by clause (f) above and (ii) permitted sales, transfers, leases
and other dispositions of assets having an aggregate fair market value not
exceeding $50,000,000 during the term of this Agreement) shall be made for at
least 80% cash consideration.

     SECTION 6.06. Restrictive Agreements. Neither Holdings nor the Parent
Borrower will, nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of Holdings or
any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its
property or assets to secure the Obligations (or any Indebtedness incurred to
refinance or replace the Obligations); provided that (a) the foregoing shall not
apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (b)
the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the
date hereof identified on Schedule 6.06 or to any refinancing, extension or
renewal of, or any amendment or modification of, any Indebtedness or other
agreement existing on the date hereof containing any such restriction or
condition (but without expanding the scope of any such restriction or
condition), (c) 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, (d) the
foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement
relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such
restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such
Indebtedness and (e) the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in
leases and other contracts restricting the assignment, pledge or mortgage
thereof.

     SECTION 6.07. Leverage Ratio. The Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any
fiscal quarter ending during any period set forth below shall not exceed the
ratio set forth below opposite such period:

            Period                                  Ratio

Effective Date through and
including the last day of
the fiscal quarter ending on
or about October 25, 2003                       5.00 to 1.00

<PAGE>

                                                                              88

Thereafter through and
including the last day of
the fiscal quarter ending on
or about October 31, 2004                 4.25 to 1.00

Thereafter                                3.75 to 1.00

     SECTION 6.08. Asset Coverage Ratio. The Asset Coverage Ratio as of any date
shall not be less than 1.75 to 1.00.

     SECTION 6.09. Restriction on Non-Material Subsidiaries. Neither Holdings
nor the Parent Borrower will permit, at any time, the Non-Material Subsidiaries
that have not satisfied the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement to have, in the
aggregate, Net Tangible Assets representing in excess of 5% of the total Net
Tangible Assets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                Events of Default

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

          (a) any Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan of such
     Borrower or any Account Party shall fail to reimburse any LC Disbursement
     made in respect of a Letter of Credit issued for the account of such
     Account Party, in each case when and as the same shall become due and
     payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment
     thereof or otherwise;

          (b) any Borrower or any Account Party shall fail to pay any interest
     or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause
     (a) of this Article) payable by it under this Agreement or any other Loan
     Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such
     failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five days;

          (c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf
     of any Loan Party in or pursuant to any Loan Document or any amendment or
     modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or any material representation
     or warranty in any report, certificate, financial statement or other
     document furnished

<PAGE>

                                                                              89

     pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or
     modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been
     incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

          (d) Holdings, the Parent Borrower or Purchasing shall fail to observe
     or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02,
     5.04 (with respect to the existence of Holdings, the Parent Borrower or
     Purchasing) or 5.10 or in Article VI;

          (e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant,
     condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (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 notice thereof from
     the Administrative Agent to the Parent Borrower (which notice will be given
     at the request of any Lender);

          (f) Holdings 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 (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or
     both) 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 (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of
     the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such
     Indebtedness, (ii) Subordinated Notes that are converted into common stock
     of the Parent Borrower in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of
     the Subordinated Note Indenture and (iii) Indebtedness in respect of which
     the holders thereof have the unconditional right to require the issuer
     thereof to effect a redemption of such Indebtedness prior to the stated
     maturity of such Indebtedness, solely as a result of the exercise by such
     holders of such right;

<PAGE>

                                                                              90

          (h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary
     petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other
     relief in respect of Holdings 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 hereafter in
     effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
     sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings 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) Holdings 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 Holdings 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) Holdings 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 $100,000,000 shall be rendered against Holdings, any
     Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain
     undischarged for a period of 30 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 Holdings 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

<PAGE>

                                                                              91

     together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would result in a
     Material Adverse Effect;

          (m) any Lien purported to be created under the Collateral Agreement
     shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a
     valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral having an aggregate fair value
     of $10,000,000 or more, with the priority required by the Collateral
     Agreement, except as a result of the sale or other disposition of the
     applicable Collateral in a transaction not prohibited under the Loan
     Documents; or

          (n) a Change in Control shall occur;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Holdings, a
Borrower or an Account Party described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article),
and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the
Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall,
at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Parent Borrower, take
either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i)
terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the 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 the Borrowers and the
Account Parties accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately,
without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived by each Borrower and each Account Party; and in case of any
event with respect to Holdings, a Borrower or an Account Party described in
clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate
and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest
thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers and the Account
Parties accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by each Borrower and each Account Party.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

<PAGE>

                                                                              92

                            The Administrative Agent

     Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks 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 of the Loan Documents, together with such
actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

     The bank 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 bank
and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage
in any kind of business with Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any other
Subsidiary or 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 in the Loan Documents. 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 as directed by
the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall
be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c)
except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent
shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to
disclose, any information relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that
is communicated to or obtained by the bank 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
Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section
9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or wilful 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
Holdings, the Parent Borrower, Purchasing or a Lender, and the Administrative
Agent shall not be responsible for or

<PAGE>

                                                                              93

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 in any Loan
Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any
Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan
Document, 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 Parent 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. 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.

     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 Lenders, each Issuing Bank and the Parent Borrower. Upon
any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation
with the Parent Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have
been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall

<PAGE>

                                                                              94

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 Lenders and the Issuing Banks, 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
Parent Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those
payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Parent Borrower
and such successor. After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the
provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 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 Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance
upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender 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 this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous

     SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to
paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein
shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or

<PAGE>

                                                                              95

overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by
telecopy, as follows:

          (i) if to Holdings, the Parent Borrower or Purchasing, to it at J. C.
     Penney Corporation, Inc., 6501 Legacy Drive, Mail Code 1304, Plano, TX
     75024, Attention of the Treasurer (Telecopy No. (972) 431-2044), with a
     copy to the General Counsel of the Parent Borrower;

          (ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Loan and
     Agency Services Group, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 8th Floor, New York, New
     York 10081, Attention of Mary McCormack (Telecopy No. (212) 552-7500), with
     a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York 10017, Attention
     of Mr. Barry Bergman (Telecopy No. (212) 270-5646); and

          (iii) if to any other Lender, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline
     Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its
     Administrative Questionnaire.

     (b) Notices and other communications to the Issuing Banks and Lenders
hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to
procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the
Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank or Lender. The
Administrative Agent, Holdings, the Parent Borrower or Purchasing may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by
electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that
approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.

     (c) 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 Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date
of receipt.

     SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the
Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or
power hereunder or under any other 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,

<PAGE>

                                                                              96

preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, each
Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other 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 issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a
waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at
the time.

     (b) Except with respect to any amendment to this Agreement contemplated by
the definition of "Permitted Holding Company Reorganization" (which amendment
shall be permitted if entered into by the parties referred to therein), neither
this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof
may be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement,
pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the
Borrowers, the Account Parties and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any
other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered
into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are
parties thereto, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided
that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without
the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan
or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees
payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan
or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or
reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the
scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of
each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.17(b) or (c) in a manner
that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the
written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section
or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision of any Loan
Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend
or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent

<PAGE>

                                                                              97

thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) release any
Guarantee Party from its Guarantee under the Collateral Agreement (except as
expressly provided in the Collateral Agreement), or limit its liability in
respect of such Guarantee, without the written consent of each Lender or (vii)
release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the
Collateral Agreement (except as expressly provided in paragraph (c) below)
without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such
agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender hereunder without
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such
Swingline Lender, as the case may be.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all Liens on the
Collateral created under the Collateral Agreement shall be automatically
released in the event that the Parent Borrower receives a Rating of (i) Baa2 or
better from Moody's and (ii) BBB or better from S&P.

     SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Parent Borrower
and the other Loan Parties, jointly and severally, 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 the Loan
Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions thereof
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each
Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of
any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, (iii) all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or
any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the
Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, 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 and (iv) all fees associated with, and all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with,
any inventory audit performed by the Administrative Agent or any auditor that is
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on

<PAGE>

                                                                              98

behalf of the Administrative Agent, as well as any such expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent in connection with the monitoring and independent
appraisals of such inventory, in each case as contemplated by Section 5.08.

     (b) The Parent Borrower and the other Account Parties, jointly and
severally, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each
Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (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 other
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, 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 hereby,
(ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom
(including any refusal by an 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), or (iii) 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 (x) arise in connection
with any judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction in favor of any
Borrower or Account Party against such Indemnitee, (y) result from the gross
negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (z) result from any
dispute among the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or any of them, other
than disputes resulting from the fault of any Loan Party.

     (c) To the extent that the Parent Borrower or any other Account Party fails
to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, any
Issuing Bank or any Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section,
each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the applicable
Issuing Bank or the applicable Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such
Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable
unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount;
provided that the

<PAGE>

                                                                              99

unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank or the applicable Swingline
Lender in its capacity as such.

     (d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither Holdings, any
Borrower nor any Account Party shall assert, and each 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, this Agreement or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or
Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

     (e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 30
days after written demand therefor.

     SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of
any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) neither
Holdings, any Borrower nor any Account Party may assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by Holdings, any Borrower
or any Account Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no
Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder
except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties
hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any
Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants
(to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent
expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative
Agent, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

     (b)(i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any
Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment
and the Loans at the time owing to it);

<PAGE>

                                                                             100

with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld)
of:

          (A) the Parent Borrower, provided that no consent of the Parent
     Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a
     Lender or, if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of
     Article VII has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

          (B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the
     Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to an assignee
     that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender immediately prior to giving
     effect to such assignment.

     (ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following conditions:

          (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of
     a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning
     Lender's Commitment, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender
     subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment
     and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the
     Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the
     Parent Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided
     that no such consent of the Parent Borrower shall be required if an Event
     of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred
     and is continuing;

          (B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
     proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations
     under this Agreement;

          (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the
     Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a
     processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

          (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
     Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

     (iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph
(b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each
Assignment and

<PAGE>

                                                                             101

Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of
the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and
obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender
thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's
rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a
party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14,
2.15, 2.16 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or
obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04
shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a
participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of
this Section.

     (iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrowers and the Account Parties, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy
of each Assignment and Assumption 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 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, and Holdings, the Borrowers, the Account
Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders 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 Agreement, notwithstanding notice
to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Parent
Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time
to time upon reasonable prior notice.

     (v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption 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 Assumption
and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment
shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in
the Register as provided in this paragraph.

<PAGE>

                                                                             102

     (c)(i) Any Lender may, without the consent of Holdings, any Borrower, any
Account Party, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Swingline
Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a
"Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing
to it); provided that (A) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall
remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) Holdings, the
Borrowers, the Account Parties, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and
the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. 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 the Loan Documents; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide
that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any
amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section
9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this
Section, Holdings, the Borrowers and the Account Parties agree that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 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 9.08 as
though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to
Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.

     (ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 2.14 or 2.16 than the applicable 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 prior written
consent of the Parent Borrower. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if
it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless
the Parent Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant
and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers and the Account
Parties, to comply with Section 2.16(e) as though it were a Lender.

     (d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all
or any portion of its rights under

<PAGE>

                                                                             103

this Agreement 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 hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or
assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

     SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the
certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to
this 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 the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any
Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party
or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing
Bank or any Lender 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 fee or any other amount payable under this
Agreement 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 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in
full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination
of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this
Agreement or any provision hereof.

     SECTION 9.06. 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 a single contract. This Agreement, the other
Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable
to the Administrative Agent 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 4.01, this Agreement shall become
effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when
the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof

<PAGE>

                                                                             104

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 a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in
a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other
jurisdiction.

     SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing and either the Loans have become due and payable or any three
Lenders representing at least $50,000,000 in aggregate amount of the Commitments
have requested the Administrative Agent, in writing and in accordance with the
provisions of Article VII, to declare the Loans to be forthwith due and payable,
each Issuing Bank and Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at
any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set
off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand,
provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing
by such Issuing Bank or Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account
of any Borrower or any Account Party against any of and all the obligations of
such Borrower or such Account Party (as the case may be) now or hereafter
existing under this Agreement held by such Issuing Bank or Lender, irrespective
of whether or not such Issuing Bank or Lender shall have made any demand under
this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of
each Issuing Bank and Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights
and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Issuing Bank or
Lender may have. Any Lender or Issuing Bank exercising its rights under this
Section shall give notice thereof to the relevant Borrower and the relevant
Account Party on or prior to the day of the exercise of such rights.

     SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the
laws of the State of New York.

<PAGE>

                                                                             105

     (b) Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Account Parties hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the
nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting
in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern
District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for recognition
or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to
the extent permitted by 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 Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank
or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document against Holdings, a Borrower or an
Account Party or any of their respective properties in the courts of any
jurisdiction.

     (c) Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Account Parties hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the
maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

     (d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process
in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

     SECTION 9.10. 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 ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING
TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON

<PAGE>

                                                                             106

CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). 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 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this
Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the
Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to
its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including
accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the
Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential
nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to
the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or
similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in
connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement
containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any
assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in,
any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of
the Parent Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than Holdings, a Borrower or an
Account Party. For the purposes of this Section, "Information" means all
information received from Holdings, any Borrower or any Account Party relating
to Holdings, any Borrower, any Account Party or their respective business, other
than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any
Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by
Holdings, any Borrower or any Account Party. Any Person required to maintain the
confidentiality of

<PAGE>

                                                                             107

Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied
with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of
care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would
accord to its own confidential information.

     SECTION 9.13. 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 which are treated as interest on such
Loan under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"), shall exceed the maximum
lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which 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 Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the
Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and 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 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 Effective Rate to the date of
repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

     SECTION 9.14. Acknowledgment. Each of the Lenders party hereto that is also
a party to the Existing LC Agreement acknowledges that as of the Effective Date
(i) all letters of credit outstanding under the Existing LC Agreement shall be
deemed to constitute Letters of Credit, (ii) the aggregate amount of all letter
of credit disbursements made by such Lenders under the Existing LC Agreement
have been paid in full in accordance with Section 4.01(h) and (iii) the Existing
LC Agreement shall be terminated.

         [The remainder of this page has been left blank intentionally.]

<PAGE>

                                                                             108

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

                                J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.,

                                   by  /s/ Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                      Title: Executive Vice President,
                                                Chief Financial Officer

                                J. C. PENNEY CORPORATION, INC.,

                                   by  /s/ Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Robert B. Cavanaugh
                                      Title: Executive Vice President,
                                                Chief Financial Officer

                                J. C. PENNEY PURCHASING CORPORATION,

                                   by  /s/ Peter M. McGrath
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Peter M. McGrath
                                      Title: President

                                JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, individually and as
                                Administrative Agent,

                                   by  /s/ Barry Bergman
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Barry Bergman
                                      Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                               Signature page to Credit
                               Agreement dated as of May 31,
                               2002

                               Wachovia Bank N.A.

                               by /s/ Mark S. Supple
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Mark S. Supple
                                  Title: Vice President

                               Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands Branch

                               by /s/ Bill O'Daly
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Bill O'Daly
                                  Title: Director

                               by /s/ Cassandra Droogan
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Cassandra Droogan
                                  Title: Associate

                               Citicorp USA, Inc.

                               by /s/ Charles C. Philipp
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Chrles C. Philipp
                                  Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                               Signature page to Credit
                               Agreement dated as of May 31,
                               2002

                               HSBC Bank USA

                               by /s/ A. Serenicz
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Anne Serenicz
                                  Title: Senior Vice President

                               Fleet National Bank

                               by /s/ Judith C. E. Kelly
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Judith C. E. Kelly
                                  Title: Director

                               Bank of America, N.A.

                               by /s/ Amy Krovocheck
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Amy Krovocheck
                                  Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                               Signature page to Credit
                               Agreement dated as of May 31,
                               2002

                               Mellon Bank, N.A.

                               by  /s/ Louis E. Flori
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Louis E. Flori
                                 Title: Vice President

                               STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

                               by  /s/ M. Paula Zaiken
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  M. Paula Zaiken
                                 Title: Vice President

                               Banco Popular de Puerto Rico,
                               New York Branch

                               by /s/ Hector J. Gonzalez
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Hector J. Gonzalez
                                 Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

                               Signature page to Credit
                               Agreement dated as of May 31,
                               2002

                               PNC Bank, National Association

                               by /s/ Bruce G. Shearer
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Bruce G. shearer
                                 Title: Vice President

                               U.S. Bank National Association

                               by /s/ Douglas A. Rich
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Douglas A. Rich
                                 Title: Vice President

                               Wells Fargo Bank

                               by /s/ Susan Haufschild
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                 Name:  Susan Haufschild
                                 Title: V.P.

<PAGE>

                                Signature page to Credit Agreement
                                dated as of May 31, 2002

                                National City Bank

                                by  /s/ Jeffrey L. Hawthorne
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Jeffrey L. Hawthorne
                                Title: Senior Vice President

                                The Northern Trust Co.

                                by  /s/ Patrick J. Connelly
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  Patrick J. Connelly
                                Title: Vice President

                                The Bank of New York

                                by  /s/ David C. Judge
                                -----------------------------------------------
                                Name:  David C. Judge
                                Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                                        Signature page to Credit
                                        Agreement dated as of May 31,
                                        2002

                                        Compass Bank

                                        by     /s/ R. Bruce Frey
                                               ---------------------------
                                        Name   R. Bruce Frey
                                        Title: Vice President

                                        HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK

                                        by     /s/ Donna J. Richardson
                                               ---------------------------
                                        Name   Donna J. Richardson
                                        Title: Banking Officer

                                        UMB Bank, n.a.

                                        by     /s/ David A. Proffitt
                                               ---------------------------
                                        Name   David A. Proffitt
                                        Title: Senior Vice President<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 15,
2002, is made by and among Inveresk Research Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), the entities listed on Schedule 1 to this Agreement (each, a
"Candover Holder" and collectively, the "Candover Holders") and the persons
listed on Schedule 2 to this Agreement (each, an "Other Holder" and
collectively, the "Other Holders" and, together with the Candover Holders, the
"Holders").

                                   BACKGROUND

      WHEREAS, pursuant to an Exchange Agreement by Declaration of Trust, dated
as of April 2, 2002 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the "Exchange
Agreement"), among the Company and all of the persons who at the date of that
agreement were holders of record of shares of capital stock of Inveresk Research
Group Limited, a private company registered in Scotland ("Old Inveresk"), the
Holders who previously held shares of Old Inveresk will, at or following the
Exchange Time (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) be issued an aggregate of
25,827,720 shares of the Company's Common Stock, in exchange for their shares in
Old Inveresk;

      WHEREAS, following the Exchange Time the Holders who previously held
options to purchase shares of capital stock of Old Inveresk will receive, in
replacement of those options, options to purchase the Company's Common Stock
(the "Company Replacement Options");

      WHEREAS, in order to induce each of the Holders to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under the Exchange Agreement, the Company agreed to
provide each of them with the registration rights set forth in this Agreement;
and

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Principal Holders desire to enter into
agreements for the orderly distribution of the shares of Common Stock to be
acquired by the Principal Holders pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and upon
exercise of Company Replacement Options;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:

      Section 1. DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

      "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.

      "Beneficially Own" means, with respect to any security, having or sharing
the power to direct or control the voting or disposition of such security.

      "Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to any security, a Person who
Beneficially Owns such security, and "Beneficial Ownership" has a corresponding
meaning.
<PAGE>
      "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which
commercial banks in New York City, New York are permitted or required by law to
be closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

      "Candover Sale Percentage" means, as of any date, the quotient of (i) the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that, prior to and as of that date,
the Candover Holders have sold or otherwise disposed of or have contractually
committed to sell or otherwise dispose of, divided by (ii) the aggregate number
of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Candover Holders on the IPO
Date.

      "Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share,
or any other shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company into
which such shares of common stock shall be reclassified or changed, including
without limitation by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or
recapitalization.

      "Covered Shares" means, as to any Holder, the shares of Common Stock that
are Beneficially Owned by that Holder on the IPO Date, including any shares of
Common Stock that have been issued or are issuable to that Holder pursuant to
Company Replacement Options.

      "Demand Registration" means registration under the Securities Act of an
offering of Registrable Shares pursuant to a demand made under Section 2 of this
Agreement.

      "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

      "Holders" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Preamble and shall
include for purposes of this Agreement any assignee of any Holder in accordance
with Section 11(m) of this Agreement.

      "IPO Date" means the date of the final prospectus issued by the Company
with respect to its initial public offering of shares of Common Stock.

      "Permitted Sale Percentage" means, as of any date, for any Principal
Holder, a percentage of the Covered Shares that were Beneficially Owned by that
Principal Holder on the IPO Date, equal to the greater of (x) 20% and (y) the
Candover Sale Percentage on that date.

      "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust or
other entity, or any government or agency or political subdivision, department
or instrumentality thereof.

      "Principal Holder" means each of Dr. Walter S. Nimmo, Dr. Ian Sword, Paul
Cowan, Alastair McEwan, Rathbone Jersey Trust, Brian Bathgate and Michael
Ankcorn.

      "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon
Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, containing the terms of the offering of any portion of
the Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement and all other
amendments and supplements to such prospectus and all material incorporated by
reference or deemed, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, to be
incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

      "Registrable Shares" means the shares of Common Stock that are
Beneficially Owned by any Holder on the IPO Date, together with any additional
shares of Common Stock issued to any Holder after

                                       2
<PAGE>
the date of this Agreement in respect of any Registrable Shares pursuant to a
stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction, in each case unless and
until those shares (i) have been effectively registered under Section 5 of the
Securities Act and disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act; (ii) have been transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act such that, after any such transfer referred to in this clause
(ii), such securities may be freely transferred without restriction under the
Securities Act; or (iii) have become freely transferable without restriction
under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144(k) thereof or otherwise.

      "Registration Statement" means any registration statement filed by the
Company under the Securities Act that covers any of the Registrable Shares
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the related Prospectus,
all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including pre-
and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act, to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

      "Sale Percentage" means, as of any date, for any Principal Holder, the
quotient of (i) the aggregate number of Covered Shares that, prior to and as of
that date, that Principal Holder has sold or otherwise disposed of or
contractually committed to sell or otherwise dispose of, divided by (ii) the
number of Covered Shares Beneficially Owned by that Principal Holder on the IPO
Date.

      "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

      "underwritten registration" or "underwritten offering" means a
registration under the Securities Act in which securities issued by the Company
are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

      References to any agreement, instrument, statute, rule or regulation
defined or referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, statute, rule or
regulation as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented including (in
the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of
statutes, rules or regulations) by successor of comparable successor statutes,
rules or regulations.

      In addition, the following terms are defined elsewhere in the Agreement:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
"Agreement"....................................................         Preamble
"Candover Holder"..............................................         Preamble
"Company"......................................................         Preamble
"Company Notice"...............................................     Section 2(a)
"Company Replacement Options" .................................         Preamble
"Delay Period".................................................     Section 2(e)
"Demand Notice"................................................     Section 2(a)
"Effectiveness Period".........................................     Section 2(e)
"Exchange Agreement"...........................................         Recitals
"Hold Back Period".............................................        Section 4
"indemnified party"............................................     Section 8(c)
"indemnifying party"...........................................     Section 8(c)
"Inspectors"...................................................     Section 5(j)
"Interruption Period"..........................................        Section 5
"Losses".......................................................     Section 8(a)
"Old Inveresk".................................................         Preamble
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
"Other Holder".................................................         Preamble
"Other Holder Notice"..........................................     Section 2(b)
"Piggyback Notice".............................................     Section 3(a)
"Piggyback Registration".......................................     Section 3(a)
"Records"......................................................     Section 5(j)
"Shelf Registration"...........................................     Section 2(a)
</TABLE>

      Section 2. DEMAND REGISTRATION.

            (a) The Candover Holders shall have the right, exercisable at any
time after the date of this Agreement, by written notice (the "Demand Notice")
given to the Company, to request the Company to register from time to time under
and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act such number of the
Registrable Shares then Beneficially Owned by the Candover Holders as may be
specified in the Demand Notice; provided, however, that the aggregate number of
Registrable Shares requested to be registered pursuant to any Demand Notice and
pursuant to any related Demand Notices received pursuant to the proviso in
Section 2(c) shall have an aggregate market value at the time of such request of
not less than $25 million. The Company shall, within ten days of the date on
which the Company receives a Demand Notice given by the Candover Holders in
accordance with this Section 1(a), give written notice of such Demand Notice
(the "Company Notice") to all Holders other than the Candover Holders, and
shall, within 60 days of the date on which the Company receives such Demand
Notice, prepare and file with the SEC, and thereafter use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause to be declared effective, a Registration Statement
on the appropriate form for the registration and sale, in accordance with the
intended method or methods of distribution, of the total number of Registrable
Shares specified by the Candover Holders in such Demand Notice and the total
number of Registrable Shares specified by the Other Holders pursuant to Section
2(b) of this Agreement, if any, which Registration Statement may include a
"shelf" registration (a "Shelf Registration") pursuant to Rule 415 (or any
successor rule) under the Securities Act.

            (b) Any Holder (other than the Candover Holders) wishing to
participate in the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement to be filed as a result of the Demand Notice may participate in such
sale by notifying the Company in writing (the "Other Holder Notice") within 10
days of the receipt by such Holder of the Company Notice of the number of
Registrable Shares Beneficially Owned by such Holder that such Holder wishes to
include in the registration. Any such Other Holder Notice must be given in
accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement.

            (c) The Candover Holders as a group shall be entitled to five Demand
Registrations pursuant to this Section 2; provided, that if any Registration
Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2 does not become effective or is not
maintained for a period (whether or not continuous) of at least 120 days from
the date on which the SEC declares such Registration Statement effective (or
such shorter period as shall terminate when all the Registrable Shares covered
by such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Registration
Statement), the Candover Holders as a group will be entitled to one additional
Demand Registration.

            (d) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep
each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2 continuously
effective and usable for the resale of the Registrable Shares covered thereby
(i) in the case of a registration that is not a Shelf Registration, for a period
of at least 120 days from the date on which the SEC declares such Registration
Statement effective (or such shorter period as shall terminate when all the
Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant to such Registration Statement) and (ii) in the case of a Shelf
Registration, for a period of one year from the date on which the SEC declares
such Registration Statement effective (or such shorter period as shall terminate
when all the Registrable Shares covered by

                                       4
<PAGE>
such Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Registration
Statement), in either case, as such period may be extended pursuant to Section
2(e) of this Agreement.

            (e) The Company shall be entitled to postpone the filing of any
Registration Statement otherwise required to be prepared and filed by the
Company pursuant to this Section 2, or suspend the use of any effective
Registration Statement under this Section 2, for a reasonable period of time,
but not in excess of 120 days (any such period being a "Delay Period"), if any
executive officer of the Company determines in such executive officer's
reasonable judgment that the registration and distribution of the Registrable
Shares covered or to be covered by such Registration Statement would materially
interfere with any pending material financing, acquisition or corporate
reorganization or other material corporate development involving the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or would require premature disclosure thereof and such
executive officer promptly gives all Holders requesting registration pursuant to
this Section 2 (whether pursuant to a Demand Notice or an Other Holder Notice)
written notice of such determination, containing a general statement of the
reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the period of the
anticipated Delay Period; provided, however, that the aggregate number of days
included in all Delay Periods during any consecutive 12 months shall not exceed
the aggregate of (i) 180 days, minus (ii) the number of days occurring during
all Hold Back Periods and Interruption Periods (each as hereinafter defined)
during such consecutive 12 month period. If the Company postpones the filing of
a Registration Statement required to be filed as a result of a Demand
Registration, the holders of the Registrable Shares to be registered shall have
the right to withdraw the Demand Notice or Other Holder Notice, as the case may
be, by giving written notice to the Company prior to the earlier of 45 days
after receipt of the notice of postponement or the termination of such Delay
Period (and, in the event of such withdrawal, such request shall not be counted
for purposes of determining the number of Demand Registrations to which the
Candover Holders are entitled pursuant to this Section 2). If the Demand Notice
for any registration is withdrawn, all Other Holder Notices received by the
Company shall be deemed withdrawn and the Company shall deliver to the
applicable Holders written notice to that effect. The time period for which the
Company is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement shall be extended by the aggregate
number of days of all Delay Periods, all Hold Back Periods and all Interruption
Periods occurring during such registration and such period, as so extended, is
hereinafter referred to as the "Effectiveness Period." The Company shall not be
entitled to initiate a Delay Period unless it shall (A) prohibit sales by all
other security holders (other than the Holders) under registration statements
covering securities held by such other security holders and (B) in accordance
with the Company's policies from time to time in effect, forbid purchases and
sales in the open market by senior executives of the Company.

            (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, or the
managing underwriter or underwriters participating in such offering advise the
Company in writing, that the total amount of Registrable Shares requested to be
included in any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2 exceeds
the amount which can be sold in (or during the time of) such offering without
delaying or jeopardizing the success of the offering (including the price per
share of the Registrable Shares to be sold), the amount of Registrable Shares to
be offered for the account of each Holder shall be reduced (to zero if
necessary) pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares requested
to be registered by each such Holder in the Demand Notice or Other Holder
Notice, as the case may be; provided, however, that the number of Registrable
Shares requested to be registered by the Holders shall not be reduced unless all
other securities to be included in such Registration Statement by Persons other
than the Holders are first entirely excluded from the offering.

                                       5
<PAGE>
      Section 3. PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.

            (a) If at any time (but without any obligation to do so) the Company
proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect
to a public offering of securities of the same type as the Registrable Shares
solely for cash for its own account (other than a registration statement (i)
filed solely in connection with employee stock option or purchase plans; (ii)
relating to a transaction pursuant to Rule 145 under the Securities Act; or
(iii) pursuant to a registration form which does not include substantially the
same information as would be required under the Securities Act to be included in
a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Shares) or for the
account of any holder of securities of the same type as the Registrable Shares,
then the Company shall give written notice (the "Piggyback Notice") of such
proposed filing to the Holders at least 15 days before the anticipated filing
date. The Piggyback Notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register
pursuant to the registration statement proposed to be filed as described in such
notice, such amount of Registrable Shares then Beneficially Owned by the Holders
as they may request (each a "Piggyback Registration"). Subject to Section 3(b)
of this Agreement, the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration
all Registrable Shares with respect to which the Company has received written
requests from Holders for inclusion therein within 10 days after the Piggyback
Notice has been received by the Holders. Each Holder shall be permitted to
withdraw all or any portion of the Registrable Shares of such Holder from a
Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effective date of such Piggyback
Registration; provided, however, that if such withdrawal occurs after the filing
of the registration statement with respect to such Piggyback Registration, the
withdrawing Holders shall reimburse the Company for the portion of the
registration expenses payable with respect to the Registrable Shares
Beneficially Owned by such Holder that are withdrawn by such Holder.

            (b) The Company shall permit the Holders to include all such
Registrable Shares in any Piggyback Registration on the same terms and
conditions as any similar securities, if any, of the Company included therein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, or the managing
underwriter or underwriters participating in such offering advise the Company in
writing, that the total amount of securities requested to be included in such
Piggyback Registration exceeds the amount which can be sold in (or during the
time of) such offering without delaying or jeopardizing the success of the
offering (including the price per share of the securities to be sold), then the
amount of securities to be offered for the account of the Holders and the
securities of the other holders who have piggyback registration rights with
respect thereto shall be reduced (to zero if necessary), pro rata on the basis
of the number of securities requested to be registered by each such Holder and
each such other holder of securities.

            (c) Nothing in this Section 3 shall create any liability on the part
of the Company to the Holders if the Company in its sole discretion should
decide not to file a registration statement previously proposed to be filed as
described in Section 3(a) of this Agreement or to withdraw such registration
statement subsequent to its filing, regardless of any action whatsoever that a
Holder may have taken, whether as a result of the issuance by the Company of any
notice hereunder or otherwise.

      Section 4. HOLDBACK AGREEMENT. If (i) during any Effectiveness Period the
Company shall propose to offer and sell securities pursuant to a registration
statement filed under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to an employee
stock option, stock purchase or similar plan or pursuant to a merger, exchange
offer or other transaction pursuant to Rule 145 under the Securities Act) and
(ii) the Company (in the case of a non-underwritten public offering by the
Company pursuant to such registration statement) advises the Holders in writing
that a public sale or distribution would materially adversely affect such
offering or the managing underwriter or underwriters (in the case of an
underwritten public offering by the Company pursuant to such registration
statement) advises the Company in writing (in which case the Company shall
promptly notify the Holders) that a public sale or distribution of

                                       6
<PAGE>
Registrable Shares by or on behalf of the Holders would materially adversely
impact such offering, then each Holder shall, to the extent not inconsistent
with applicable law, refrain from effecting any public sale or distribution of
Registrable Shares (other than any such shares proposed to be sold pursuant to
such registration statement) during the ten days prior to the effective date of
such registration statement and until the earliest of (A) the abandonment of
such offering; (B) 120 days from the effective date of such registration
statement; and (C) if such offering is an underwritten offering, the termination
in whole or in part of any "hold back" period obtained by the underwriter or
underwriters in such offering from the Company in connection therewith (each
such period, a "Hold Back Period"); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing
there shall be no Hold Back Period during the seven calendar days following the
effectiveness of any registration statement filed pursuant to a Demand
Registration if during such seven-day period a Holder is contractually obligated
to effect a public sale or distribution of Registrable Shares.

      Section 5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement
(and subject to the provisions of Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement), the
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such
registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Shares in accordance with
the intended method or methods of disposition thereof. In addition, the Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts (subject to the provisions of
Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement) to:

            (a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement for the
sale of the Registrable Shares on any form for which the Company then qualifies
or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate in accordance with such
Holders' intended method or methods of distribution thereof, subject to Section
2(b) of this Agreement and, subject to the Company's right to terminate or
abandon a registration pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Agreement, use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and remain effective for the applicable periods provided in this
Agreement;

            (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement, and such supplements
to the related Prospectus, as may be required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to such Registration Statement and Prospectus under the
Securities Act during the applicable period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition for such Registrable Shares covered by such Registration
Statement, and cause the related Prospectus as so supplemented to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;

            (c) notify the Holders whose Registrable Shares are covered by such
Registration Statement promptly, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the SEC
staff for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or the
related Prospectus or for additional information regarding the Holders whose
Registrable Shares are covered by such Registration Statement; (iii) of the
issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Registrable Shares for sale in any jurisdiction in the United States or the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the
happening of any event that requires the making of any changes in such
Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any documents incorporated
or deemed, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, to be
incorporated therein by reference so that they will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

                                       7
<PAGE>
            (d) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness
of such Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Shares for sale
in any jurisdiction in the United States;

            (e) furnish to each Holder whose Registrable Shares are covered by
such Registration Statement and each managing underwriter, if any, without
charge, one conformed copy of such Registration Statement, as declared effective
by the SEC, and of each post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement,
in each case including the financial statements and schedules and all exhibits
and reports incorporated or deemed, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act, to be incorporated therein by reference; and deliver, without
charge, such number of copies of the preliminary prospectus, any amended
preliminary prospectus, each final Prospectus and any post-effective amendment
or supplement thereto, as such holder reasonably may request in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Shares of such Holder covered by
such Registration Statement in compliance with the requirements of the
Securities Act;

            (f) prior to any public offering of Registrable Shares covered by
such Registration Statement, register or qualify such Registrable Shares for
offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions in
the United States as the Holders whose Registrable Shares are covered by the
Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing; provided, however,
that the Company shall in no event be required to qualify generally to do
business as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in any jurisdiction where it is
not at the time so qualified or to execute or file a general consent to service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it has not theretofore done so or to
take any action that would subject it to general service of process or taxation
in any such jurisdiction where it is not then subject;

            (g) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(v)
above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed,
pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, to be incorporated therein
by reference and file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Shares being sold thereunder
(including upon the termination of any Delay Period), such Prospectus will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

            (h) cause all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration
Statement to be listed on each securities exchange or automated interdealer
quotation system, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are
then listed or quoted;

            (i) on or before the effective date of such Registration Statement,
provide the transfer agent of the Company for the Registrable Shares with
printed certificates for the Registrable Shares covered by such Registration
Statement;

            (j) if such offering is an underwritten offering, make available for
inspection by any Holder whose Registrable Shares are included in such
Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in any offering pursuant
to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by any such Holder or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all
financial and other records and other information, pertinent corporate documents
and properties of any of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates
(collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them
to exercise their due diligence responsibilities; provided, however, that the
Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which
it notifies the Inspectors in writing are confidential shall not be disclosed to
any Inspector unless such Inspector signs a confidentiality agreement reasonably
satisfactory to the Company (which shall permit the disclosure of such Records
in

                                       8
<PAGE>
such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus if necessary to avoid or
correct a material misstatement in or material omission from such Registration
Statement or Prospectus); and

            (k) if such offering is an underwritten offering, enter into such
agreements (including an underwriting agreement in such form, scope and
substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other
appropriate and reasonable actions requested by the Holders whose Registrable
Shares are being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably
requested by the managing underwriters) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Shares, and in such connection, (i) use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and
updates thereof (which opinions (in such form, scope and substance) shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriters and counsel to the Holders
whose Registrable Shares are being sold), addressed to each Holder whose
Registrable Shares are covered by such Registration Statement and each of the
underwriters as to the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in
underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by
such counsel and underwriters; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified
public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business
acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are,
or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to
each Holder whose Registrable Shares are covered by the Registration Statement
(unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by
applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the underwriters,
such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type
customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten
offerings; and (iii) if requested and if an underwriting agreement is entered
into, provide indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the
effect set forth in Section 8 of this Agreement with respect to all parties to
be indemnified pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement. The above shall be done
at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the
extent required thereunder.

      The Company may require each Holder to furnish such information regarding
such Holder and such Holder's intended method of disposition of such Registrable
Shares as it may from time to time reasonably request in writing. If any such
information is not furnished within a reasonable period of time after receipt of
such request, the Company may exclude such Holder's Registrable Shares from such
Registration Statement.

      Each Holder whose Registrable Shares are covered by a Registration
Statement shall, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of
any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iii), 5(c)(iv) or
5(c)(v) of this Agreement, forthwith discontinue disposition of any Registrable
Shares covered by such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus until
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 5(g) of this Agreement or until such Holder is advised in writing by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has
received copies of any amended or supplemented Prospectus or any additional or
supplemental filings which are incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by
reference in such Prospectus (such period during which disposition is
discontinued being an "Interruption Period") and, if requested by the Company,
each Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all
copies then in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in its
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Shares at the time of
receipt of such request.

      Each Holder whose Registrable Shares are covered by a Registration
Statement further shall not utilize any material other than the applicable
current preliminary prospectus or Prospectus in connection with the offering of
such Registrable Shares.

                                       9
<PAGE>
      Section 6. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. Whether or not any Registration
Statement is filed or becomes effective, except as otherwise expressly provided
in this Agreement, the Company shall pay all costs, fees and expenses incident
to the Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including (i)
all registration and filing fees, including NASD filing fees, (ii) all fees and
expenses of compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws, including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel in connection therewith, (iii) printing
expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Shares and
of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the
Holders or the managing underwriter, if any), (iv) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (v) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (vi)
fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including expenses of any "cold comfort" letters required in connection
with this Agreement) and all other persons retained by the Company in connection
with such Registration Statement, (vii) fees and disbursements of underwriters
customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of securities, and (viii) all other
costs, fees and expenses incident to the Company's performance or compliance
with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the fees and expenses of any
counsel or other persons retained by any Holder, and any underwriters' or
dealers' discounts or commissions, brokers' fees or fees of similar securities
industry professionals and any transfer taxes relating to the disposition of the
Registrable Shares by a Holder, will be payable by such Holder and the Company
will have no obligation to pay any such amounts.

      Section 7. UNDERWRITING REQUIREMENTS.

            (a) Subject to Section 7(b) of this Agreement, any Candover Holder
shall have the right, by written notice to the Company, to request that any
Demand Registration provide for an underwritten offering.

            (b) In the case of any underwritten offering pursuant to a Demand
Registration, the Company shall select the institution or institutions that
shall manage or lead such offering, which institution or institutions shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Candover Holders. In the case of any underwritten
offering pursuant to a Piggyback Registration, the Company shall select the
institution or institutions that shall manage or lead such offering. No Holder
shall be entitled to participate in an underwritten offering unless and until
such Holder has entered into an underwriting or other agreement with such
institution or institutions for such offering in such form as the Company and
such institution or institutions reasonably shall determine; provided, that the
terms of such agreement are customary in form, scope and substance in
underwritten offerings.

      Section 8. INDEMNIFICATION.

            (a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the full
extent permitted by law, each Holder whose Registrable Shares are covered by a
Registration Statement or Prospectus, the officers, directors, partners and
employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 10 of the Exchange Act)
and the directors, officers and employees of each such controlling person, to
the fullest extent lawful, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgment, costs (including, without limitation, costs of
preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are based upon
information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder
expressly for use therein; provided, that, in the case of a non-underwritten
public offering, the Company shall not be liable to any Holder to the extent
that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement

                                       10
<PAGE>
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any
preliminary prospectus if (i) having previously been furnished by or on behalf
of the Company with copies of the Prospectus, any Holder failed to send or
deliver a copy of the Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written
confirmation of the sale of Registrable Shares by such Holder to the person
asserting the claim from which such Losses arise and (ii) the Prospectus would
have corrected in all material respects such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or such omission or alleged omission; and provided further, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Losses
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission in the Prospectus, if (A) such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is corrected in all
material respects in an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and (B) having
previously been furnished by or on behalf of the Company with copies of the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, any Holder thereafter fails to deliver
such Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, prior to or concurrently with the
sale of Registrable Shares.

            (b) Each Holder (i) shall furnish promptly to the Company in writing
such information as the Company reasonably may request for use in connection
with each Registration Statement or related Prospectus that covers securities
Beneficially Owned by such Holder and (ii) shall indemnify, to the full extent
permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers or employees, each Person
who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 10 of the Exchange Act) and the directors, officers or employees of
each such controlling person, from and against any and all Losses, as incurred,
arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising
out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is based upon any information
so furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder to the Company expressly
for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

            (c) If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"indemnified party"), such indemnified party shall give prompt notice to the
party from which such indemnity is sought (the "indemnifying party") of any
claim or of the commencement of any proceeding with respect to which such
indemnified party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto;
provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party
shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligation or liability except
to the extent that the indemnifying party has been prejudiced by such delay or
failure. The indemnifying party shall have the right, exercisable by giving
written notice to an indemnified party promptly after the receipt of written
notice from such indemnified party of such claim or proceeding, to assume, at
the indemnifying party's expense, the defense of any such claim or proceeding,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided,
however, that (i) an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such claim or proceeding and to participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless: (A) the indemnifying party agrees to pay such
fees and expenses; (B) the indemnifying party fails promptly to assume the
defense of such claim or proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party; or (C) the named parties to any
proceeding (including impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and
the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have been advised by
counsel that there is a significant likelihood that there may be one or more
legal defenses available to it that are inconsistent with those available to the
indemnifying party or that a conflict of interest is likely to exist among such
indemnified party and any other indemnified parties (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of such indemnified party); and (ii) subject to clause (C) above, the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such claim or
proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related claims or
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general
allegations or

                                       11
<PAGE>
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of
attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the
indemnified parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable. Whether
or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, such indemnified party
shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its
consent; provided, that such consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or
delayed. The indemnifying party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof
the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all
liability in respect of such claim or litigation for which such indemnified
party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

            (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Losses, then each
applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified
party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or
omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand,
and indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such
indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the second immediately preceding sentence.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), an indemnifying party that
is a Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount which is in excess of
the total net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Shares sold by such Holder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

            (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the provisions in
this Section 8 conflict with the provisions on indemnification and contribution
contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an
underwritten public offering, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall
control.

      Section 9. REPORTS UNDER EXCHANGE ACT . With a view to making available to
the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule
or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities
of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-3, the Company agrees to:

            (a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144, at all times after 90 days after the
effective date of the Company's registration statement for its initial public
offering;

            (b) take such action, including the voluntary registration of its
Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as is necessary to enable the
Holders to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of their Registrable Shares, such
action to be taken as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year in
which the Company's registration statement for its initial public offering is
declared effective;

                                       12
<PAGE>
            (c) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
and

            (d) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any
Registrable Shares, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any
time after 90 days after the effective date of the Company's registration
statement for its initial public offering), the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or
that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to
Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies); (ii) a copy of the most recent
annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents
so filed by the Company; and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably
requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC which
permits the selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to
such form.

      Section 10. ORDERLY SALE PROVISIONS.

            (a) Each Principal Holder hereby (i) agrees that, except as provided
in paragraph (b) below, such Principal Holder will not, directly or indirectly,
during the period of two years immediately following the IPO Date (the "Lock-Up
Period"), without the prior written consent of the Company, sell, offer or agree
to sell, grant any option for the sale of, pledge, make any short sale or
maintain any short position, establish or maintain a "put equivalent position"
(within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act), enter into any
swap, derivative transaction or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Principal
Holder's Covered Shares (whether for cash or other consideration), or otherwise
dispose of, any of the Principal Holder's Covered Shares and (ii) authorizes the
Company during the Lock-Up Period to cause the Company's transfer agent to
decline to transfer and to note stop transfer restrictions on the transfer books
and records of the Company with respect to any of the Principal Holder's Covered
Shares.

            (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10,
each Principal Holder may sell or otherwise dispose of Covered Shares if and to
the extent that, after giving effect to the sale or other disposition, that
Principal Holder's Sale Percentage will not exceed the Principal Holder's
Permitted Sale Percentage as then in effect.

      Section 11. MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a) Termination. No Holder shall be entitled to exercise any right
provided for in this Agreement (other than rights set forth in Section 8 of this
Agreement) after the earliest of (i) the first date on which such Holder no
longer Beneficially Owns any Registrable Shares or (ii) the tenth anniversary of
the IPO Date.

            (b) Notices. All notices or communications hereunder shall be in
writing (including telecopy or similar writing), addressed as follows:

                Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
                11000 Weston Parkway
                Suite 100
                Cary, North Carolina  27513
                USA
                Attention: Chief Executive Officer

                                       13
<PAGE>
                To any Candover Holder:

                c/o Candover Partners Ltd
                20 Old Bailey
                London EC4M 7LN
                United Kingdom
                Attention: Legal Department

                To any Other Holder:
                At the addresses set forth on the
                signature pages hereto

any such notice shall be effective only if delivered personally, by telecopier
after receipt of mechanical confirmation of transmission or by
nationally-recognized overnight courier or if mailed (certified mail postage
prepaid, return receipt requested). All such notices, requests and other
communications will (i) if delivered personally to the address as provided in
this Section 11(b), be deemed given upon delivery, and (ii) if delivered by
overnight courier, mail or telecopier in the manner described above to the
address as provided in this Section 11(b), be deemed given upon receipt. Any
party from time to time may change its address or other information for the
purpose of notices to that party by giving notice specifying such change to the
other parties hereto.

            (c) Force Majeure. No party shall be liable for any delay or failure
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, when such delay or failure is
caused by war, invasion, insurrection, blockade, embargo, riot, flood,
earthquake, act of God, fire, strike, government or governmental agency, act of
government or governmental agency, interference of civil or military
authorities, or other cause of a like kind beyond their control.

            (d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, by
manual or facsimile signatures, each of which will be deemed an original, but
all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

            (e) Section Headings. The section and subsection headings used
herein are for reference and convenience only, and shall not enter into the
interpretation hereof.

            (f) No Waiver. Any term or condition of this Agreement may be waived
at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefit thereof, but no such
waiver shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument duly executed
by or on behalf of the party waiving such term or condition. No waiver by any
party of any term or condition of this Agreement, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be or construed as a waiver of the same or any other term or
condition of this Agreement on any future occasion.

            (g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The parties, for
themselves and their respective Affiliates, hereby irrevocably waive all right
to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on
contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the actions of the
parties or their respective Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement in the
negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement thereof.

            (h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exchange Agreement
together supersede all prior discussions and agreements between the parties with
respect to the subject matter of

                                       14
<PAGE>
this Agreement, and together contain the sole and entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

            (i) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or
modified only by a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of the
Company and Holders that Beneficially Own at least a majority in number of the
Registrable Shares then outstanding.

            (j) Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is held
to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if
the rights or obligations of any party hereto under this Agreement will not be
materially and adversely affected thereby, (i) such provision will be fully
severable, (ii) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof,
(iii) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provision or by its severance from this Agreement and (iv) in lieu of such
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically
as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar
in terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.

            (k) No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the parties hereto and shall not be deemed to confer upon third
parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other
right, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

            (l) Gender and Person. Words used herein, regardless of the number
or gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other
number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter,
as the context shall require.

            (m) Assignment of Registration Rights to Affiliates; Successors and
Assigns. The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Shares pursuant
to this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a
Holder to any Person that has acquired at least 50,000 Registrable Shares from
that assigning Holder. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties (including
transferees of any Registrable Shares).

            (n) Calculation of Time Periods. Except as otherwise indicated, all
periods of time referred to herein shall include all Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays; provided, that if the date to perform any act or give any notice with
respect to this Agreement shall fall on a day other than a Business Day, such
act or notice may be timely performed or given if performed or given on the next
succeeding Business Day.

      Section 12. Arbitration. In the event that any of the parties to this
Agreement shall be unable to resolve any dispute with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement, such dispute shall be submitted to binding
arbitration, which shall be commenced and conducted in accordance with the
applicable rules of commercial arbitration of the American Arbitration
Association in an arbitration commenced and held before a single arbitrator. The
arbitration shall be held in the State of Delaware.

               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

                                       15
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

                                      INVERESK RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Walter S. Nimmo
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Walter S. Nimmo
                                         Title: Chief Executive Officer
                                                and President

                                      CANDOVER INVESTMENTS PLC

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Investments PLC

                                      CANDOVER (TRUSTEES) LIMITED

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover (Trustees) Limited

                                      CANDOVER 1997 UK NO. 1 LIMITED
                                      PARTNERSHIP

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Partners Limited
                                               As General Partner of the
                                               Candover 1997 UK No. 1
                                               Limited Partnership

                                      CANDOVER 1997 UK NO. 2 LIMITED
                                      PARTNERSHIP

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Partners Limited
                                               As General Partner of the
                                               Candover 1997 UK No. 2
                                               Limited Partnership

                                       16
<PAGE>
                                      CANDOVER 1997 US NO. 1 LIMITED
                                      PARTNERSHIP

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Partners Limited
                                               As General Partner of the
                                               Candover 1997 US No. 1
                                               Limited Partnership

                                      CANDOVER 1997 US NO. 2 LIMITED
                                      PARTNERSHIP

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Partners Limited
                                               As General Partner of the
                                               Candover 1997 US No. 2
                                               Limited Partnership

                                      CANDOVER 1997 US NO. 3 LIMITED
                                      PARTNERSHIP

                                      By: /s/ M.S. Gumienny
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: M.S. Gumienny
                                               Director
                                               Candover Partners Limited
                                               As General Partner of the
                                               Candover 1997 US No. 3
                                               Limited Partnership

                                      WALTER S. NIMMO

                                         /s/ Walter S. Nimmo
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
                                               11000 Weston Parkway, Suite 100
                                               Cary, North Carolina 27513

                                      IAN SWORD

                                        /s/ Ian P. Sword
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o Inveresk Research Group
                                               Limited
                                               Tranent EH33 2NE
                                               Scotland, United Kingdom

                                       17
<PAGE>
                                      PAUL COWAN

                                       /s/ Paul Cowan
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
                                               11000 Weston Parkway, Suite 100
                                               Cary, North Carolina 27513

                                      ALASTAIR MCEWAN

                                      /s/ Alastair McEwan
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o Inveresk Research Group, Inc.
                                               11000 Weston Parkway, Suite 100
                                               Cary, North Carolina 27513

                                      RATHBONE JERSEY LIMITED

                                      By: /s/ J. Hammill /s/ P.A. Bradshaw
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Messrs J. Hammill & P.A. Bradshaw
                                        Title: Directors
                                      Address: Seaton House
                                               Seaton Place
                                               St. Helier, Jersey JE1 1BG
                                               Channel Islands

                                      BRIAN BATHGATE

                                       /s/ Dr. Brian Bathgate
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o Inveresk Research Group
                                               Limited
                                               Tranent EH33 2NE
                                               Scotland, United Kingdom

                                       18
<PAGE>
                                      MICHAEL ANKCORN

                                       /s/ Michael Ankcorn
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Address: c/o ClinTrials BioResearch
                                               87 Senneville Road
                                               Senneville (Montreal)
                                               Quebec, Canada H9X 3R3

                                      DALAME RESOURCES S.A.

                                      By: /s/ Stephen A. Burnett
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Stephen A. Burnett-Director
                                         Address: Elizabeth House
                                                  9 Castle Street
                                                  St. Helier
                                                  Jersey JE4 2QP

                                       19
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1

                                Candover Holders

                    Candover Investments PLC
                    Candover (Trustees) Limited
                    Candover 1997 UK No. 1 Limited Partnership
                    Candover 1997 UK No. 2 Limited Partnership
                    Candover 1997 US No. 1 Limited Partnership
                    Candover 1997 US No. 2 Limited Partnership
                    Candover 1997 US No. 3 Limited Partnership

                                       20
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 2

                                  Other Holders

Walter Nimmo
Ian Sword
Paul Cowan
Alastair McEwan
Rathbone Jersey Trust
Brian Bathgate
Michael Ankcorn

                                       21

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00040-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00040-of-00352.parquet"}]]