Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                MIDWAY GAMES INC.
                            3401 N. CALIFORNIA AVENUE
                                CHICAGO, IL 60618

                                                              October 30, 2000

Mr. Neil D. Nicastro
999 N. Sheridan Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045

Dear Mr. Nicastro:

         Reference is made to your Employment Agreement dated July 1, 1996 (the
"Employment Agreement") between Midway Games Inc. ("Midway") and you, as amended
March 5, 1998, November 5, 1999 and May 4, 2000.

         This letter reflects our agreement to further amend the Employment
Agreement as follows:

         1. Paragraphs 6(a) and 6(b) of the Employment Agreement are amended in
their entireties to read as follows:

              "(a) In the event Nicastro shall die during the term of this
         Agreement but prior to his "Retirement Date" (as hereinafter defined),
         Midway shall, in addition to the benefits which may become payable
         pursuant to subparagraph 3(c), deliver all of the "Retirement Shares"
         (as hereinafter defined) to such person or persons as Nicastro shall,
         at his option, from time to time designate by written instrument
         delivered to Midway, each subsequent designation to be deemed to revoke
         all prior designations, or if no such designation is made to his
         estate.

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              (b) "Retirement Date" shall mean the later to occur of (i) the
         date on which Nicastro shall become forty-five (45) years old or (ii)
         the date of the termination of Nicastro's employment by Midway.
         Midway will deliver to Nicastro, on the first day of the first month
         following his Retirement Date and on the first day of each month
         thereafter, for a period of ten (10) years 5,065 shares of Midway
         common stock, and an additional twenty three (23) shares on the first
         day of each of the sixtieth (60th) month and the one hundred twentieth
         (120th) month (for a total of 607,846 shares (the "Retirement
         Shares")). The number of Retirement Shares may be adjusted pursuant to
         the provisions set forth below. In the event that Nicastro shall die
         after his Retirement Date but before the Retirement Shares have been
         fully delivered to him, the balance of the Retirement Shares shall be
         immediately delivered to his estate."

         2. A new paragraph 6(d) shall be added to the Employment Agreement
which shall read as follows:

              "(d) Midway covenants and agrees as follows:

                   (i) Midway will cause to be reserved and kept available out
         of authorized and issued shares of Midway common stock held in its
         treasury, and to the extent Midway treasury shares are insufficient,
         out of authorized and unissued shares of Midway common stock, the
         number of shares of Midway common stock that will be sufficient to
         permit all of the Retirement Shares to be delivered in accordance with
         the terms of this Agreement.

                   (ii) So long as the shares of Midway common stock deliverable
         pursuant to this Agreement are listed on any national securities
         exchange or automated quotation system, Midway will use its best
         efforts to cause all shares

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         reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange or quotation
         system upon official notice of issuance.

                   (iii) Midway will, in sufficient time prior to the delivery
         of the Retirement Shares, use its best efforts to (A) file a
         registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
         (the "Act"), with respect to the Retirement Shares, (B) cause such
         registration statement to become effective and (C) cause such
         registration statement to remain effective (together with a resale
         prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until all
         of the Retirement Shares have been sold by Nicastro, unless such
         registration statement is no longer required for Nicastro to publicly
         offer and sell such shares.

                   (iv) Midway will take such action as may be necessary to
         ensure that all Retirement Shares shall, at the time of delivery of the
         certificates for such shares, be duly and validly authorized and issued
         and fully paid and nonassessable.

                   (v) Midway will pay when due and payable any and all federal
         and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of
         the issuance or delivery of the Retirement Shares to Nicastro.

                   (vi) Until delivered to Nicastro in accordance with this
         Agreement, the Retirement Shares shall not be deemed outstanding for
         any purpose, including, without limitation, the right to vote.

                   (vii) The number and kind of Retirement Shares are subject to
         adjustment from time to time as herein provided.

                        (A) In the event Midway shall at any time after October
         1, 2000 (v) declare a dividend on Midway common stock payable in shares
         of Midway common stock, (w) effect a spin-off or split-up such that
         holders of Midway common stock become entitled to receive securities of
         another entity in respect of or in exchange for shares of Midway common
         stock (x) subdivide the outstanding Midway common stock into a greater
         number of shares, (y) combine the outstanding Midway common stock into
         a smaller number of share, or (z) issue any shares of its capital stock
         in a reclassification of the Midway common stock (including any such
         reclassification in

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         connection with a consolidation or merger in which Midway is the
         continuing or surviving corporation), the number and kind of shares of
         Midway common stock or other securities, as the case may be, issuable
         with respect to the Retirement Shares, shall be proportionately
         adjusted so that Nicastro shall be entitled to receive the aggregate
         number and kind of shares of Midway common stock or securities, as the
         case may be, that he would have been entitled to receive by virtue of
         such dividend, spin-off, split-up, subdivision, combination or
         reclassification had he owned the Retirement Shares on the record date
         for such dividend, spin-off, split-up, subdivision, combination or
         reclassification; provided, however, that in the case of any spin-off
         or split-up if, in the opinion of Midway's chief financial officer,
         the foregoing adjustment provisions will jeopardize the tax free nature
         of such spin-off or split-up, then Midway's chief financial officer
         may make such other adjustments as he deems to be appropriate in order
         to preserve the tax free nature of the spin-off or split-up and to
         fairly protect Nicastro against a diminution in value of the Retirement
         Shares by reason of such spin-off or split-up.

                        (B) In the event that, directly or indirectly, (x)
         Midway shall consolidate with, or merge with any other person and, in
         connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the
         outstanding shares of Midway common stock shall be changed into or
         exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person and/or cash
         or any other property, or (y) Midway shall sell or otherwise transfer
         (or one or more of Midway's subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
         transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
         assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
         earning power of Midway and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
         person or persons then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall
         be made so that Nicastro shall thereafter have the right to receive
         under this Agreement, at the times he would otherwise be entitled to
         receive the Retirement Shares, in lieu thereof, such securities,
         assets, cash and/or other consideration, as the case may be, as he
         would have been entitled to receive had he

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         owned the Retirement Shares on the record date for the determination of
         shareholders entitled to such securities, assets, cash and/or other
         consideration.

                        (C) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
         this Agreement, Nicastro shall become entitled to receive any shares of
         capital stock or other consideration other than Midway common stock,
         thereafter the number of such other shares or other consideration so
         receivable hereunder shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
         in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
         provisions of this subparagraph 6(d)(vii) with respect to the Midway
         common stock.

                        (D) All adjustments hereunder shall be made in good
         faith by the Chief Financial Officer of Midway, whose determination,
         absent manifest error, shall be final.

                   (viii) Midway may establish appropriate procedures to provide
         for payment or withholding of such income or other taxes as may be
         required by law to be paid or withheld in connection with the issuance
         of Retirement Shares."

         3. Paragraph 9(b) of the Employment Agreement shall be amended to
delete subparagraph 9(b)(i)(III), and in lieu thereof to add the following at
the end of subparagraph 9(b)(i):

            "In addition to all other payments and rights set forth above, all
         Retirement Shares not delivered to Nicastro prior to the date of the
         lump sum payments referred to above shall be immediately delivered to
         him at the time of delivery of such lump sum payments."

         In all other respects, the Employment Agreement is hereby confirmed and
is in full force and effect.

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<PAGE>   6

         Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by signing this letter
in the space provided.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           MIDWAY GAMES INC.

                                           By: /s/ Harold H. Bach, Jr.
                                              ---------------------------
                                              Harold H. Bach, Jr.
                                              Executive Vice President - Finance

Accepted and Agreed to:

/s/ Neil D. Nicastro
------------------------
Neil D. Nicastro

                                       6<PAGE>   1
                                                                 Exhibit 10.20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       364 DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF AUGUST 10, 2000

                                     AMONG

                            THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY,
                               NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                            AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,
                    CITICORP USA, INC., AS SYNDICATION AGENT
                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, AS DOCUMENTATION AGENT

                                       AND

                  THE OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO

                            BANC OF AMERICA, L.L.C.,
                   AS SOLE LEAD ARRANGER AND SOLE BANK MANAGER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SECTION                                                                         PAGE
-------                                                                         ----

<S>                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS .......................................................................1
           1.1   Certain Defined Terms.............................................1
           1.2   Other Interpretive Provisions....................................16
           1.3   Accounting Principles............................................17
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS.......................................................................17
           2.1   Amounts and Terms of Commitments.................................17
           2.2   Loan Accounts....................................................17
           2.3   Procedure for Borrowing..........................................18
           2.4   Conversion and Continuation Elections............................18
           2.5   Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Commitments;...............20
           2.6   Optional Prepayments.............................................22
           2.7   Repayment........................................................22
           2.8   Interest.........................................................22
           2.9   Fees.............................................................23
           2.10  Computation of Fees and Interest.................................24
           2.11  Payments by the Borrowers........................................24
           2.12  Payments by the Banks to the Agent...............................25
           2.13  Sharing of Payments, Etc.........................................26
           2.14  Extension of Scheduled Revolving Termination Date................26
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY............................................27
           3.1   Taxes............................................................27
           3.2   Illegality.......................................................28
           3.3   Increased Costs and Reduction of Return..........................29
           3.4   Funding Losses...................................................30
           3.5   Inability to Determine Rates.....................................30
           3.6   Certificates of Banks............................................31
           3.7   Substitution of Banks............................................31
           3.8   Survival.........................................................31

</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SECTION                                                                         PAGE
-------                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..............................................................31
           4.1   Conditions of Initial Loans......................................31
           4.2   Conditions to All Borrowings.....................................33
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................................33
           5.1   Corporate Existence; Conduct of Business.........................33
           5.2   Authorization and Validity.......................................33
           5.3   Compliance with Laws and Contracts...............................34
           5.4   Governmental Consents............................................34
           5.5   Financial Statements.............................................34
           5.6   Material Adverse Change..........................................35
           5.7   Taxes............................................................35
           5.8   Litigation and Contingent Obligations............................35
           5.9   Subsidiaries.....................................................35
           5.10  ERISA............................................................36
           5.11  Defaults.........................................................36
           5.12  Federal Reserve Regulations......................................36
           5.13  Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company...............36
           5.14  Certain Fees.....................................................36
           5.15  Ownership of Properties..........................................37
           5.16  Material Agreements..............................................37
           5.17  Insurance........................................................37
           5.18  Disclosure.......................................................37
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS.........................................................................38
           6.1   Financial Reporting..............................................38
           6.2   Use of Proceeds..................................................39
           6.3   Notice of Default................................................40
           6.4   Conduct of Business..............................................40
           6.5   Taxes............................................................40
           6.6   Insurance........................................................40
           6.7   Compliance with Laws.............................................40
           6.8   Maintenance of Properties........................................40
           6.9   Inspection.......................................................41
           6.10  Ownership of Subsidiaries........................................41
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SECTION                                                                         PAGE
-------                                                                         ----

<S>                                                                              <C>
           6.11  Indebtedness....................................................41
           6.12  Merger..........................................................42
           6.13  Sale of Assets..................................................42
           6.14  Sale of Accounts................................................42
           6.15  Investments and Purchases.......................................42
           6.16  Contingent Obligations..........................................43
           6.17  Liens...........................................................43
           6.18  Affiliates......................................................44
           6.19  Change in Corporate Structure; Fiscal Year......................44
           6.20  Inconsistent Agreements.........................................44
           6.21  Financial Covenants.............................................44
                 6.21.1.   Minimum Net Worth.....................................44
                 6.21.2.   Leverage Ratio........................................44
           6.22  Subsidiary Borrower Net Capital.................................44
           6.23  ERISA Compliance................................................45
ARTICLE VII
DEFAULTS.........................................................................45
           7.1   ................................................................45
           7.2   Remedies........................................................47
           7.3   Rights Not Exclusive............................................47
ARTICLE VIII
GUARANTEE........................................................................48
           8.1   Guarantee.......................................................48
           8.2   Expenses........................................................48
           8.3   Waivers.........................................................48
           8.4   No Impairment...................................................48
           8.5   Waiver of Resort................................................49
           8.6   Reinstatement...................................................49
           8.7   Payment.........................................................49
           8.8   Subrogation, Waivers, etc.......................................49
           8.9   Delay, etc......................................................50
ARTICLE IX
THE AGENT........................................................................50
           9.1   Appointment and Authorization...................................50
           9.2   Delegation of Duties............................................50
           9.3   Liability of Agent..............................................50
</TABLE>

                                     -iii-
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SECTION                                                                         PAGE
-------                                                                         ----

<S>                                                                              <C>
           9.4   Reliance by Agent...............................................51
           9.5   Notice of Default...............................................51
           9.6   Credit Decision.................................................51
           9.7   Indemnification.................................................52
           9.8   Agent in Individual Capacity....................................52
           9.9   Successor Agent.................................................53
           9.10  Withholding Tax.................................................53
           9.11  Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent..........................55
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................55
           10.1  Amendments and Waivers..........................................55
           10.2  Notices.........................................................56
           10.3  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..................................56
           10.4  Costs and Expenses..............................................57
           10.5  Indemnity.......................................................57
           10.6  Collateral......................................................58
           10.7  Payments Set Aside..............................................58
           10.8  Successors and Assigns..........................................58
           10.9  Assignments, Participations, etc................................58
           10.10 Confidentiality.................................................60
           10.11 Set-off.........................................................60
           10.12 Automatic Debits of Fees........................................60
           10.13 Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc.................61
           10.14 Counterparts....................................................61
           10.15 Severability....................................................61
           10.16 No Third Parties Benefitted.....................................61
           10.17 Governing Law and Jurisdiction..................................61
           10.18 Waiver of Jury Trial............................................62
           10.19 Entire Agreement................................................62
</TABLE>

SCHEDULES

Schedule 2.1   Commitments
Schedule 5.9   Subsidiaries

                                      -iv-
<PAGE>   6

Schedule 5.10  ERISA
Schedule 10.2  Lending Offices; Addresses for Notices
Schedule 10.6  Collateral

                                      -v-
<PAGE>   7

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A           Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit B           Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit C           Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D-1         Form of Legal Opinion of Borrowers' Outside Counsel
Exhibit D-2         Form of Legal Opinion of Borrowers' General Counsel
Exhibit E           Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit F           Form of Promissory Note
Exhibit G           Form of Accession Agreement

                                      -vi-

<PAGE>   8

                       364 DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This 364 DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of August
10, 2000, among The John Nuveen Company, a Delaware corporation, Nuveen
Investments, a Delaware corporation, the several financial institutions from
time to time party to this Agreement (collectively, the "Banks"; individually, a
"Bank"), Citicorp USA, Inc., as syndication agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
documentation agent and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the
Banks.

         WHEREAS, the Banks have agreed to make available to the Borrowers a
revolving credit facility upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement;

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

                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

         1.1 Certain Defined Terms. The following terms have the following
meanings:

             "Accession Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(b).

             "Advisers Act" means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended.

             "Affected Bank" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

             "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if
the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

             "Agent" means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative
agent for the Banks hereunder, and any successor agent arising under Section
9.9.

             "Agent-Related Persons" means Bank of America and any successor
agent arising under Section 9.9, together with their respective Affiliates
(including, in the case of Bank of America, the Arranger), and the officers,
directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
Affiliates.

<PAGE>   9

             "Agent's Payment Office" means the address for payments set forth
on the signature page hereto in relation to the Agent, or such other address as
the Agent may from time to time specify.

             "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement.

             "Annual Operating Cash Flow" means, as at any fiscal quarter end,
EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended.

             "Applicable Facility Fee Rate" means 0.08% per annum.

             "Applicable Margin" means, with respect to Offshore Rate Loans and
Federal Funds Rate Loans, 0.295% per annum.

             "Applicable Utilization Fee Rate" means 0.05% per annum.

             "Arranger" means Banc of America, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company.

             "Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9(a).

             "Attorney Costs" means and includes all fees and disbursements of
any law firm or other external counsel and, without duplication, the allocated
cost of internal legal services and all disbursements of internal counsel.

             "Bank" has the meaning specified in the introductory clause hereto.

             "Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A., a national banking
association.

             "Bankruptcy Code" means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978
(11 U.S.C.ss.101, et seq.).

             "Base Rate" means, for any day, the higher of: (a) 0.50% per annum
above the latest Federal Funds Rate; and (b) the rate of interest in effect for
such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America, as its
"prime rate." (The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America based upon
various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return, general
economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for
pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate.) Any change in the "prime rate" announced by Bank of America shall take
effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public
announcement of such change.

             "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base
Rate.

             "Borrower" means the Parent or the Subsidiary Borrower.

                                       2
<PAGE>   10

         "Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of Loans of the same
Type made to a Borrower on the same day by the Banks under Article II, and, in
the case of Offshore Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period.

         "Borrowing Date" means any date on which a Borrowing occurs under
Section 2.3.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and Chicago, Illinois are
authorized or required by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day
relates to any Offshore Rate Loan, means such a day on which dealings are
carried on in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market.

         "Capital Adequacy Regulation" means any guideline, request or directive
of any central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law, rule or
regulation, whether or not having the force of law, in each case, regarding
capital adequacy of any bank or of any corporation controlling a bank.

         "CFTC" means the Commodities Future Trading Commission and any
successor entity.

         "Change of Control" means (a) the acquisition by any Person, or two or
more Persons acting in concert, including without limitation any acquisition
effected by means of any transaction contemplated by Section 6.12, of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding
shares of voting stock of the Parent, or (b) The St. Paul Companies, Inc., or a
successor acceptable to each of the Banks, shall cease to own beneficially and
of record, free and clear of all Liens, other encumbrances, or voting
agreements, restrictions or trusts of any kind at least 50.1% of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Parent on a fully diluted basis and shares
representing the right to elect a majority of the directors of the Parent, (c)
during any period of 25 consecutive calendar months, commencing on the date of
this Agreement, the ceasing of those individuals (the "Continuing Directors")
who (i) were directors of the Parent on the first day of each such period or
(ii) subsequently became directors of the Parent and whose initial election or
initial nomination for election subsequent to that date was approved by a
majority of the Continuing Directors then on the board of directors of the
Parent, to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Parent, or (d)
the Parent shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all
Liens or other encumbrances, at least 99% of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Subsidiary Borrower on a fully diluted basis.

         "Closing Date" means the date on which all conditions precedent set
forth in Section 4.1 are satisfied or waived by all Banks (or, in the case of
Section 4.1(e), waived by the Person entitled to receive such payment).

                                       3
<PAGE>   11

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         "Commitment", as to each Bank, has the meaning specified in Section
2.1.

         "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
of Exhibit C.

         "Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect
liability of that Person, whether or not contingent, with or without recourse,
(a) with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other
obligation (the "primary obligations") of another Person (the "primary
obligor"), including any obligation of that Person (i) to purchase, repurchase
or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any security therefor, (ii) to
advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any such primary
obligation, or to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary
obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet
item, level of income or financial condition of the primary obligor, (iii) to
purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring
the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor
to make payment of such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold
harmless the holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect
thereof (each, a "Guaranty Obligation"); (b) with respect to any Surety
Instrument issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is
otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings or payments; (c) to purchase any
materials, supplies or other property from, or to obtain the services of,
another Person if the relevant contract or other related document or obligation
requires that payment for such materials, supplies or other property, or for
such services, shall be made regardless of whether delivery of such materials,
supplies or other property is ever made or tendered, or such services are ever
performed or tendered, or (d) in respect of any Rate Hedging Obligations. The
amount of any Contingent Obligation shall, in the case of Guaranty Obligations,
be deemed equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation
in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not stated or if
indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof,
and in the case of other Contingent Obligations, shall be equal to the maximum
reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.

         "Contractual Obligation" means, as to any Person, any provision of any
security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to
which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

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

                                       4
<PAGE>   12

         "Conversion/Continuation Date" means any date on which, under Section
2.4, a Borrower (a) converts Loans of one Type to another Type, or (b) continues
as Loans of the same Type, but with a new Interest Period, Loans having Interest
Periods expiring on such date.

         "Default" means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of
notice, the lapse of time, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied
during such time) constitute an Event of Default.

         "Distribution Receivables" means advanced sales commissions reflected
on the consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP representing fees, commissions or other amounts payable by
registered investment companies sponsored or advised by the Subsidiary Borrower
or any Affiliate thereof relating to the distribution of such investment
companies' shares.

         "Dollars", "dollars" and "$" each mean lawful money of the United
States.

         "EBITDA" means, for any applicable computation period, the Parent's and
Subsidiaries' Net Income on a consolidated basis from continuing operations,
plus (a) income and franchise taxes paid or accrued during such period, (b)
interest expenses accrued during such period, and (c) amortization and
depreciation and other non-cash charges deducted in determining Net Income for
such period, all determined and computed in accordance with GAAP.

         "Eligible Assignee" means (i) a commercial bank organized under the
laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $100,000,000; (ii) a commercial bank organized under the
laws of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (the "OECD"), or a political subdivision of any such
country, and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000,
provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the
United States; (iii) a Person that is primarily engaged in the business of
commercial banking and that is (A) a Subsidiary of a Bank, (B) a Subsidiary of a
Person of which a Bank is a Subsidiary, or (C) a Person of which a Bank is a
Subsidiary; (iv) another Bank; (v) any other entity which is an "accredited
investor" (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended) which extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses, including
but not limited to, insurance companies, mutual funds and lease financing
companies; or (vi) other lenders or institutional investors consented to in
writing in advance by Agent and the Parent.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning specified in the
definition of "Offshore Rate".

                                       5
<PAGE>   13

         "Event of Default" means any of the events or circumstances
specified in Section 7.1.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate set forth in the
weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor
publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any
such successor, "H.15(519)") on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption
"Federal Funds (Effective)"; or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so
published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the
arithmetic mean as determined by the Agent of the rates for the last transaction
in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on
that day by each of three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New
York City selected by the Agent.

         "Federal Funds Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the
Federal Funds Rate.

         "Fee Letter" has the meaning specified in Section 2.9(a).

         "FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and
any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from
time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles
Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements
and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with
similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting
profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date hereof.

         "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or
regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government,
and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or
capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

         "Guaranteed Indebtedness" has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.

         "Guaranty Obligation" has the meaning specified in the definition
of "Contingent Obligation."

         "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) all obligations issued, undertaken or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade
payables entered into in the ordinary course

                                       6
<PAGE>   14

of business on ordinary terms); (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or payment
obligations with respect to Surety Instruments; (d) all obligations evidenced by
notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so
evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or
businesses; (e) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case
with respect to property acquired by the Person (even though the rights and
remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are
limited to repossession or sale of such property); (f) all obligations with
respect to capital leases; (g) all Rate Hedging Obligations; (h) all
indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in property (including accounts
and contracts rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not
assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness; and (i) all
Guaranty Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the
kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above.

         "Indemnified Party" has the meaning specified in Section 10.5.

         "Insolvency Proceeding" means (a) any case, action or proceeding before
any court or other Governmental Authority relating to bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up
or relief of debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of
creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar
arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of
its creditors; undertaken under U.S. Federal, state or foreign law, including
the Bankruptcy Code.

         "Interest Payment Date" means, as to any Offshore Rate Loan, the last
day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and, as to any Base Rate
Loan or Federal Funds Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each calendar quarter
and each date such Loan is converted into another Type of Loan, provided,
however, that if any Interest Period for an Offshore Rate Loan exceeds three
months, the date that falls three months after the beginning of such Interest
Period.

         "Interest Period" means, as to any Offshore Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or on the Conversion/Continuation
Date on which the Loan is converted into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan,
and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter as selected by
the applicable Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation;

provided that:

               (i)   if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is
         not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the
         following Business Day, unless the result of such extension would be to
         carry such Interest Period into another

                                       7
<PAGE>   15

          calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the
          preceding Business Day;

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

               (iii) no Interest Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the
          Revolving Termination Date.

          "Investment" of a Person means any loan, advance (other than
commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the
ordinary course of business), extension of credit (other than accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the
trade), deposit account or contribution of capital by such Person to any other
Person or any investment in, or purchase or other acquisition of, the stock,
partnership interests, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person
made by such Person.

          "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.

          "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental
Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.

          "Lending Office" means, as to any Bank, the office or offices of such
Bank specified as its "Lending Office" or "Domestic Lending Office" or "Offshore
Lending Office", as the case may be, on Schedule 10.2, or such other office or
offices as such Bank may from time to time notify the Parent and the Agent.

          "Leverage Ratio" means, as determined as of the end of any fiscal
quarter, the ratio of (a) Net Debt at such time to (b) Annual Operating Cash
Flow.

          "Lien" means any security interest, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, charge or deposit arrangement, encumbrance or lien
(statutory or other) in respect of any property (including those created by,
arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capital lease, any financing lease
having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the
filing of any financing statement naming the owner of the asset to which such
lien relates as debtor, under the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable law)
and any contingent or other agreement to provide any of the foregoing, but not
including the interest of a lessor under an operating lease.

                                       8
<PAGE>   16

             "Loan" means an extension of credit by a Bank to a Borrower under
Article II, and may be a Base Rate Loan, Federal Funds Rate Loan or an Offshore
Rate Loan (each, a "Type" of Loan).

             "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, any Notes, the Fee Letter
and all other documents delivered to the Agent or any Bank in connection
herewith.

             "Majority Banks" means at any time Banks then holding in excess of
50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or, if no such
principal amount is then outstanding, Banks then having in excess of 50% of the
Commitments.

             "Margin Stock" has the meaning assigned to that term under
Regulation U.

             "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in,
or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parent or the Parent and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the
Parent to perform under any Loan Document and to avoid any Event of Default; or
(c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability against the Parent of any Loan Document.

             "Materially Associated Persons" any associated person of a broker,
dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer, municipal
securities dealer, or derivatives dealer (other than a natural person) whose
business activities are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the
financial or operational condition of any such broker, dealer, government
securities broker, government securities dealer, municipal securities dealer, or
derivatives dealer, including on its net capital, its liquidity, or its ability
to conduct or finance its operations.

             "MSRB" means the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board or any
successor entity.

             "Multiemployer Plan" means a Plan maintained pursuant to a
collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement to which the Parent or
any member of the Controlled Group is a party to which more than one employer is
obligated to make contributions.

             "NASD" means the NASD Regulation, Inc.

             "Net Debt" means the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all
Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis required
to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

             "Net Income" means, for any computation period, with respect to the
Parent on a consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries (other than any Subsidiary
which is restricted from declaring or paying dividends or otherwise advancing
funds to its parent whether by contract

                                       9
<PAGE>   17

or otherwise), cumulative net income earned during such period as determined in
accordance with GAAP.

             "Net Worth" means at any date the consolidated common stockholders
equity of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries and redeemable preferred
stock of the Parent determined in accordance with GAAP.

             "Non-Consenting Bank" has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

             "Note" means a promissory note executed by a Borrower in favor of a
Bank pursuant to Section 2.2(b), in substantially the form of Exhibit F.

             "Notice of Borrowing" means a notice in substantially the form of
Exhibit A.

             "Notice of Conversion/Continuation" means a notice in substantially
the form of Exhibit B.

             "Nuveen Advisory" means Nuveen Advisory Corp., a Delaware
corporation.

             "Nuveen Asset Management" means Nuveen Asset Management Inc., a
Delaware corporation.

             "Nuveen Institutional" means Nuveen Institutional Advisory Corp., a
Delaware corporation.

             "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

             "Obligations" means all advances, debts, liabilities, obligations,
covenants and duties arising under any Loan Document owing by either Borrower to
any Bank, the Agent, or any Indemnified Party, whether direct or indirect
(including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, now existing or hereafter arising.

             "Offshore Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any
Offshore Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by Agent pursuant to the
following formula:
                                             Offshore Base Rate
               Offshore Rate  =  --------------------------------------
                                 1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

                    Where,

                    "Offshore Base Rate" means, for such Interest Period:

                    (a) the rate per annum (carried out to the fifth decimal
          place) equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered
          rate that appears on the page of the

                                       10
<PAGE>   18

          Telerate Screen that displays an average British Bankers Association
          Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the
          first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such
          Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London
          time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
          Period, or

                    (b) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding
          subsection (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or
          service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum (carried out
          to the fifth decimal place) equal to the rate determined by Agent to
          be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays
          an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for
          deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
          Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as
          of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to
          the first day of such Interest Period, or

                    (c) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding
          subsections (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum
          determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in
          Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) in
          same day funds in the approximate amount of the applicable Offshore
          Rate Loan and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be
          offered by its London Branch to major banks in the offshore Dollar
          market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
          Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

                    "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day during
          any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal,
          rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on such day,
          whether or not applicable to any Bank, under regulations issued from
          time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
          for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any
          emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with
          respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
          "Eurocurrency liabilities").

                    The determination of the Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage and
          the Offshore Base Rate by the Agent shall be conclusive in the absence
          of manifest error.

                    The Offshore Rate shall be adjusted automatically as to all
          Offshore Rate Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any
          change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

                    "Offshore Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based
          on the Offshore Rate.

                                       11
<PAGE>   19

         "Other Credit Agreement" means the Three Year Revolving Credit
Agreement dated the date hereof among the Borrower, Bank of America, as
Administrative Agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Documentation Agent.

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

         "Parent" means The John Nuveen Company, a Delaware company.

         "Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9(d).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any
Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.

         "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.

         "Plan" means an employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section
3(2) of ERISA, as to which the Parent or any member of the Controlled Group may
have any liability.

         "Pro Rata Share" means, as to any Bank at any time, the percentage
equivalent (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) at such
time of such Bank's Commitment divided by the combined Commitments of all Banks.

         "Property" of a Person means any and all property, whether real,
personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned,
leased or operated by such Person.

         "Purchase" means any transaction, or any series of related
transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any ongoing business or all or
substantially all of the assets of any Person or division or line of business
thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, or (b)
directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent
transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of
votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for
the election of directors (other than securities having such power only by
reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting
power) of the outstanding partnership interests of a partnership.

         "Rate Hedging Obligations" of a Person means any and all obligations of
such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever
created, arising,

                                       12
<PAGE>   20

evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications
thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all agreements, devices
or arrangements designed to protect at least one of the parties thereto from the
fluctuations of interest rates, exchange rates or forward rates applicable to
such party's assets, liabilities or exchange transactions, including, but not
limited to, dollar-denominated or cross-currency interest rate exchange
agreements, forward rate currency or interest rate options, puts and warrants,
and (b) any and all cancellations, buybacks, reversals, terminations or
assignments of any of the foregoing.

         "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the FRB as from time to time in
effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official interpretation
of the FRB relating to reserve requirements applicable to depositary
institutions.

         "Regulation T" means Regulation T of the FRB as from time to time in
effect and shall include any successor or other regulation or official
interpretation of the FRB relating to the extension of credit by securities
brokers and dealers for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks
applicable to such Persons.

         "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the FRB from time to time in
effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of the
FRB relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing
or carrying margin stocks applicable to such Person.

         "Regulation X" means Regulation X of the FRB as from time to time in
effect and shall include any successor or other regulation or official
interpretation of FRB relating to the extension of credit by the specified
lenders for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to
such Persons.

         "Replacement Bank" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

         "Reportable Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan,
excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived
the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days
of the occurrence of such event; provided, that a failure to meet the minimum
funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be
a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice
requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d)
of the Code.

         "Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or
common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a
Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or
any of its property or to which the Person or any of its property is subject.

                                       13
<PAGE>   21

         "Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer or the
president of the Parent, or any other officer having substantially the same
authority and responsibility; or, with respect to compliance with financial
covenants, the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Parent, or any
other officer having substantially the same authority and responsibility.

         "Revolving Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of:

               (a)  August 9, 2001 (the "Scheduled Revolving Termination Date")
          as such date may be extended pursuant to Section 2.14; and

               (b)  the date on which the Commitments terminate in accordance
          with the provisions of this Agreement.

          "Rittenhouse" means Rittenhouse Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

          "Scheduled Revolving Termination Date" has the meaning specified in
the definition of "Revolving Termination Date" .

          "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

          "Seed Money" means Investments (i) constituting the initial investment
in any registered investment company sponsored by the Subsidiary Borrower or any
Affiliate thereof made by Nuveen Advisory, Nuveen Institutional or any Affiliate
thereof pursuant to Section 14(a) (or any successor provision) of the Investment
Company Act, without regard to any minimum investment requirements under said
Section 14(a) or (ii) constituting a portfolio of securities maintained on the
books of a Borrower or any Affiliate thereof and invested in accordance with a
particular method or investment style in order to develop a performance record
and to be subsequently offered to advisory clients as an investment option.

          "Short-term Indebtedness" means Indebtedness with a term of no more
than ten Business Days.

          "Single Employer Plan" means a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA
maintained by the Parent or any member of the Controlled Group for employees of
the Parent or any member of the Controlled Group, other than a Multiemployer
Plan.

          "SIPC" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(j).

          "Subsidiary" of a Person means any corporation, limited liability
company, association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of
which more than 50% of the voting stock or other equity interests (in the case
of Persons other than corporations), is

                                       14
<PAGE>   22

owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Person, or one or more of the
Subsidiaries of the Person, or a combination thereof. Unless the context
otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a "Subsidiary" refer to a
Subsidiary of the Parent.

          "Subsidiary Borrower" means Nuveen Investments, a Delaware
corporation.

          "Substantial Portion" means, with respect to the Property of the
Parent and its Subsidiaries, Property which (a) represents more than 10% of the
consolidated assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, as would be shown in the
consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the
end of the quarter next preceding the date on which such determination is made,
or (b) is responsible for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales or 20% of
the Net Income of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the 12-month period ending
as of the end of the quarter next preceding the date of determination.

          "Surety Instruments" means all letters of credit (including standby
and commercial), banker's acceptances, bank guaranties, shipside bonds, surety
bonds and similar instruments.

          "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding, in the case of each Bank and the Agent, such taxes (including income
taxes or franchise taxes) as are imposed on or measured by the Agent's or such
Bank's net income by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof)
under the laws of which such Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, is organized
or maintains a lending office.

          "Termination Event" means, with respect to a Plan which is subject to
Title IV of ERISA, (a) a Reportable Event, (b) the withdrawal of the Parent or
any other member of the Controlled Group from such Plan during a plan year in
which the Parent or any other member of the Controlled Group was a "substantial
employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or was deemed such under
Section 4068(f) of ERISA, (c) the termination of such Plan, the filing of a
notice of intent to terminate such Plan or the treatment of an amendment of such
Plan as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, (d) the institution by the
PBGC of proceedings to terminate such Plan or (e) any event or condition which
might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or
appointment of a trustee to administer, such Plan.

          "Type" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Loan."

          "UIT" means a unit investment trust consisting of a portfolio of
municipal bonds or taxable securities.

          "Unfunded Liability" means the amount (if any) by which the present
value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under a Single Employer Plan
exceeds the fair market value of assets allocable to such benefits, all
determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plans using PBGC
actuarial assumptions for single employer planterminations.

                                       15
<PAGE>   23

         "United States" and "U.S." each means the United States of America.

         "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" means any corporation in which (other than
directors' qualifying shares required by law) 100% of the capital stock of each
class having ordinary voting power, and 100% of the capital stock of every other
class, in each case, at the time as of which any determination is being made, is
owned, beneficially and of record, by the Parent, or by one or more of the other
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, or both.

         1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. (a) The meanings of defined terms
are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

             (b) The words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and similar words
refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement; and subsection, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this
Agreement unless otherwise specified.

             (c) (i) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments,
         documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other
         writings, however evidenced, delivered in connection with the
         Agreement.

                 (ii) The term "including" is not limiting and means "including
         without limitation."

                 (iii) In the computation of periods of time from a specified
         date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and
         including"; the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding",
         and the word "through" means "to and including."

         (d) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to
agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be
deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, but
only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by
the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation
are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions
consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the statute or
regulation.

         (e) The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

         (f) This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several different
limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All
such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be
performed in accordance with their terms.

         (g) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of
negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Agent, the Borrowers
and the other parties, and are the work products of all parties. Accordingly,
they shall not be construed against the

                                       16
<PAGE>   24

         Banks or the Agent merely because of the Agent's or Banks' involvement
         in their preparation.

         1.3 Accounting Principles. (a) Unless the context otherwise clearly
requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed,
and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.

             (b) References herein to "fiscal year" and "fiscal quarter" refer
         to such fiscal periods of the Parent.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  THE CREDITS

         2.1 Amounts and Terms of Commitments. Each Bank severally agrees, on
the terms and conditions set forth herein, to make loans to each of the
Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the
Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date, in an aggregate amount for both
Borrowers not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount set forth on Schedule
2.1 (such amount as the same may be reduced or increased under Section 2.5 or as
a result of one or more assignments under Section 10.9, the Bank's
"Commitment"); provided, however, that, after giving effect to any Borrowing,
the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans shall not at any time
exceed the combined Commitments. Within the limits of each Bank's Commitment,
and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, each Borrower may borrow
under this Section 2.1, prepay under Section 2.6 and reborrow under this Section
2.1.

         2.2 Loan Accounts. (a) The Loans made by each Bank shall be evidenced
by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by such Bank in the ordinary
course of business. The loan accounts or records maintained by the Agent and
each Bank shall be presumptively correct absent manifest error of the amount of
the Loans made by the Banks to each Borrower and the interest and payments
thereon. Any failure so to record or any error in doing so shall not, however,
limit or otherwise affect the obligation of such Borrower hereunder to pay any
amount owing with respect to its Loans.

             (b) Upon the request of any Bank made through the Agent, the Loans
         made by such Bank may be evidenced by one or more Notes, instead of
         loan accounts. Each such Bank shall endorse on the schedules annexed to
         its Note(s) the date, amount and maturity of each Loan made by it and
         the amount of each payment of principal made by the applicable Borrower
         with respect thereto. Each such Bank is irrevocably authorized by each
         Borrower to endorse its Note(s) and each Bank's record shall be
         presumptively correct absent manifest error; provided, however, that
         the failure of a Bank to make, or an error in making, a notation
         thereon with respect to any Loan shall not limit or otherwise affect
         the obligations of such Borrower hereunder or under any such Note to
         such Bank.

                                       17
<PAGE>   25

         2.3 Procedure for Borrowing. (a) Each Borrowing shall be made upon the
irrevocable written notice of a Borrower delivered to the Agent in the form of a
Notice of Borrowing (which notice must be received by the Agent prior to 11:00
a.m. (Charlotte time) (i) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing
Date, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans; and (ii) on the requested Borrowing
Date, in the case of Base Rate Loans and Federal Funds Rate Loans, specifying:

                    (A)  the applicable Borrower;

                    (B)  the amount of the Borrowing, which shall be in an
               aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 or any multiple of
               $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

                    (C)  the requested Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business
               Day;

                    (D) the Type of Loans comprising the Borrowing; and

                    (E) the duration of the Interest Period applicable to such
               Loans included in such notice. If the Notice of Borrowing fails
               to specify the duration of the Interest Period for any Borrowing
               comprised of Offshore Rate Loans, such Interest Period shall be
               three months.

               (b) The Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its receipt of
         any Notice of Borrowing and of the amount of such Bank's Pro Rata Share
         of that Borrowing.

               (c) Each Bank will make the amount of its Pro Rata Share of each
         Borrowing available to the Agent for the account of the applicable
         Borrower at the Agent's Payment Office by 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on
         the Borrowing Date requested by the applicable Borrower in funds
         immediately available to the Agent. The proceeds of all such Loans will
         then be made available to the applicable Borrower by the Agent by wire
         transfer in accordance with written instructions provided to the Agent
         by the applicable Borrower of like funds as received by the Agent.

               (d) After giving effect to any Borrowing, there may not be more
         than five different Interest Periods in effect.

         2.4 Conversion and Continuation Elections. (a) Each Borrower may, upon
irrevocable written notice to the Agent in accordance with Section 2.4(b):

                   (i) elect, as of any Business Day, in the case of Base Rate
         Loans or Federal Funds Rate Loans, or as of the last day of the
         applicable Interest Period, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans, to
         convert any such Loans (or any part thereof in an amount not less than
         $5,000,000, or that is in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
         thereof) into Loans of any other Type; or

                                       18
<PAGE>   26

                  (ii) elect, as of the last day of the applicable Interest
         Period, to continue any Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such
         day (or any part thereof in an amount not less than $5,000,000, or that
         is in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof);

provided, that if at any time the aggregate amount of Offshore Rate Loans in
respect of any Borrowing is reduced, by payment, prepayment, or conversion of
part thereof to be less than $5,000,000, such Offshore Rate Loans shall
automatically convert into Base Rate Loans, and on and after such date the right
of the applicable Borrower to continue such Loans as, and convert such Loans
into, Offshore Rate Loans shall terminate.

               (b) The applicable Borrower shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/
         Continuation to be received by the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.
         (Charlotte time) at least (i) three Business Days in advance of the
         Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted into or
         continued as Offshore Rate Loans; and (ii) on the
         Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted into
         Base Rate Loans or Federal Funds Rate Loans, specifying:

                    (A)  the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date;

                    (B)  the aggregate amount of Loans to be converted or
         renewed;

                    (C)  the Type of Loans resulting from the proposed
         conversion or continuation; and

                    (D)  in the case of conversions into Offshore Rate Loans,
         the duration of the requested Interest Period.

               (c)  If upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to
         Offshore Rate Loans, a Borrower has failed to select timely a new
         Interest Period to be applicable to such Offshore Rate Loans, or if any
         Default or Event of Default then exists, the applicable Borrower shall
         be deemed to have elected to convert such Offshore Rate Loans into Base
         Rate Loans effective as of the expiration date of such Interest Period.

               (d)  The Agent will promptly notify each Bank of its  receipt of
         a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, or, if no timely notice is
         provided by the applicable Borrower, the Agent will promptly notify
         each Bank of the details of any automatic conversion. All conversions
         and continuations shall be made ratably according to the respective
         outstanding principal amounts of the Loans with respect to which the
         notice was given held by each Bank.

               (e)  Unless the Majority Banks otherwise agree, during the
         existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Borrowers may not elect
         to have Loans converted into or continued as an Offshore Rate Loan.

                                       19
<PAGE>   27

             (f) After giving effect to any conversion or continuation of
         Loans, there may not be more than five different Interest Periods in
         effect.

         2.5 Voluntary Termination or Reduction of Commitments; Increase of
Commitments.

             (a) Any Borrower may, upon not less than three (3) Business Days'
         prior notice to the Agent, terminate the Commitments, or permanently
         reduce the Commitments by an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 or
         any multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; unless, after giving
         effect thereto and to any prepayments of Loans made on the effective
         date thereof, the then-outstanding principal amount of the Loans would
         exceed the amount of the combined Commitments then in effect. Once
         reduced in accordance with this Section, the Commitments may not be
         increased. Any reduction of the Commitments shall be applied to each
         Bank according to its Pro Rata Share. All accrued commitment fees to,
         but not including the effective date of any reduction or termination of
         Commitments, shall be paid on the effective date of such reduction or
         termination.

             (b) Increases in Commitments.

                 (i)   If no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
             continuing, any Borrower may, at any time prior to the Revolving
             Termination Date, request an increase in the aggregate Commitments,
             by giving written notice to the Agent and each Bank (each such
             notice an "Increase Request"). Concurrently with delivering an
             Increase Request, such Borrower may seek additional commitments
             from other financial institutions ("New Bank(s)"). An Increase
             Request may request an increase in the aggregate Commitments of at
             least $5,000,000 but not more than $50,000,000; provided, that in
             no event shall the aggregate Commitments of the Banks (including
             New Banks) hereunder exceed $200,000,000 at any time. Each Bank
             may, in its sole and absolute discretion, commit to increase its
             Commitment by all or a part of the increase requested in the
             Increase Request by delivering to such Borrower and the Agent a
             commitment valid for a period of 30 days ("Commitment Increase
             Notice") to such effect, which Commitment Increase Notice shall
             refer to this Section 2.5(b)(i) and which shall be given no later
             than 10 Business Days after the date of the Increase Request (the
             period between the date of the Increase Request and the 10 Business
             Day deadline for response being referred to as the "Consent
             Period"). The existing Commitment of any Bank shall not be
             increased in connection with an Increase Request if such Bank (x)
             by notice ("Decline Notice") declines to increase its Commitment
             during the Consent Period or (y) fails to respond to the Borrower
             and the Agent within the Consent Period (each such Bank giving a
             Decline Notice or failing to respond on or before the expiration of
             the Consent Period being called a "Declining Bank" and each other
             Bank being called an "Increasing Bank").

                 (ii) Upon expiry of the Consent Period (or sooner if all
             existing Banks and New Banks respond sooner), if the commitments of
             the Increasing Banks
                                       20

<PAGE>   28

             specified in their respective Commitment Increase Notices and the
             New Bank(s) in their commitment letters equal or exceed the
             Increase Request, the Agent shall allocate such commitments up to
             the amount specified in the Increase Request to the Increasing
             Banks and New Bank(s) based on the ratio of each Increasing Bank's
             commitment specified in its Commitment Increase Notice (or New Bank
             in its commitment letter) to the aggregate of all commitments of
             the Increasing Banks specified in the Commitment Increase Notices
             and New Bank(s) in their commitment letters.

                 (iii) Upon expiry of the Consent Period, if the commitments of
             the Increasing Banks specified in their respective Commitment
             Increase Notices and the New Bank(s) in their commitment letters
             are less than the Increase Request, the Borrowers may agree to
             accept such commitments from the Increasing Banks and New Bank(s).
             Upon expiry of the Consent Period (or sooner if all existing Banks
             and New Banks respond sooner), the Borrowers may add New Bank(s)
             with commitments up to the amount specified in their commitment
             letters; provided, that (A) no Default shall have occurred and be
             continuing, (B) the aggregate amount of Commitments plus increases
             in Increasing Bank existing Commitments and New Bank commitments
             does not exceed $200,000,000, (C) any such New Bank assumes all the
             rights and obligations of a "Bank" hereunder pursuant to accession
             documentation as the Agent shall specify and described below and
             (D) such New Bank is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. If the
             Borrowers do accept such commitments, the Agent shall allocate such
             commitments to each of the Increasing Banks and New Bank(s) based
             on the ratio of its commitment specified in its Commitment Increase
             Notice or commitment letter to the aggregate of all commitments of
             the Increasing Banks and New Bank(s) specified in their Commitment
             Increase Notices and commitment letters.

                 (iv) Upon allocation of the increased commitments to the
             Increasing Banks and/or New Bank(s), the Borrowers shall deliver
             such documentation as the Agent may reasonably require to evidence
             the Borrowers' authority to incur the increased obligations
             hereunder, and if requested by the Increasing Banks and/or New
             Banks, replacement Notes to the Increasing Banks and/or new notes
             to the New Bank(s) reflecting the Commitment of each Increasing
             Bank and New Bank. Such new and replacement notes, if any, shall be
             deemed to constitute a "Note" or "Notes" hereunder for all purposes
             and such new and increased commitments shall constitute a
             "Commitment" or "Commitments" hereunder for all purposes. The Agent
             shall promptly provide each of the Banks a revised Schedule 1.1
             reflecting the Commitments of the Banks.

                 (v) Any New Bank may become a "Bank" under this Agreement by
             executing and delivering to the Borrowers and the Agent an
             Accession Agreement (an "Accession Agreement") in substantially the
             form of Exhibit G hereto and such related documentation as shall be
             reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to

                                       21
<PAGE>   29

             the Agent, pursuant to which such New Bank shall assume the rights,
             privileges, duties and obligations of a "Bank" hereunder. Upon the
             effectiveness of any such Accession Agreement and related
             documentation, the New Bank shall become a "Bank" for all purposes
             of this Agreement having the Commitments specified in such
             Accession Agreement. The Agent shall promptly provide a copy of
             each Accession Agreement to each of the Banks.

                 (vi) Upon the effectiveness of any increase pursuant to this
             Section 2.5(b) of the aggregate Commitments and any resulting
             adjustment in a Pro Rata Share, the Banks and the New Banks will
             purchase from each other and sell to each other outstanding Loans
             sufficient to cause the outstanding Loans of each Bank and New Bank
             to equal its Pro Rata Share (as so adjusted) of the aggregate
             outstanding Loans. If any Bank shall suffer a loss or incur an
             expense as a result of the effectiveness of such purchase or sale
             being during an Interest Period, the applicable Borrower shall
             reimburse such Bank the amount of such loss or expense. Each such
             Bank shall furnish such Borrower with a certificate setting forth
             the basis for determining the amount to be paid to it hereunder.

         2.6 Optional Prepayments. Subject to Section 3.4, each Borrower
may, at any time or from time to time, upon not less than one Business Day's
irrevocable notice to the Agent, ratably prepay Loans in whole or in part, in
minimum amounts of $5,000,000 or any multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
Such notice of prepayment shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment
and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Agent will promptly notify each Bank
of its receipt of any such notice, and of such Bank's Pro Rata Share of such
prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such
prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and
payable on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to each
such date on the amount prepaid and any amounts required pursuant to Section
3.4.

         2.7 Repayment. Each Borrower shall repay to the Banks on the Revolving
Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding on such
date.

         2.8 Interest. (a) Each Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing Date at a rate per annum
equal to the Offshore Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Base Rate, as the case
may be (and subject to each Borrower's right to convert to other Types of Loans
under Section 2.4), plus, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans and Federal Funds
Rate Loans, the Applicable Margin.

             (b) Interest on each Loan shall be paid in arrears on each
         Interest Payment Date. Interest shall also be paid on the date of any
         prepayment of Loans under Section 2.6 for the portion of the Loans so
         prepaid and upon payment (including prepayment) in full thereof and,
         during the existence of any Event of Default, interest shall be paid on
         demand of the Agent at the request or with the consent of the Majority
         Banks.

                                       22
<PAGE>   30

             (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, while any
         Event of Default exists or after acceleration, the defaulting Borrower
         shall pay interest (after as well as before entry of judgment thereon
         to the extent permitted by law) on the principal amount of all its
         outstanding Loans, at a rate per annum which is determined by adding 2%
         per annum to the rate of interest then in effect for such Loans;
         provided, however, that, on and after the expiration of any Interest
         Period applicable to any Offshore Rate Loan outstanding on the date of
         occurrence of such Event of Default or acceleration, the principal
         amount of such Loan shall, during the continuation of such Event of
         Default or after acceleration, bear interest at a rate per annum equal
         to the Base Rate plus 2%.

             (d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
         obligations of the Borrowers to any Bank hereunder shall be subject to
         the limitation that payments of interest shall not be required for any
         period for which interest is computed hereunder, to the extent (but
         only to the extent) that contracting for or receiving such payment by
         such Bank would be contrary to the provisions of any law applicable to
         such Bank limiting the highest rate of interest that may be lawfully
         contracted for, charged or received by such Bank, and in such event the
         Borrowers shall pay such Bank interest at the highest rate permitted by
         applicable law.

         2.9 Fees. (a) Arrangement, Agency Fees. The Borrowers shall pay an
arrangement fee to the Arranger for the Arranger's own account, and shall pay an
agency fee to the Agent for the Agent's own account, as required by the letter
agreement ("Fee Letter") among the Borrowers, the Arranger and Agent dated July
12, 2000.

             (b) Facility Fees. The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to
         pay to the Agent for the account of each Bank a facility fee on the
         average daily amount of such Bank's Commitment, computed on a quarterly
         basis in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter for
         that quarter as calculated by the Agent, equal to the Applicable
         Facility Fee Rate per annum. Such facility fee shall accrue from the
         date hereof to the Revolving Termination Date and shall be due and
         payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar
         quarter commencing on September 30, 2000 through the Revolving
         Termination Date (or, if later, the date of repayment of all the
         Loans), with the final payment to be made on the Revolving Termination
         Date (or, if later, the date of repayment of all the Loans); provided
         that, in connection with any reduction or termination of Commitments
         under Section 2.5, the accrued facility fee calculated for the period
         ending on such date shall also be paid on the date of such reduction or
         termination, with the following quarterly payment being calculated on
         the basis of the period from such reduction or termination date to such
         quarterly payment date. The facility fees provided in this subsection
         shall accrue at all times after the above-mentioned commencement date,
         including at any time during which one or more conditions in Article IV
         are not met. It is acknowledged and agreed that if the Loans and
         facility fees are not paid on the Revolving Termination Date, facility
         fees after the Revolving Termination Date shall accrue on the amount of
         outstanding Loans (as opposed to Commitments) and shall be paid
         concurrently with the repayment of the Loans.

                                       23
<PAGE>   31

             (c) Utilization Fees. The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to
         pay to the Agent for the account of each Bank a utilization fee on the
         average daily amount of such Bank's Loans, computed on a quarterly
         basis in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter for
         that quarter as calculated by the Agent for each day on which the
         outstanding principal amount of the Loans plus the "Loans" under the
         Other Credit Agreement exceeds 50% of the then applicable Commitments
         plus the "Commitments" under the Other Credit Agreement, equal to the
         Applicable Utilization Fee Rate per annum. Such utilization fee shall
         accrue from the date hereof to the Revolving Termination Date and shall
         be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
         each calendar quarter commencing on September 30, 2000 through the
         Revolving Termination Date (or, if later, the date of repayment of all
         the Loans), with the final payment to be made on the Revolving
         Termination Date (or, if later, the date of repayment of all the
         Loans); provided that, in connection with any reduction or termination
         of Commitments under Section 2.5, the accrued utilization fee
         calculated for the period ending on such date shall also be paid on the
         date of such reduction or termination, with the following quarterly
         payment being calculated on the basis of the period from such reduction
         or termination date to such quarterly payment date. The utilization
         fees provided in this subsection shall accrue at all times after the
         above- mentioned commencement date, including at any time during which
         one or more conditions in Article IV are not met.

         2.10 Computation of Fees and Interest. (a) All computations of interest
for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America's "prime
rate" shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may
be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall
be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in
more interest being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).
Interest and fees shall accrue during each period during which interest or such
fees are computed from the first day thereof to the last day thereof.

              (b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Agent shall be
         conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Banks in the absence of
         manifest error. The Agent will, at the request of either Borrower or
         any Bank, deliver to such Borrower or the Bank, as the case may be, a
         statement showing the quotations used by the Agent in determining any
         interest rate and the resulting interest rate.

         2.11 Payments by the Borrowers. (a) All payments to be made by the
Borrowers shall be made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers shall be made
to the Agent for the account of the Banks at the Agent's Payment Office, and
shall be made in dollars and in immediately available funds, no later than 3:00
p.m. (Charlotte time) on the date specified herein. The Agent will promptly
distribute to each Bank its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as
expressly provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received. Any
payment received by the Agent later than 3:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be
deemed to have been received on the following Business Day and any applicable
interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

                                       24
<PAGE>   32

              (b) Subject to the provisions set forth in the definition of
         "Interest Period" herein, whenever any payment is due on a day other
         than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following
         Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included
         in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be.

              (c) Unless the Agent receives notice from the applicable Borrower
         prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks that the
         applicable Borrower will not make such payment in full as and when
         required, the Agent may assume that the applicable Borrower has made
         such payment in full to the Agent on such date in immediately available
         funds and the Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance
         upon such assumption, distribute to each Bank on such due date an
         amount equal to the amount then due such Bank. If and to the extent the
         applicable Borrower has not made such payment in full to the Agent,
         each Bank shall repay to the Agent on demand such amount distributed to
         such Bank, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for
         each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Bank until
         the date repaid.

         2.12 Payments by the Banks to the Agent. (a) Unless the Agent receives
notice from a Bank on or prior to the Closing Date or, with respect to any
Borrowing after the Closing Date, at least one Business Day prior to the date of
such Borrowing, that such Bank will not make available as and when required
hereunder to the Agent for the account of a Borrower the amount of that Bank's
Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing, the Agent may assume that each Bank has made
such amount available to the Agent in immediately available funds on the
Borrowing Date and the Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If and to the extent any Bank shall not have made its full
amount available to the Agent in immediately available funds and the Agent in
such circumstances has made available to the applicable Borrower such amount,
that Bank shall on the Business Day following such Borrowing Date make such
amount available to the Agent, together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate
for each day during such period. A notice of the Agent submitted to any Bank
with respect to amounts owing under this subsection (a) shall be conclusive,
absent manifest error. If such amount is so made available, such payment to the
Agent shall constitute such Bank's Loan on the date of Borrowing for all
purposes of this Agreement. If such amount is not made available to the Agent on
the Business Day following the Borrowing Date, the Agent will notify the
applicable Borrower of such failure to fund and, upon demand by the Agent, the
applicable Borrower shall pay such amount to the Agent for the Agent's account
within two Business Days, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed
since the date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate
applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

              (b) The failure of any Bank to make any Loan on any Borrowing Date
         shall not relieve any other Bank of any obligation hereunder to make a
         Loan on such Borrowing Date, but no Bank shall be responsible for the
         failure of any other Bank to make the Loan to be made by such other
         Bank on any Borrowing Date.

                                       25
<PAGE>   33

         2.13 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If, other than as expressly provided
elsewhere herein, any Bank shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it any
payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of
set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its Pro Rata Share, such Bank shall
immediately (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other
Banks such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to
cause such purchasing Bank to share the excess payment pro rata with each of
them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is
thereafter recovered from the purchasing Bank, such purchase shall to that
extent be rescinded and each other Bank shall repay to the purchasing Bank the
purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying
Bank's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such
paying Bank's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the
purchasing Bank) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the
purchasing Bank in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrowers agree
that any Bank so purchasing a participation from another Bank may, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including
the right of set-off, but subject to Section 10.11) with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Bank were the direct creditor of the Borrowers
in the amount of such participation. The Agent will keep records (which shall be
conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations
purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Banks following
any such purchases or repayments.

         2.14 Extension of Scheduled Revolving Termination Date. The Scheduled
Revolving Termination Date shall be subject to extension, as set forth in this
Section.

              (a) No earlier than 60 days nor later than 45 days prior to the
         then Scheduled Revolving Termination Date, the Borrowers may, by
         delivery of a written request to the Agent, irrevocably request that
         each Bank extend for an additional 364 day period (such period to
         commence on the day immediately following the then Scheduled Revolving
         Termination Date) the Scheduled Revolving Termination Date.

              (b) The Agent shall, promptly after receipt of any such extension
         request notify each Bank thereof.

              (c) Each Bank shall, within 15 days of receipt of the notice
         described in clause (b), notify the Agent whether or not it consents to
         the request of the Borrowers set forth in such extension request, such
         consent to be in the sole discretion of such Bank. If any Bank does not
         so notify the Agent of its decision within such 15 day period (such 15
         day period, herein the "Consent Period."), such Bank shall be deemed
         not to have consented to such request of the Borrowers.

              (d) The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers whether the
         Banks have consented to such request, but in any event by the last day
         of the Consent Period. If the Agent does not so notify the Borrowers
         within 5 days prior to the then existing Scheduled Revolving
         Termination Date, the Agent shall be deemed to have notified the
         Borrowers that the Banks have not consented to the Borrowers' request.

                                       26
<PAGE>   34

              (e) Each Bank that elects not to extend the Scheduled Revolving
         Termination Date relating to such Bank's Commitment upon the expiration
         of the then effective Scheduled Revolving Termination Date or that
         fails to so notify the Agent of such consent (a "Non-Consenting Bank")
         hereby agrees that if, on or prior to the then effective Scheduled
         Revolving Commitment Date, any other Bank or other financial
         institution acceptable to the Borrowers and the Agent offers to
         purchase such Non-Consenting Bank's Pro Rata Share of the Commitments
         for a purchase price equal to the sum of all amounts then owing with
         respect to the Loans and all other amounts accrued for the account of
         such Non-Consenting Bank, such Non-Consenting Bank will assign, sell
         and transfer on the then effective Scheduled Revolving Termination Date
         all of its right, title, interest and obligations with respect to the
         foregoing to such other Bank or financial institution pursuant to the
         terms of Section 10.9 and the fee payable pursuant to Section 10.9
         shall be payable by such assignee.

              (f) On the date that would have been the Scheduled Revolving
         Termination Date had the Scheduled Revolving Termination Date not been
         extended pursuant to the terms of this Section, the Loans of any
         Non-Consenting Bank that were not purchased pursuant to clause (e) will
         mature and be due and payable on the then Scheduled Revolving
         Termination Date, and the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Bank will
         thereupon terminate. On such Scheduled Revolving Termination Date, the
         aggregate Commitments will be automatically reduced by an amount equal
         to the Commitments of the Non-Consenting Banks that were not purchased
         pursuant to clause (e). The Pro Rata Shares of the remaining Banks
         which have consented to an extension of their Commitments hereunder
         shall be adjusted accordingly by the Agent.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, the
Scheduled Revolving Termination Date of those Banks consenting to such an
extension shall not be extended for an additional 364 day period unless Banks
whose Commitments exceed a majority of the Commitments, agree to such an
extension.

                                  ARTICLE III

                     TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

         3.1 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrowers to each Bank or
the Agent under this Agreement and any other Loan Document shall be made free
and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes. In addition,
the Borrowers shall pay all Other Taxes.

             (b) The Borrowers agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
         applicable Bank and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other
         Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction
         on amounts payable under this Section) paid by such Bank or the Agent
         and any liability (including penalties, interest, additions to tax and
         expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not
         such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted; provided,
         however, that any claim under this Section 3.1 must

                                       27
<PAGE>   35

         be reasonable. Payment under this indemnification shall be made within
         30 days after the date the Bank or the Agent makes written demand
         therefor, stating in reasonable detail the basis for its
         indemnification claim.

              (c) If a Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold
         any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable
         hereunder to any Bank or the Agent, then:

                  (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
         after making all required deductions and withholdings (including
         deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under
         this Section) such Bank or the Agent, as the case may be, receives an
         amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions
         or withholdings been made;

                  (ii) the applicable Borrower shall make such deductions and
          withholdings; and

                  (iii) the applicable Borrower shall pay the full amount
         deducted or withheld to the relevant taxing authority or other
         authority in accordance with applicable law.

             (d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment by a Borrower of
         Taxes or Other Taxes, such Borrower shall furnish the Agent the
         original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof,
         or other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

             (e) If a Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to any
         Bank or the Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, then such
         Bank shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory
         restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office so as to
         eliminate any such additional payment by such Borrower which may
         thereafter accrue, if such change in the judgment of such Bank is not
         otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.

         3.2 Illegality. (a) If any Bank determines that the introduction of any
Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law, or in the
interpretation or administration of any Requirement of Law, has made it
unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has asserted
that it is unlawful, for such Bank or its applicable Lending Office to make
Offshore Rate Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Bank to the Borrowers
through the Agent, any obligation of that Bank to make Offshore Rate Loans shall
be suspended until such Bank notifies the Agent and the Borrowers that the
circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.

            (b) If a Bank determines that it is unlawful to maintain any
         Offshore Rate Loan, the Borrowers shall, upon its receipt of notice of
         such fact and demand from such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), prepay
         in full such Offshore Rate Loans of that Bank then outstanding,

                                       28
<PAGE>   36

         together with interest accrued thereon and amounts required under
         Section 3.4, either on the last day of the Interest Period thereof, if
         the Bank may lawfully continue to maintain such Offshore Rate Loans to
         such day, or immediately, if the Bank may not lawfully continue to
         maintain such Offshore Rate Loan. If a Borrower is required to so
         prepay any Offshore Rate Loan, then concurrently with such prepayment,
         such Borrower may borrow from the affected Bank, in the amount of such
         repayment, a Base Rate Loan or a Federal Funds Rate Loan.

            (c)  If a Bank makes a determination under this Section 3.2, then
         such Bank shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and
         regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending
         Office so as to eliminate any such illegality, if such change in the
         judgment of such Bank is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.

         3.3 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return. (a) If any Bank determines
that, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change
by way of imposition of or increase in reserve requirements included in the
calculation of the Offshore Rate or in the interpretation of any law or
regulation or (ii) the compliance by that Bank with any guideline or request
from any central bank or other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the
force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to such Bank of agreeing
to make or making, funding or maintaining any Offshore Rate Loans, then the
Borrowers shall be liable for, and shall from time to time, upon demand (with a
copy of such demand to be sent to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account
of such Bank, additional amounts as are sufficient to compensate such Bank for
such increased costs; provided, however, the Borrowers shall not be required to
pay any such expense if the applicable Bank shall not notify the Borrowers of
such expense within 180 days of such Bank being aware of its incurrence.

             (b)  If any Bank shall have determined that (i) the introduction of
         any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (ii) any change in any Capital
         Adequacy Regulation, (iii) any change in the interpretation or
         administration of any Capital Adequacy Regulation by any central bank
         or other Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or
         administration thereof, or (iv) compliance by the Bank (or its Lending
         Office) or any corporation controlling the Bank with any Capital
         Adequacy Regulation, affects or would affect the amount of capital
         required or expected to be maintained by the Bank or any corporation
         controlling the Bank and (taking into consideration such Bank's or such
         corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Bank's
         desired return on capital) determines that the amount of such capital
         is increased as a consequence of its Commitment[s], loans, credits or
         obligations under this Agreement, then, upon demand of such Bank to the
         Borrowers through the Agent, the Borrowers shall pay to the Bank, from
         time to time as specified by the Bank, additional amounts sufficient to
         compensate the Bank for such increase; provided, however, the Borrowers
         shall not be required to pay any such expense if the applicable Bank
         shall not notify the Borrowers of such expense within 180 days of such
         Bank being aware of its incurrence.

                                       29
<PAGE>   37

             (c)  If a Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to any
         Bank or the Agent pursuant to this Section 3.3, then such Bank shall
         use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory
         restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office so as to
         eliminate any such additional payment by such Borrowers which may
         thereafter accrue, if such change in the judgment of such Bank is not
         otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.

         3.4 Funding Losses. Each Borrower shall reimburse each Bank and hold
each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which the Bank may sustain or incur
as a consequence of:

             (a)  the failure of such Borrower to make on a timely basis any
         payment of principal of any Offshore Rate Loan;

             (b)  the failure of such Borrower to borrow, continue or convert a
         Loan after such Borrower has given (or is deemed to have given) a
         Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/ Continuation;

             (c)  the failure of such Borrower to make any prepayment in
         accordance with any notice delivered under Section 2.6;

             (d)  the prepayment or other payment (including after acceleration
         thereof) of an Offshore Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of
         the relevant Interest Period; or

             (e)  the automatic conversion under Section 2.4 of any Offshore
         Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the
         relevant Interest Period; including any such loss or expense arising
         from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to
         maintain its Offshore Rate Loans or from fees payable to terminate the
         deposits from which such funds were obtained. For purposes of
         calculating amounts payable by the Borrowers to the Banks under this
         Section and under Section 3.3(a), each Offshore Rate Loan made by a
         Bank (and each related reserve, special deposit or similar requirement)
         shall be conclusively deemed to have been funded at the Offshore Base
         Rate used in determining the Offshore Rate for such Offshore Rate Loan
         by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the interbank eurodollar
         market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or
         not such Offshore Rate Loan is in fact so funded.

         3.5 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Agent determines that for any
reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Offshore
Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate
Loan, or that the Offshore Rate applicable pursuant to Section 2.8(a) for any
requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Offshore Rate Loan does not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Banks of funding such Loan, the
Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Bank. Thereafter, the
obligation of the Banks to make or maintain Offshore Rate Loans hereunder shall
be suspended until the Agent revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of
such notice, each Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation then submitted by it. If such Borrower does not revoke
such Notice, the Banks shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by
such Borrower, in the

                                       30
<PAGE>   38

amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by such Borrower, but such
Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Base Rate Loans.

         3.6 Certificates of Banks. Any Bank claiming reimbursement or
compensation under this Article III shall deliver to the Borrowers (with a copy
to the Agent) a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount
payable to the Bank hereunder and such certificate shall be presumptively
correct and binding on the Borrowers in the absence of manifest error.

         3.7 Substitution of Banks. Upon the receipt by the Borrowers from any
Bank (an "Affected Bank") of a claim for compensation under Section 3.1 or 3.3,
or any determination of illegality under Section 3.2, the Borrowers may: (i)
request the Affected Bank to use its best efforts to obtain a replacement bank
or financial institution satisfactory to the Borrowers to acquire and assume all
or a ratable part of all of such Affected Bank's Loans and Commitment (a
"Replacement Bank"); (ii) request one more of the other Banks to acquire and
assume all or part of such Affected Bank's Loans and Commitment; or (iii)
designate a Replacement Bank. Any such designation of a Replacement Bank under
clause (i) or (iii) shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Agent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

         3.8 Survival. The agreements and obligations of the Borrowers in this
Article III shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1 Conditions of Initial Loans. The obligation of each Bank to make
its initial Loan hereunder is subject to the condition that the Agent have
received on or before the Closing Date all of the following, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent and each Bank, and in sufficient copies for
each Bank:

             (a) Credit Agreement and Notes. This Agreement and the Notes
         executed by each party thereto;

             (b) Resolutions; Incumbency.

                 (i) Copies of the resolutions of the board of directors of
         each Borrower authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby,
         certified as of the Closing Date by the Secretary or an Assistant
         Secretary of such Borrower; and

                 (ii) A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
         each Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers
         of such Borrower authorized to execute, deliver and perform, as
         applicable, this Agreement, and all other Loan Documents to be
         delivered by it hereunder;

                                       31
<PAGE>   39

             (c)  Organization Documents; Good Standing. Each of the following
         documents:

                  (i) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the
         bylaws of each Borrower as in effect on the Closing Date, certified by
         the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Borrower as of the Closing
         Date; and

                  (ii) a good standing certificate for such Borrower from the
         Secretary of State (or similar, applicable Governmental Authority) of
         its state of incorporation;

             (d)  Legal Opinions. An opinion of (i) Gardner, Carton & Douglas,
         counsel to the Borrowers and (ii) Alan G. Berkshire, general counsel of
         the Borrowers addressed to the Agent and the Banks, substantially in
         the forms of Exhibits D-1 and D-2.

             (e)  Payment of Fees. Evidence of payment by the Borrowers of all
         accrued and unpaid fees, costs and expenses to the extent then due and
         payable on the Closing Date, together with Attorney Costs of Bank of
         America to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus
         such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute Bank of
         America's reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be
         incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such
         estimate shall not thereafter preclude final settling of accounts
         between the Borrowers and Bank of America upon an invoice itemizing
         charges); including any such costs, fees and expenses arising under or
         referenced in Sections 2.9 and 10.4;

             (f)  Certificate.  A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer,
         dated as of the Closing Date, stating that:

                  (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article V
         are true and correct on and as of such date, as though made on and as
         of such date;

                 (ii) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result
         from the initial Borrowing;

                  (iii) there has occurred since December 31, 1999, no event
         or circumstance that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
         result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

                  (iv) the Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 1997 by and
         among the Parent, certain financial institutions, The First National
         Bank of Chicago, as Agent and Bank of America and The Chase Manhattan
         Bank, as Co-Agents has been paid in full and terminated; and

             (g)  Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, documents or
         materials as the Agent or any Bank may request.

                                       32
<PAGE>   40

         4.2 Conditions to All Borrowings. The obligation of each Bank to make
any Loan to be made by it (including its initial Loan) is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant Borrowing
Date:

             (a) Notice of Borrowing. The Agent shall have received a Notice of
         Borrowing;

             (b)  Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
         representations and warranties in Article V shall be true and correct
         on and as of such Borrowing Date with the same effect as if made on and
         as of such Borrowing Date (except to the extent such representations
         and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they
         shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and

             (c)  No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall
         exist or shall result from such Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing
         submitted by a Borrower hereunder shall constitute a representation and
         warranty by such Borrower hereunder, as of the date of each such notice
         and as of each Borrowing Date, that the conditions in Section 4.2 are
         satisfied.

                                   ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and each Bank that:

         5.1 Corporate Existence; Conduct of Business. Such Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (a) are corporations duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation,
(b) are duly qualified and in good standing as foreign corporations in each
jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, except where failure to be so qualified
will not have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) possess all licenses,
registrations and authorizations from and with any Governmental Authority,
self-regulatory organization or securities exchange necessary or material to the
conduct of its business as presently conducted. The Subsidiary Borrower is (a) a
broker- dealer duly registered under the Exchange Act, (b) a member in good
standing of the NASD, (c) not in arrears in regard to any assessment of the
SIPC, and (d) has received no notice from the SEC, MSRB, NASD or any other
Governmental Authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange of
any alleged rule violation or other circumstance which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.2 Authorization and Validity. Such Borrower has all requisite power
and authority (corporate and otherwise) to execute and deliver each of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The
execution and delivery by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a
party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly

                                       33
<PAGE>   41

authorized by proper corporate proceedings and such Loan Documents constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower, enforceable against such
Borrower in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' right generally or by general principles of equity limiting the
availability of equitable remedies.

         5.3 Compliance with Laws and Contracts. Such Borrower and its
Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable laws,
statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any Governmental
Authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange having
jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective businesses or the ownership of
their respective properties (including, without limitation the Exchange Act, the
Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, NASD, NYSE, MSRB and CFTC), except where the failure to
so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Neither the execution and delivery by such Borrower of the Loan Documents, the
application of the proceeds of its Loans, the consummation of any transaction
contemplated by the Loan Documents, nor compliance with the provisions of the
Loan Documents will, or at the relevant time did, (a) violate any law, rule,
regulation (including Regulations T, U and X), order, writ, judgment,
injunction, decree or award binding on such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof
or such Borrower's or any such Subsidiary's charter, articles or certificate of
incorporation or by-laws, (b) violate the provisions of or require the approval
or consent of any party to any indenture, instrument or agreement to which such
Borrower or any such Subsidiary is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its
property, is bound or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Liens permitted by
Section 6.17) in, of or on the property of such Borrower or any such Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement, or (c)
require the consent or approval of any Person, except for any violation of, or
failure to obtain an approval or consent required under, any such indenture,
instrument or agreement that could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.4 Governmental Consents. No order, consent, approval, qualification,
license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration
with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of, any Governmental
Authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange is necessary or
required in connection with the execution, delivery, consummation performance
of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of, any of the
Loan Documents, the application of the proceeds of the Loans, or the
consummation of any other transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents.
Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or in
violation of any foreign, federal, state or local law, rule, regulation, order,
writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding upon or applicable to such
Borrower or such Subsidiary, in each case the consequence of which default or
violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.5 Financial Statements. The Parent has heretofore furnished to each
of the Banks (a) the December 31, 1999 audited consolidated financial statements
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, (b) the March 31, 2000 unaudited
consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and (c)
the December 31, 1999 audited financial statements for the Subsidiary

                                       34
<PAGE>   42

Borrower (collectively, the "Financial Statements"). The Parent has also
heretofore furnished to each of the Banks the December 31, 1999, March 31, 2000
and June 30, 2000 quarterly Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single
(FOCUS) Reports of the Subsidiary Borrower (the "FOCUS Reports"). Each of the
Financial Statements was prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly presents
the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (or of
the applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be) at such dates and for the
respective periods then ended (except, in the case of such unaudited statements,
for normal year-end audit adjustments). The FOCUS Reports are correct and
complete in all material respects and conform in all material respects to
Exchange Act requirements and applicable SEC rules and regulations.

         5.6 Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change in the
business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise), performance, or results
of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole has occurred
since December 31, 1999.

         5.7 Taxes. The Parent and its Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be
filed on a timely basis and in correct form all United States federal and
applicable state tax returns and other material tax returns which are required
to be filed and have paid all material taxes due pursuant to said returns or
pursuant to any assessment received by the Parent or any Subsidiary, except such
taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate
reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. As of the date hereof, the
United States income tax returns of the Parent on a consolidated basis have been
audited by the Internal Revenue Service through its Fiscal Year ending December
31, 1995 and, to the Parent's knowledge, there are no pending audits or
investigations regarding the Parent's or its Subsidiaries' federal, state or
local tax returns which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with
respect to any such taxes which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Parent
and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are
in accordance with GAAP.

         5.8 Litigation and Contingent Obligations. There is no litigation,
arbitration, proceeding, inquiry or investigation by any Governmental Authority,
self-regulatory organization or securities exchange pending or, to the knowledge
of any of such Borrower's officers, threatened against or affecting such
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective Properties which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to prevent,
enjoin or unduly delay the making of the Loans or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither such Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof has any material contingent obligations not provided for or
disclosed in the Financial Statements.

         5.9 Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.9 hereto contains an accurate list of all
of the Parent's existing Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, setting
forth their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and the percentage of
their capital stock owned by the Parent or other Subsidiaries. Except as set
forth on Schedule 5.9 and except for Seed Money, as of the date hereof, the
Parent does not own or hold, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or equity
security of, or any equity partnership interest in, any Person other than such
Subsidiaries.

                                       35
<PAGE>   43

         5.10 ERISA. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.10, neither the Parent
nor any other member of the Controlled Group maintains any Single Employer
Plans, and no Single Employer Plan has any Unfunded Liability. Neither the
Parent nor any other member of the Controlled Group maintains, or is obligated
to contribute to, any Multiemployer Plan or has incurred, or is reasonably
expected to incur, any withdrawal liability to any Multiemployer Plan. Each Plan
complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law and
regulations. Neither the Parent nor any member of the Controlled Group has, with
respect to any Plan, failed to make any contribution or pay any amount required
under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of such Plan
which could reasonably be expected to be in excess of $5,000,000. There are no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened claims, actions,
investigations or lawsuits against any Plan, any fiduciary thereof, or the
Parent or any member of the Controlled Group with respect to a Plan which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Parent nor
any member of the Controlled Group has engaged in any prohibited transaction (as
defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) in connection with
any Plan which would subject such Person to any material liability. Within the
last five years neither the Parent nor any member of the Controlled Group has
engaged in a transaction which resulted in a Single Employer Plan with an
Unfunded Liability being transferred out of the Controlled Group. No Termination
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan
which is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

         5.11 Defaults. No Event of Default or Default has occurred and is
continuing.

         5.12 Federal Reserve Regulations. Neither such Borrower nor any
Subsidiary thereof is engaged, directly or indirectly, principally, or as one of
its important activities, in the business of extending or arranging for the
extension of, credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock. No
part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used in a manner which would violate,
or result in any violation of, Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X.
Neither the making of a Loan hereunder or the use of the proceeds thereof will
violate or be inconsistent with the provisions of, Regulation T, Regulation U or
Regulation X. Following the application of the proceeds of the Loans, less than
25% of the value (as determined by any reasonable method) of the assets of the
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale,
pledge, or other restriction hereunder taken as a whole have been, and will
continue to be, represented Margin Stock.

         5.13 Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company. Neither such
Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving effect to any Loan will
be, an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Neither
such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is subject to regulation under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

         5.14 Certain Fees. No broker's or finder's fee or commission was, is or
will be payable by such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof with respect to any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Borrowers hereby jointly and
severally agree to indemnify the Agent and the Banks against and agree that they
will hold each of them harmless from any claim, demand or liability for any
broker's finder's fees or commissions alleged to have been incurred by the
Borrowers in

                                       36
<PAGE>   44

connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any
expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and time charges of
attorneys for the Agent or any Bank, which attorneys may be employees of the
Agent or any Lender) arising in connection with any such claim, demand or
liability. No other similar fee or commissions will be payable by such Borrower
or any Subsidiary thereof for any other services rendered to such Borrower or
such Subsidiary thereof ancillary to any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

         5.15 Ownership of Properties. Such Borrower and its Subsidiaries have a
subsisting leasehold interest in, or good and marketable title, free of all
Liens, other than those permitted by Section 6.17, to all of the properties and
assets reflected in the Financial Statements as being owned by it, except for
assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of
business since the date thereof and such defects of title and Liens as could
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
knowledge of such Borrower, there are no actual, threatened or alleged defaults
with respect to any leases of real property under which such Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof is lessee or lessor which could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.16 Material Agreements. Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary
thereof is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or
other corporate restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or which restricts or imposes conditions upon the
ability of any Subsidiary thereof to (a) pay dividends or make other
distributions on its capital stock, (b) make loans or advances to such Borrower,
(c) repay loans or advances from such Borrower, or (d) grant Liens to the Agent
to secure the Obligations. Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is
in default in the performance, observance or fulfilment of any of the
obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a
party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         5.17 Insurance. Such Borrower and its Subsidiaries maintain with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on their Property
in such amounts and covering such risk as is consistent with sound business
practice.

         5.18 Disclosure. None of the (a) information, exhibits or reports
furnished or to be furnished by such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof to the
Agent or to any Bank in connection with the negotiation of the Loan Documents,
taken as a whole, or (b) representations or warranties of such Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof contained in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any
other document, certificate or written statement furnished to the Agent or the
Banks by or on behalf such Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to this
Agreement contained, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of
the circumstances in which they were made. There is no fact known to such
Borrower (other than matters of a general economic nature) that has had or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and that has not been
disclosed herein or in such other documents, certificates and statements
furnished to the Banks for use in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

                                       37
<PAGE>   45
                                   ARTICLE VI

                                   COVENANTS

         During the term of this Agreement, unless the Majority Banks shall
otherwise consent in writing:

     6.1 Financial Reporting. The Parent will maintain, for itself and
each Subsidiary, a system of accounting established and administered in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and will furnish to the Agent, with
sufficient copies for the Banks:

          (a) As soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the
     close of each of its fiscal years, an unqualified audit report certified by
     KPMG or other independent certified public accountants, acceptable to the
     Banks, prepared in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated and consolidating
     basis (consolidating statements need not be certified by such accountants)
     for itself and its Subsidiaries and for the Subsidiary Borrower (other than
     consolidating financial statements), and to the extent available, for
     Nuveen Advisory, Nuveen Institutional, Nuveen Asset Management and
     Rittenhouse, including balance sheets as of the end of such period and
     related statements of income, and changes in stockholders' equity (to the
     extent available for entities other than the Parent) and cash flows
     (provided that so long as the common stock of the Parent is listed for
     trading on the NYSE, the foregoing requirement as to the Parent's
     consolidated financial statements may be satisfied by the delivery of the
     Parent's Annual Report to Stockholders and its Annual Report on Form 10-K
     filed with the SEC containing such information) and accompanied by (i) any
     management letter prepared by said accountants and (ii) a certificate of
     said accountants that, in the course of the examination necessary for their
     certification of the foregoing, they have obtained no knowledge of any
     Event of Default or Default, or if, in the opinion of such accountants, any
     Event of Default or Default shall exist, stating the nature and status
     thereof.

          (b) As soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the
     close of the first three fiscal quarters of each of its fiscal years, for
     itself and its Subsidiaries, and for each of the Subsidiary Borrower,
     Nuveen Advisory, Nuveen Institutional, Nuveen Asset Management and
     Rittenhouse consolidated unaudited balance sheets as at the close of each
     such period and consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders'
     equity and cash flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year
     to the end of such quarter, all certified by its chief financial officer
     (provided that so long as the common stock of the Parent is listed for
     trading on the NYSE, the foregoing requirement as to the Parent's
     consolidated financial statements may be satisfied by the delivery of the
     Parent's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC containing
     such information; and provided further, that the foregoing requirement as
     to the quarterly financial statements of the Subsidiary Borrower, Nuveen
     Advisory and Nuveen Institutional may be satisfied by the delivery of Form
     17-H of the Subsidiary Borrower and its Materially Associated Persons for

                                       38

<PAGE>   46

     each fiscal quarter (including the fourth fiscal quarter) as filed
     with the SEC containing such information.)

          (c) As soon as practicable and in any event within 25 days after the
     close of each fiscal quarter of each of its fiscal years, the FOCUS report
     for such fiscal quarter filed by the Subsidiary Borrower with the SEC.

          (d) Together with the financial statements required by clauses (a) and
     (b) above and additionally for purposes of determining the Applicable
     Margin within 45 days after the close of the fourth fiscal quarter of each
     fiscal year (which preliminary determination shall be subject to adjustment
     upon receipt of audited annual financial statements (or Form 10-K) and
     shall not be deemed to constitute a misrepresentation or breach if prepared
     in good faith and the audited numbers differ from the unaudited fourth
     quarter results), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of
     Exhibit C hereto signed by its chief financial officer showing the
     calculations necessary to determine compliance with this Agreement and
     stating that no Event of Default or Default exists, or if any Event of
     Default or Default exists, the nature and thereof.

          (e) As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after any
     officer of the Parent knows that any Termination Event has occurred with
     respect to any Plan, a statement, signed by the chief financial officer of
     the Parent, describing said Termination Event and the action which the
     Parent proposes to take with respect thereto.

          (f) As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after any
     officer of the Parent learns thereof, notice of the assertion or
     commencement of any claim, action, litigation, suit or proceeding against
     or affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary, including any investigation or
     proceeding commenced by the SEC, NASD, MSRB, NYSE or any other Governmental
     Authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange, which could
     have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (g) Promptly upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the
     Parent copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
     furnished.

          (h) Within 15 days after the filing thereof, copies of all
     registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular
     reports which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries files with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission.

          (i) Such other information (including non-financial information) as
     the Agent or any Bank may from time to time reasonably request.

     6.2  Use of Proceeds. Each Borrower will use proceeds of its Loans
to meet the general corporate needs, including Purchases, of such Borrower and
its Subsidiaries. Neither Borrower will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
thereof to, use any of the proceeds of its Loans to purchase or carry any Margin
Stock in violation of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X, or to finance
the

                                       39

<PAGE>   47

Purchase of any Person which has not been approved and recommended by the board
of directors (or functional equivalent thereof) of such Person.

     6.3 Notice of Default. Within 5 days after any officer of either
Borrower has knowledge thereof, such Borrower will give notice in writing to the
Banks of the occurrence of (a) any Event of Default or Default and (b) any other
event or development, financial or other, relating specifically to such Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries (and not of a general economic or political nature)
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.4 Conduct of Business. Each Borrower will, and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries to,(a) subject to Section 6.12(c), preserve and maintain its
corporate existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, (b) maintain all registrations, licenses, consents, approvals
and authorizations from and with any Governmental Authority, self-regulatory
organization or securities exchange necessary or material to the conduct of its
business, and (c) qualify and remain qualified as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, except where failure to qualify could not
have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any
of their Subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business substantially
different from those lines of business carried on by them on the date hereof
(provided that further entry into the financial services business, as well as
service businesses related thereto, will not be prohibited by this Section 6.4).

     6.5 Taxes. The Parent will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, timely
file complete and correct in all material respects United States federal and
applicable foreign, state and local tax returns required by applicable law and
pay when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it
or its income, profits or Property, except those which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate
reserves have been set aside.

     6.6 Insurance. The Parent will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance in
such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business
practice, and the Parent will furnish to the Agent and any Bank upon request
full information as to the insurance carried.

     6.7 Compliance with Laws; Material Contractual Obligations. The Parent
will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, statutes
(including, without limitation, the Exchange Act, the Advisers Act and the
Investment Company Act), rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments,
injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, the failure to comply
with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and
with all Contractual Obligations, the failure to comply with which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.8 Maintenance of Properties. The Parent will, and  will cause each
Subsidiary to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep
all material portions of its Property in good

                                       40

<PAGE>   48

repair, working order and condition, and make all necessary and proper repairs,
renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection
therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

     6.9 Inspection. The Parent will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
permit the Agent and the Banks, upon at least two Business Days' notice (unless
an Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing) and during normal
business hours, by their respective representatives and agents, to inspect any
of the Property, corporate books and financial records of the Parent and each
Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other
financial records of the Parent and each Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs,
finances and accounts of the Parent and each Subsidiary with, and to be advised
as to the same by, their respective officers. The Parent will keep or cause to
be kept, and cause each Subsidiary to keep or cause to be kept, appropriate
records and books of account in which complete entries are to be made reflecting
its and their business and financial transactions, such entries to be made in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

     6.10 Ownership of Subsidiaries. The Parent will continue to own
directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens and restrictions, 100% of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary Borrower, Nuveen
Advisory, Nuveen Institutional, Nuveen Asset Management and, Rittenhouse other
than in the case of any of the foregoing, shares owned by employees thereof
through employee related compensation and stock option plans.

     6.11 Indebtedness. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

          (a) The Loans;

          (b) Short-term Indebtedness used to finance municipal, corporate and
     treasury bonds and UIT inventory positions;

          (c) Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (to the extent such
     obligations constitute Indebtedness) and Rate Hedging Obligations incurred
     in the ordinary course of business;

          (d) Contingent Obligations permitted by Section 6.16;

          (e) Contingent pay-out and similar obligations relating to prior
     acquisitions by the Parent and to acquisitions permitted hereunder;

          (f) Unsecured Indebtedness relating to the financing of Distribution
     Receivables in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount of
     such Receivables; and

          (g) Other unsecured Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by this
     Section 6.11 in an aggregate principal amount for the Parent and all its
     Subsidiaries not exceeding $10,000,000.

                                       41

<PAGE>   49

     6.12 Merger. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
to, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that (a) a
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary Borrower) may merge into the
Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Parent, (b) the Parent or any
Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with any other Person so long as the Parent
or such Subsidiary is the continuing or surviving corporation and, prior to and
after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, no Event of Default or
Default shall exist, and (c) any Subsidiary (other than the Subsidiary Borrower)
may enter into a merger or consolidation as a means of effecting a disposition
permitted by Section 6.13.

     6.13 Sale of Assets. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of its Property, to
any other Person except for (a) sales of municipal, corporate and treasury bonds
and UIT inventories, and other marketable securities sold in the ordinary course
of business, (b) Distribution Receivables sold to a third party without recourse
to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in order to effect a securitization of
such Receivables, (c) leases, sales, transfers or other dispositions of its
Property that, together with all other Property of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than sales of
municipal, corporate and treasury bonds and UIT inventories, and other
marketable securities sold in the ordinary course of business) as permitted by
this Section 6.13 since the date hereof, do not constitute a Substantial Portion
of the Property of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and (d) the sale, dividend
or other transfer to the Parent by the Subsidiary Borrower of all or any part of
the capital stock owned by Subsidiary Borrower in any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.

     6.14 Sale of Accounts. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, sell or otherwise dispose of any notes receivable or accounts
receivable, with or without recourse, other than in the ordinary course of
business.

     6.15 Investments and Purchases. The Parent will not, nor will it
permit an Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Investments (including,
without limitation, loans and advances to, and other Investments in,
Subsidiaries), or commitments therefor, or to create any Subsidiary or to become
or remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture, or to make any
Purchases, except:

          (a) Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments in
     existence on the date hereof and described on Schedule 5.9 hereto;

          (b) Securities purchased under agreements to resell; municipal,
     corporate and treasury bonds and UIT inventories; and other marketable
     securities purchased in the ordinary course of business;

          (c) Obligations of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of
     America; commercial paper and other notes and securities rated investment
     grade by a national securities rating agency; demand deposit accounts
     maintained in the ordinary course of business; and bankers acceptances and
     certificates of deposit issued by and time deposits with commercial banks
     (whether domestic or foreign) having capital and surplus in excess of
     $100,000,000;

                                       42

<PAGE>   50

          (d) Additional Purchases of or Investments in the stock of
     Subsidiaries or the capital stock, assets, obligations or other securities
     of or interest in other Persons provided that (i) each such Person shall be
     (x) incorporated, organized or otherwise formed under the laws of any state
     of the United States, or under the laws of Canada, any member country of
     the European Economic Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Japan, Australia
     or New Zealand, and (y) engaged in a line of business not substantially
     different from those lines of business carried on by the Parent and its
     Subsidiaries on the date hereof (which for this purpose shall be deemed to
     include the financial services business as well as service businesses
     related thereto), (ii) the transaction shall have been approved and
     recommended by the board of directors (or functional equivalent thereof)
     of such Person, and (iii) no Event of Default or Default shall have
     occurred and be continuing either immediately before or after giving effect
     to such transaction and No Material Adverse Effect would result therefrom;

          (e) Seed Money; and

          (f) the creation or acquisition of Subsidiaries that are registered
     investment advisors to mutual funds or other investment advisory clients.

     6.16 Contingent Obligations. The Parent will not, nor will it
permit any Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Contingent Obligation
(including, without limitation, any Contingent Obligation with respect to the
obligations of a Subsidiary), except (a) by endorsement of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business; and (b) pursuant to
contingent note purchase agreements in respect of loans to employees of
Subsidiaries of the Parent in amounts not in excess of the lesser of (i) the sum
of the unused Commitments and the unused "Commitments"under the Other Credit
Agreement or (ii) $55,000,000, at any time outstanding.

     6.17 Liens. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to,
create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except:

          (a) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on
     its Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter
     can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by
     appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with
     GAAP shall have been set aside on its books;

          (b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's and
     mechanics' liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of
     business which secure the payment of obligations not more than 60 days past
     due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
     and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on its books;

          (c) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker's
     compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other
     social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation;

                                       43
<PAGE>   51

          (d) Utility easements, building restrictions and such other
     encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally
     existing with respect to properties of a similar character and which do not
     in any material way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with
     the use thereof in the business of the Parent or the Subsidiaries; and
          (e) Liens relating to Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.11(b) and
     6.11(c).

     6.18 Affiliates. The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary
to, enter into any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase or
sale of any Property or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any
Affiliate except (a) in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the
reasonable requirements of the Parent's or such Subsidiary's business and upon
fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Parent or such Subsidiary
than the Parent or such Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arms-length
transaction and (b) transactions among the Parent and Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries
of the Parent.

     6.19 Change in Corporate Structure; Fiscal Year. The Parent shall not, nor
shall it permit any Subsidiary to, (a) permit any amendment or modification to
be made to its certificate or articles of incorporation or by-laws which is
materially adverse to the interests of the Banks (provided that the Parent shall
notify the Agent of any other amendment or modification thereto as soon as
practicable thereafter) or (b) change its fiscal year to end on any date other
than December 31 of each year.

     6.20 Inconsistent Agreements. The Parent shall not, nor shall it permit any
Subsidiary to, enter into any indenture, agreement, instrument or other
arrangement which, (a) directly or indirectly prohibits or restrains, or has the
effect of prohibiting or restraining, or imposes materially adverse conditions
upon, the incurrence of the Obligations, the granting of Liens to secure the
Obligations, the amending of the Loan Documents or the ability of any Subsidiary
to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions on its capital stock, (ii) make
loans or advances to the Parent, or (iii) repay loans or advances from the
Parent or (b) contains any provision which would be violated or breached by the
making of Loans or by the performance by the Parent or any Subsidiary of any of
its obligations under any Loan Document.

     6.21 Financial Covenants. The Parent on a consolidated basis with its
Subsidiaries shall:

          6.21.1. Minimum Net Worth. At all times after the date hereof maintain
     a minimum Net Worth of at least $360,000,000.

          6.21.2. Leverage Ratio. Maintain a Leverage Ratio of not more than
     2.75 to 1.

     6.22 Subsidiary Borrower Net Capital. The Parent shall cause the Subsidiary
Borrower at all times after the date hereof to maintain a ratio of Net Capital
to Aggregate Debit Items (as such terms are defined pursuant to SEC Rule 15c3-1
under the Exchange Act) of not less than 5.5%.

                                       44
<PAGE>   52

     6.23 ERISA Compliance. The Parent will (a) fulfill, and cause each member
of the Controlled Group to fulfill, its obligations under the minimum funding
standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan, except where the
failure to do so would not result in any liabilities to members of the
Controlled Group in excess of $5,000,000, (b) comply, and cause each member of
the Controlled Group to comply, with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Code respect to each Plan, except where such failure or noncompliance
individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect and
(c) not, and not permit any member of the Controlled Group to, (i) seek a waiver
of the minimum funding standards under ERISA, (ii) terminate or withdraw from
any Plan or (iii) take any other action with respect to any Plan which would
reasonably be expected to entitle the PBGC to terminate, impose liability in
respect of, or cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Plan, unless
the actions or events described in foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii)
individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                    DEFAULTS

     7.1 The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall
constitute an Event of Default:

          (a) Representation or Warranty. Any representation or warranty made or
     deemed made by or on behalf of either Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
     to the Banks or the Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, any
     other Loan Document, any Loan, or any certificate or information delivered
     in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be false
     in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made.

          (b) Non-Payment. Nonpayment of (i) any principal of any Note when due,
     or (ii) any interest upon any Note or any facility fee or other fee or
     obligations under any of the Loan Documents within three (3) days after the
     same becomes due.

          (c) Specific Defaults. The breach by either Borrower of any of the
     terms or provisions of Section 6.2, Section 6.3(a), Section 6.4 or Sections
     6. 10 through 6.17 or Sections 6.19 through 6.23.

          (d) Other Defaults. The breach by either Borrower (other than a breach
     which constitutes a Default under Section 7.1 (a), (b) or (c) of any of the
     terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within thirty
     (30) days after written notice from the Agent or any Bank.

          (e) Cross-Default. Failure of either Borrower or any of its
     Subsidiaries to pay any Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $10,000,000
     for the Parent and all its Subsidiaries when due (other than contingent
     pay-out and similar obligations relating to prior acquisitions of the
     Parent and to acquisitions permitted hereunder as to which a good faith
     dispute exists

                                       45

<PAGE>   53

     and which are being appropriately contested); or the default by either
     Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance of any term,
     provision or condition contained in any agreement or agreements under which
     any such Indebtedness was created or is governed, or the occurrence of any
     other event or existence of any other condition, the effect of any of which
     is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness to
     cause, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or any
     such Indebtedness of either Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be
     declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid (other than by a
     regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof.

          (f) Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings. The Parent or any of its
     Subsidiaries shall (i) have an order for relief entered with respect to it
     under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make
     an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent
     to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee,
     examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial Portion
     of its Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief
     under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking
     to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding
     up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of
     it or its debt under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or
     reorganization or relief of debtors to fail or file an answer or other
     pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed
     against it, (v) take any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the
     foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.1(f), (vi) fail to contest in
     good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.1(g) or
     (vii) become unable to pay, not pay, or admit in writing its inability to
     pay, its debts generally as they become due.

          (g) Involuntary Proceedings. Without the application, approval or
     consent of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, a receiver, trustee,
     examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Parent
     or any of its Subsidiaries or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a
     proceeding described in Section 7.1 (f)(iv) shall be instituted against the
     Parent or any of Subsidiaries and such appointment continues undischarged
     or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty
     consecutive days.

          (h) Judgments. The Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail within
     thirty days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any judgment or order for
     the payment of money of $25,000,000 or more (or multiple judgments or
     orders for the payments of an aggregate amount of $25,000,000 or more),
     which is not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in
     good faith and as to which no enforcement actions have been commenced.

          (i) Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.

          (j) SIPC. The SEC or any self-regulatory organization has notified the
     SIPC pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the Securities Investor Protection Act
     of 1970 (the "SIPC Act") of facts which indicate that either Borrower is in
     or is approaching financial difficulty,

                                       46
<PAGE>   54

     or the SIPC shall file an application for a protective decree with
     respect to either Borrower under Section 5(a)(3) of the SIPC Act.

          (k) Subsidiary Borrower. The SEC or other Governmental Authority shall
     revoke or suspend the Subsidiary Borrower's license or authorization under
     federal or state law to conduct business as a securities broker-dealer (and
     such license or authorization shall not be reinstated within 5 days), or
     the Subsidiary Borrower shall be suspended or expelled from membership in
     the NASD or any other self-regulatory organization or securities exchange.

          (l) ERISA. With respect to any Plan, the Parent or any Subsidiary
     shall (a) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term is
     defined in Section 302 of ERISA) in excess of $10,000,000 whether or not
     waived, or permit any Unfunded Liability to exceed $10,000,000; or (b)
     permit the occurrence of any Termination Event which could result in a
     liability to the Parent or an other member of the Controlled Group in
     excess of $10,000,000.

     7.2 Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs, the Agent shall, at the
request of, or may, with the consent of, the Majority Banks,

          (a) declare the Commitment of each Bank to make Loans to be
     terminated, whereupon such Commitments shall be terminated;

          (b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all
     interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable
     hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and
     payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind,
     all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

          (c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Banks all rights and remedies
     available to it and the Banks under the Loan Documents or applicable law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any event specified in
subsection (f) or (g) of Section 7.1 (in the case of subsection (g) upon
the expiration of the 60-day period mentioned therein), the obligation of
each Bank to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid
principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other
amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without
further act of the Agent or any Bank.

     7.3 Rights Not Exclusive. The rights provided for in this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights,
powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or under any other
instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.

                                       47
<PAGE>   55

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   GUARANTEE

     8.1 Guarantee. The Parent hereby absolutely, unconditionally and
irrevocably (all of the following guaranteed and indemnified obligations being
collectively called the "Guaranteed Indebtedness"):

          (a) guarantees the full and punctual payment when due, whether at
     stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand
     or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Subsidiary Borrower, now or
     hereafter existing whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or
     otherwise, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent or now or
     hereafter existing or due or to become due (including in all cases all such
     amounts which would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay
     under Section 362(a) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C.
     Section 362(a), and the operation of Sections 502(b) and 506(b) of the
     United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. Section 502(b) and Section
     506(b)), and

          (b) indemnifies and holds harmless each Bank and the Agent for any and
     all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses)
     incurred by such Bank in enforcing any rights under this Article VIII.

     8.2 Expenses. The Parent, irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay any
and all expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements
(including the allocated cost of internal counsel), incurred by any of the Banks
or the Agent in enforcing its rights under or in connection with this Article
VIII.

     8.3 Waivers. The Parent agrees that the Guaranteed Indebtedness may be
extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent
from it and without impairing its obligations under this Article VIII. The
Parent hereby waives (a) presentation to, demand of payment from, and protest
and notice of protest concerning the Guaranteed Indebtedness, (b) protest for
nonpayment of principal of or interest on the Guaranteed Indebtedness and (c)
all other notices to which it might otherwise be entitled as guarantor of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness.

     8.4 No Impairment. The obligations of the Parent under this Article VIII
shall not be impaired by reason of any claim or waiver, release, surrender or
compromise with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower, and shall not be subject to
any defense or set-off by reason of the unenforceability, in whole or in part,
of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or any provision of this Agreement with respect
to the Subsidiary Borrower. The obligations of the Parent hereunder with respect
to its guaranty of the obligations of the Subsidiary Borrower hereunder shall
not be impaired by (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower, (b) the
failure of any of the Banks or the Agent to assert any claim or demand or to
enforce any right or remedy against the Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or with respect to this Agreement or
the other

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<PAGE>   56

Loan Documents, (c) any extension or renewal, in whole or in part, of this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents, (d) any rescission, waiver, release,
compromise, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, any
of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any
agreement, (e) any failure by any Person in the performance of any obligation
with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, (f) any act by the
Agent or any Bank to obtain or retain a Lien upon or a security interest in any
property to secure any Guaranteed Indebtedness, or to release any security for
any of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, (g) any exchange, release or nonperfection
of any Lien, (h) any bankruptcy of the Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person,
or (i) any other act or omission which may or might in any manner vary the risk
of the Subsidiary Borrower, or which would otherwise operate as a discharge of
or other defense available to the Subsidiary Borrower, as a matter of law.

     8.5 Waiver of Resort. The Parent agrees that this Article VIII constitutes
a guaranty of payment and not merely of collection and waives any right to
require that any resort be had by the Agent or any of the Banks to any security
held by it for the payment of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or to any balance or
any deposit account or credit on the books of the Agent or any Bank in favor of
the Subsidiary Borrower.

     8.6 Reinstatement. The Parent agrees that this Article VIII shall continue
to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any part of
any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Guaranteed Indebtedness is
stayed, rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Bank or the Agent upon
the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person.

     8.7 Payment. Upon the failure of the Subsidiary Borrower to pay any of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness when and as the same shall become due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the Parent hereby promises to, and will,
immediately on demand by any Bank or the Agent, pay or cause to be paid to the
Banks or the Agent, as the case may be, an amount equal to the full amount of
the Guaranteed Indebtedness then due. All such payments shall be in the currency
in which the Guaranteed Indebtedness is denominated.

     8.8 Subrogation, Waivers, etc. The Parent hereby agrees that, until such
time as all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been finally paid in full
in cash and performed in full, all Commitments shall have terminated, and this
guaranty shall have been discontinued, no payment made by or on account of the
Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to this Article VIII shall entitle the Parent, by
subrogation or otherwise, to any payment by the Subsidiary Borrower or from or
out of any property of the Subsidiary Borrower, and the Parent shall not
exercise any right or remedy against the Subsidiary Borrower or any property of
the Subsidiary Borrower by reason of any performance by the Parent of its
obligations under this Article VIII, including any claim or other rights which
it may now or hereafter acquire against the Subsidiary Borrower that arise from
the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the guaranty under this
Article VIII, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration,
contribution, indemnification, any right to participate in any claim or remedy
of the Banks or the Agent, as the case may be, against the Subsidiary Borrower
or any collateral now or hereafter pledged to the Banks, the Agent or any other
Person acting on behalf of the Banks by the Subsidiary Borrower, whether or not
such claim, remedy

                                       49

<PAGE>   57

or right arises in equity, at law or under contract, directly or indirectly, is
for cash or other property or arises by set-off or in any other manner (as
payment or security on account of such claim or other rights). If any amount
shall be paid to the Parent in violation of the preceding sentence and the
Obligations shall not then have been paid in full, all Commitments shall not
have terminated, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to the Parent for
the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Banks or the Agent, as
applicable, and shall forthwith be paid to the Banks or the Agent, as
applicable. The Parent acknowledges that it has received and will receive direct
and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that the forbearance set forth in
this Section 8.8 is knowingly granted in contemplation of such benefits.

     8.9 Delay, etc. No delay on the part of any of the Banks or the Agent in
exercising any rights under this Article VIII or failure to exercise the same
shall operate as a waiver of such rights. No notice to or demand on the Parent
shall be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of the Subsidiary Borrower or
the right of the Banks or the Agent to take further action without notice or
demand as provided herein.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   THE AGENT

     9.1 Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank hereby irrevocably (subject to
Section 9.9) appoints, designates and authorizes the Agent to take such action
on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan
Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly
delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any
other Loan Document, the Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities,
except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Agent have or be deemed
to have any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the
Agent.

     9.2 Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its duties under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects with
reasonable care.

     9.3 Liability of Agent. None of the Agent-Related Persons shall (i) be
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions
contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct),
or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Banks for any recital,
statement, representation or warranty made by either Borrower or any Subsidiary
or Affiliate

                                       50
<PAGE>   58

of any Borrower, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any
other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in connection
with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or for any failure of either Borrower or any other party to any Loan
Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related
Person shall be under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to inquire as
to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or
conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the
properties, books or records of the Borrower or any of the Borrower's
Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

     9.4 Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be
fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent,
certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message,
statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons,
and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the
Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Agent. The
Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such
advice or concurrence of the Majority Banks as it deems appropriate and, if it
so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason
of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Majority
Banks and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto
shall be binding upon all of the Banks.

     9.5 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or
notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, except with respect
to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid
to the Agent for the account of the Banks, unless the Agent shall have received
written notice from a Bank or Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing
such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of
default". The Agent will notify the Banks of its receipt of any such notice. The
Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as
may be requested by the Majority Banks in accordance with Article VIII;
provided, however, that unless and until the Agent has received any such
request, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Banks.

     9.6 Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that none of the Agent-Related
Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the
Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Parent and
its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty
by any Agent-Related Person to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the Agent that
it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its
own appraisal of

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<PAGE>   59

and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial
and other condition and creditworthiness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and
all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend
credit to the Borrowers hereunder. Each Bank also represents that it will,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make
such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrowers. Except for notices, reports and other
documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Banks by the Agent,
the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Bank with any
credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrowers
which may come into the possession of any of the Agent-Related Persons.

     9.7 Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, the Banks shall indemnify upon demand the Agent-Related Persons
(to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers and without
limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), pro rata, from and against
any and all liabilities indemnified by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 10.5;
provided, however, that no Bank shall be liable for the payment to the
Agent-Related Persons of any portion of such indemnified liabilities resulting
solely from such Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without
limitation of the foregoing, each Bank shall reimburse the Agent upon demand for
its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney
Costs) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether
through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in
respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent
that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the
Borrowers. The undertaking in this Section shall survive the payment of all
Obligations hereunder and the resignation or replacement of the Agent.

     9.8 Agent in Individual Capacity. Bank of America and its Affiliates may
make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from,
acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust,
financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Parent and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Agent
hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Banks. The Banks acknowledge
that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive
information regarding the Borrowers or their Affiliates (including information
that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrowers or
such Subsidiary) and acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no obligation to
provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Bank of America
shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Bank and
may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the terms "Bank" and
"Banks" include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

                                       52
<PAGE>   60

     9.9 Successor Agent. The Agent may, and at the request of the Majority
Banks shall, resign as Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Banks. If the Agent
resigns under this Agreement, the Majority Banks shall appoint from among the
Banks a successor agent for the Banks which successor agent shall be approved by
the Parent. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of
the resignation of the Agent, the Agent may appoint, after consulting with the
Banks and the Parent, a successor agent from among the Banks. Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, such successor agent
shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent and the
term "Agent" shall mean such successor agent and the retiring Agent's
appointment, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring
Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and
Sections 10.4 and 10.5 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement. If no
successor agent has accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is 30 days
following a retiring Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Agent's
resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Banks shall
perform all of the duties of the Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the
Majority Banks appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

     9.10. Withholding Tax. (a) If any Bank is a "foreign corporation,
partnership or trust" within the meaning of the Code and such Bank claims
exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. withholding tax under Sections 1441 or
1442 of the Code, such Bank agrees with and in favor of the Agent, to deliver to
the Agent:

               (i) if such Bank claims an exemption from, or a reduction of,
          withholding tax under a United States tax treaty, two properly
          completed copies of IRS Form W-8 BEN on or before the payment of any
          interest in the first calendar year and before the payment of any
          interest in each third succeeding calendar year during which interest
          may be paid under this Agreement;

               (ii) if such Bank claims that interest paid under this Agreement
          is exempt from United States withholding tax because it is effectively
          connected with a United States trade or business of such Bank, two
          properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI before the
          payment of any interest is due in the first taxable year of such Bank
          and in each succeeding taxable year of such Bank during which interest
          may be paid under this Agreement,

               (iii) if such Bank is a foreign partnership or other intermediary
          and its partners claim an exemption from, or a reduction of,
          withholding tax under a United States tax treaty or if its partners
          claim that interest paid under this Agreement is exempt from United
          States withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the
          conduct with a United States trade or business, two properly completed
          and executed copies of IRS Form W-8MY on or before the payment of any
          interest in the first calendar year and before the payment of any
          interest in each third succeeding calendar year during which interest
          may be paid under this Agreement; and

                                       53
<PAGE>   61

               (iv) such other form or forms as may be required under the Code
          or other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from,
          or reduction of, United States withholding tax.

               Such Bank agrees to promptly notify the Agent of any change in
          circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed
          exemption or reduction.

          (b) If any Bank claims exemption from, or reduction of, withholding
     tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form W-8BEN and such
     Bank sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all
     or part of the Obligations of the Borrowers to such Bank, such Bank agrees
     to notify the Agent of the percentage amount in which it is no longer the
     beneficial owner of Obligations of the Borrowers to such Bank. To the
     extent of such percentage amount, the Agent will treat such Bank's IRS Form
     W-8BEN as no longer valid.

          (c) If any Bank claiming exemption from United States withholding tax
     by filing IRS Form W-8ECI with the Agent sells, assigns, grants a
     participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations of
     the Borrowers to such Bank, such Bank agrees to undertake sole
     responsibility for complying with the withholding tax requirements imposed
     by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code.

          (d) If any Bank is a foreign partnership or other intermediary and its
     partners claim exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax under a
     United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form W-8BEN or its partners claim
     exemption from United States withholding tax by filing IRS Form W-8ECI, and
     any of its partners sell, assign, grant a participation in, or otherwise
     transfer all or part of the Obligations of any Borrower to such Bank, such
     Bank agrees to notify the Agent of the percentage amount in which the
     partners is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations of any Borrower
     to such Bank. To the extent of such percentage amount, the Agent will treat
     such partner's IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI as no longer valid.

          (e) If any Bank is entitled to a reduction in the applicable
     withholding tax, the Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such
     Bank an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax after taking
     into account such reduction. If the forms or other documentation required
     by subsection (a) of this Section are not delivered to the Agent, then the
     Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Bank not providing
     such forms or other documentation an amount equivalent to the applicable
     withholding tax.

          (f) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United
     States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Agent did not
     properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Bank
     (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed,
     or because such Bank failed to notify the Agent of a change in
     circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of,
     withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Bank shall
     indemnify the Agent fully for all

                                       54
<PAGE>   62

     amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as tax or
     otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including any taxes
     imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Agent under this
     Section, together with all costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs).
     The obligation of the Banks under this subsection shall survive the payment
     of all Obligations and the resignation or replacement of the Agent.

     9.11 Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent. None of the Banks identified
on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a "documentation
agent" or "syndication agent" shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those
applicable to all Banks as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the
Banks so identified as a "documentation agent" or "syndication agent" shall have
or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Bank. Each Bank
acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Banks so
identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking
action hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE X

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     10.1 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any
departure by a Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be
in writing and signed by the Majority Banks (or by the Agent at the written
request of the Majority Banks) and the Borrowers and acknowledged by the Agent,
and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that
no such waiver, amendment, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all
the Banks and the Borrowers and acknowledged by the Agent, do any of the
following:

          (a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Bank (or reinstate any
     Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 7.2) except as contemplated by
     Section 2.5(b);

          (b) postpone or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any other
     Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts
     due to the Banks (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan
     Document;

          (c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein
     on any Loan, or (subject to clause (ii) below) any fees or other amounts
     payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

          (d) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate
     unpaid principal amount of the Loans which is required for the Banks or any
     of them to take any action hereunder;

                                       55
<PAGE>   63

          (e) release the Parent from its guaranty pursuant to Article VIII
     hereof; or

          (f) amend this Section or Section 2.13, or any provision herein
     providing for consent or other action by all Banks;

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Majority Banks or all the
Banks, as the case may be, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (ii) the Fee Letters may be amended,
or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed by the parties
thereto.

     10.2 Notices. (a) All notices, requests and other communications shall
be in writing (including, unless the context expressly otherwise provides, by
facsimile transmission, provided that any matter transmitted by facsimile (i)
shall be immediately confirmed by a telephone call to the recipient at the
number specified on Schedule 10.2, and (ii) shall be followed promptly by
delivery of a hard copy original thereof) and mailed, faxed or delivered, to the
address or facsimile number specified for notices on Schedule 10.2; or, as
directed to the Borrowers or the Agent, to such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties, and as
directed to any other party, at such other address as shall be designated by
such party in a written notice to the Borrowers and the Agent.

          (b) All such notices, requests and communications shall, when
     transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered
     for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by
     facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day
     after the date deposited into the U.S. mail, or if delivered, upon
     delivery; except that notices pursuant to Article II or IX shall not be
     effective until actually received by the Agent.

          (c) Any agreement of the Agent and the Banks herein to receive certain
     notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the
     request of the Borrowers. The Agent and the Banks shall be entitled to rely
     on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by a
     Borrower to give such notice and the Agent and the Banks shall not have any
     liability to the Borrowers or other Person on account of any action taken
     or not taken by the Agent or the Banks in reliance upon such telephonic or
     facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans shall
     not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure by the Agent and
     the Banks to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile
     notice or the receipt by the Agent and the Banks of a confirmation which is
     at variance with the terms understood by the Agent and the Banks to be
     contained in the telephonic or facsimile notice.

     10.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no
delay in exercising, on the part of the Agent or any Bank, any right, remedy,
power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege

                                       56
<PAGE>   64

hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of
any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

     10.4 Costs and Expenses. The Borrowers shall jointly and severally:

          (a) whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
     consummated, pay or reimburse Bank of America (including in its capacity as
     Agent) within five Business Days after demand for all costs and expenses
     incurred by Bank of America (including in its capacity as Agent) in
     connection with the development, preparation, delivery, administration and
     execution of, and any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to (in
     each case, whether or not consummated), this Agreement, any Loan Document
     and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and
     the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
     including reasonable Attorney Costs incurred by Bank of America (including
     in its capacity as Agent) with respect thereto; and

          (b) pay or reimburse the Agent, the Arranger and each Bank within five
     Business Days after demand for all costs and expenses (including Attorney
     Costs) incurred by them in connection with the enforcement, attempted
     enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement
     or any other Loan Document during the existence of an Event of Default or
     after acceleration of the Loans (including in connection with any "workout"
     or restructuring regarding the Loans, and including in any Insolvency
     Proceeding or appellate proceeding).

     10.5 Indemnity. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, the Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless the Agent, the Arranger, each Bank and each of their Affiliates and
their directors, officers, employees, advisors and agents (each, an "Indemnified
Party") from and against (and will reimburse each Indemnified Party as the same
are incurred) any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses
(including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and
the allocated cost of internal counsel) that may be incurred by or asserted or
awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in
connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection
with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in
connection therewith) any matters contemplated by this Agreement, any related
transaction or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds thereof
unless and only to the extent that, as to any Indemnified Party, it shall be
determined in a final nonappealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses resulted
primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified
Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrowers shall have no obligation to
any Indemnified Party in respect of losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses arising from (a) disputes between Banks, the Agent and/or the Arranger
or (b) disputes between any Borrower and an Indemnified Party, with respect to
which such Borrower is the prevailing party unless such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses under this clause (b) arise from the negligence (but not
gross negligence or willful misconduct) of such Indemnified Party.

                                       57
<PAGE>   65

     10.6 Collateral. The Borrowers, or either Borrower, may at their
option provide collateral to secure the Obligations in whole or in part in form
and with collateral reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Banks. The Banks
acknowledge and agree that the Collateral listed on Schedule 10.6 is
satisfactory. Any collateral agent shall be deemed included in the definition of
"Agent" and have the benefit of Article IX.

     10.7 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that a Borrower makes a
payment to the Agent or the Banks, or the Agent or the Banks exercise their
right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential,
set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the
Agent or such Bank in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other party, in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then (a)
to the extent of such recovery the obligation or part thereof originally
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect
as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b)
each Bank severally agrees to pay to the Agent upon demand its pro rata share of
any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Agent.

     10.8 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrowers may not assign or
transfer any of their rights or obligations under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of the Agent and each Bank.

     10.9 Assignments, Participations, etc. (a) Any Bank may, with the
written consent of the Borrowers at all times other than during the existence of
an Event of Default and the Agent, which consent of the Borrowers shall not be
unreasonably withheld, at any time assign and delegate to one or more Eligible
Assignees (provided that no written consent of the Borrowers or the Agent shall
be required in connection with any assignment and delegation by a Bank to an
Eligible Assignee that is an Affiliate of such Bank) (each an "Assignee") all,
or any ratable part of all, of the Loans, the Commitments and the other rights
and obligations of such Bank hereunder, in a minimum amount of $5,000,000;
provided, however, that the Borrowers and the Agent may continue to deal solely
and directly with such Bank in connection with the interest so assigned to an
Assignee until (i) written notice of such assignment, together with payment
instructions, addresses and related information with respect to the Assignee,
shall have been given to the Borrowers and the Agent by such Bank and the
Assignee; (ii) such Bank and its Assignee shall have delivered to the Borrower
and the Agent an Assignment and Acceptance in the form of Exhibit E ("Assignment
and Acceptance") together with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment and
(iii) the assignor Bank or Assignee has paid to the Agent a processing fee in
the amount of $3,500.

          (b) From and after the date that the Agent notifies the assignor Bank
     that it has received (and provided its and the Borrowers', if applicable,
     consent with respect to) an executed Assignment and Acceptance and payment
     of the above-referenced processing fee, (i) the Assignee thereunder shall
     be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
     have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, shall
     have the rights and obligations of a Bank under the Loan Documents, and
     (ii) the

                                       58
<PAGE>   66

     assignor Bank shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
     and under the other Loan Documents have been assigned by it pursuant to
     such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from
     its obligations under the Loan Documents.

          (c) Within five Business Days after its receipt of notice by the Agent
     that it has received an executed Assignment and Acceptance and payment of
     the processing fee, (and provided that it and the Borrowers, if applicable,
     consent to such assignment in accordance with Section 10.9(a)), the
     Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Agent, new Notes evidencing such
     Assignee's assigned Loans and Commitment and, if the assignor Bank has
     retained a portion of its Loans and its Commitment, replacement Notes in
     the principal amount of the Loans retained by the assignor Bank (such Notes
     to be in exchange for, but not in payment of, the Notes held by such Bank).
     Immediately upon each Assignee's making its processing fee payment under
     the Assignment and Acceptance, this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended
     to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of
     the Assignee and the resulting adjustment of the Commitments arising
     therefrom. The Commitment allocated to each Assignee shall reduce such
     Commitments of the assigning Bank pro tanto.

          (d) Any Bank, with notice to the Borrowers, may at any time sell to
     one or more commercial banks or other Persons not Affiliates of the
     Borrower (a "Participant") participating interests in any Loans, the
     Commitment of that Bank and the other interests of that Bank (the
     "originating Bank") hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided,
     however, that (i) the originating Bank's obligations under this Agreement
     shall remain unchanged, (ii) the originating Bank shall remain solely
     responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the Borrowers
     and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the
     originating Bank in connection with the originating Bank's rights and
     obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iv) no
     Bank shall transfer or grant any participating interest under which the
     Participant has rights to approve any amendment to, or any consent or
     waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except
     to the extent such amendment, consent or waiver would require unanimous
     consent of the Banks as described in the first proviso to Section 10.1. In
     the case of any such participation, the Participant shall be entitled to
     the benefit of Sections 3.1, 3.3 and 10.5 as though it were also a Bank
     hereunder, and not have any rights under this Agreement, or any of the
     other Loan Documents, and all amounts payable by the Borrowers hereunder
     shall be determined as if such Bank had not sold such participation; except
     that, if amounts outstanding under this Agreement are due and unpaid, or
     shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the
     occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to have
     the right of set-off in respect of its participating interest in amounts
     owing under this Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its
     participating interest were owing directly to it as a Bank under this
     Agreement.

          (e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any Bank
     may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any
     portion of its rights under and interest in this Agreement and the Note
     held by it in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in

                                       59
<PAGE>   67

     accordance with Regulation A of the FRB or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR
     Section 203.14, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or
     security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.

     10.10 Confidentiality. Each Bank agrees to take and to cause its
Affiliates to take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to
maintain the confidentiality of all information identified as "confidential" or
"secret" by the Borrowers and provided to it by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary,
or by the Agent on such Borrower's or Subsidiary's behalf, under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, and neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall use
any such information other than in connection with or in enforcement of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with other business now
or hereafter existing or contemplated with any Borrower or any Subsidiary;
except to the extent such information (i) was or becomes generally available to
the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Bank, or (ii) was or
becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than any
Borrower, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement
with any Borrower known to the Bank; provided, however, that any Bank may
disclose such information (A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of
any Governmental Authority to which the Bank is subject or in connection with an
examination of such Bank by any such authority; (B) pursuant to subpoena or
other court process; (C) when required to do so in accordance with the
provisions of any applicable Requirement of Law; (D) to the extent reasonably
required in connection with any litigation or proceeding to which the Agent, any
Bank or their respective Affiliates may be party; (E) to the extent reasonably
required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any
other Loan Document; (F) to such Bank's independent auditors and other
professional advisors; (G) to any Participant or Assignee, actual or potential,
provided that such Person agrees in writing to keep such information
confidential to the same extent required of the Banks hereunder; (H) as to any
Bank or its Affiliate, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other
document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which any Borrower or any
Subsidiary is party or is deemed party with such Bank or such Affiliate; and (I)
to its Affiliates which shall be bound by the terms of this Section 10.10.

     10.11 Set-off. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Banks
provided by law, if an Event of Default exists or the Loans have been
accelerated, each Bank is authorized at any time and from time to time, without
prior notice to the Borrowers, any such notice being waived by the Borrowers 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 by,
and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Bank to or for the credit or
the account of the Borrowers against any and all Obligations owing to such Bank,
now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Agent or such Bank
shall have made demand under this Agreement or any Loan Document and although
such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured. Each Bank agrees promptly to
notify the Borrowers and the Agent after any such set-off and application made
by such Bank; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such set-off and application.

     10.12 Automatic Debits of Fees.  With respect to any  fee, or any other
cost or expense (including Attorney Costs) due and payable to the Agent,
Bank of America or the Arranger under

                                       60
<PAGE>   68

the Loan Documents, the Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize Bank of America
to debit any deposit account of the applicable Borrower with Bank of America in
an amount such that the aggregate amount debited from all such deposit accounts
does not exceed such fee or other cost or expense. If there are insufficient
funds in such deposit accounts to cover the amount of the fee or other cost or
expense then due, such debits will be reversed (in whole or in part, in Bank of
America's sole discretion) and such amount not debited shall be deemed to be
unpaid. No such debit under this Section shall be deemed a set-off.

     10.13 Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc. Each Bank shall
notify the Agent in writing of any changes in the address to which notices to
the Bank should be directed, of addresses of any Lending Office, of payment
instructions in respect of all payments to be made to it hereunder and of such
other administrative information as the Agent shall reasonably request.

     10.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an
original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute but one and the same instrument.

     10.15 Severability. The illegality or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in
any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder.

     10.16 No Third Parties Benefitted. This Agreement is made and entered into
for the sole protection and legal benefit of the Borrowers, the Banks, the Agent
and the Agent-Related Persons, and their permitted successors and assigns, and
no other Person shall be a direct or indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any
direct or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents.

     10.17 Governing Law and Jurisdiction. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE NOTES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS; PROVIDED THAT THE AGENT AND THE BANKS SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING
UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

          (b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
     ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF
     ILLINOIS OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, AND
     BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF THE BORROWERS, THE
     AGENT AND THE BANKS CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO
     THE NON- EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. EACH OF THE BORROWERS, THE
     AGENT AND THE BANKS IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY
     OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON
     CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY
     ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH

                                       61
<PAGE>   69

     JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT RELATED
     HERETO. THE BORROWERS, THE AGENT AND THE BANKS EACH WAIVE PERSONAL SERVICE
     OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER
     MEANS PERMITTED BY ILLINOIS LAW.

     10.18 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE BORROWERS, THE BANKS AND THE AGENT EACH
WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION
BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY OF THE PARTIES AGAINST
ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON, PARTICIPANT OR ASSIGNEE, WHETHER
WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, OR OTHERWISE. THE BORROWERS, THE
BANKS AND THE AGENT EACH AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE
TRIED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED
BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING
WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF OR THEREOF.
THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR
MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

     10.19 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrowers,
the Banks and the Agent, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements
and understandings of such Persons, verbal or written, relating to the subject
matter hereof and thereof.

                                       62
<PAGE>   70

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

                                                THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

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

                                                NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

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

                                       63
<PAGE>   71

                                                BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                                                as Administrative Agent

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

                                                BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Bank

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

                                       64
<PAGE>   72

                                                CITICORP USA, INC., as
                                                Syndication Agent and a Bank

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

                                       65
<PAGE>   73

                                               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                               as Documentation Agent and a Bank

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

                                       66
<PAGE>   74

                                                THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                                as a Bank

                                                By: ---------------------------

                                                Name: -------------------------

                                                Title: ------------------------

                                       67
<PAGE>   75

                                             BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago),
                                             as a Bank

                                                By: ---------------------------

                                                Name: -------------------------

                                                Title: ------------------------

                                       68
<PAGE>   76

                                  Schedule 2.1

                                   COMMITMENTS
                               AND PRO RATA SHARES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Bank                              Commitment         Pro Rata Share
       ----                              ----------         --------------

<S>                                     <C>                      <C>
Bank of America, N.A.                   $ 37,500,000             30%
The Chase Manhattan Bank                $ 25,000,000             20%
The Bank of New York                    $ 25,000,000             20%
Citicorp USA, Inc.                      $ 25,000,000             20%
Bank One, NA                            $ 12,500,000             10%
</TABLE>

                              Schedule 2.1, Page 1

<PAGE>   77

                                  SCHEDULE 5.9

                          SUBSIDIARIES AND INVESTMENTS

                                  SUBSIDIARIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUBSIDIARY NAME               JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION      % OWNED BY THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

<S>                                   <C>                                       <C>
1.  Nuveen Investments                Delaware                                  100%

2.  Nuveen/Flagship Acquisition
Corporation                           Delaware                                  100%

3.  Nuveen Senior Loan Asset
Management, Inc.                      Delaware                                  100%

4.  Rittenhouse Financial
Services, Inc.                        Delaware                                   85%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUBSIDIARY NAME               JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION      % OWNED BY NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

<S>                                   <C>                                       <C>
1.  Nuveen Advisory Corp.             Delaware                                  100%

2.  Nuveen Institutional
Advisory Corp.                        Delaware                                  100%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUBSIDIARY NAME               JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION      % OWNED BY NUVEEN/FLAGSHIP
                                                                  ACQUISITION CORPORATION

<S>                                   <C>                                       <C>
1.  Nuveen Asset
Management Inc.                       Delaware                                  100%
</TABLE>

                               OTHER INVESTMENTS

               NAME                                  DESCRIPTION

Institutional Capital Corporation         Investment of Nuveen Investments in
                                          convertible preferred equity security
                                          convertible into 20% of common equity.

                              Schedule 5.9, Page 1

<PAGE>   78

                                 SCHEDULE 5.10

                                     ERISA

         The Subsidiary Borrower or other Controlled Group member maintain only
the following Single Employer Plan:

         Nuveen Investments Employees' Retirement Plan

                             Schedule 5.10, Page 1

<PAGE>   79

                                 SCHEDULE 10.2

                                LENDING OFFICES,
                             ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and a Bank

Address for Notices:

231 South LaSalle Street
10th Floor
Chicago, IL   60697
Attention: Constance Perrone
Telephone: (312) 828-4355
Facsimile: (312) 987-0889

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:

Agency Services
101 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC  28255
Attention: Herbert Boyd
Telephone: (704) 388-3225
Facsimile: (704) 409--0002

CITICORP USA, INC.,
as Syndication Agent and a Bank

Address for Notices:

399 Park Avenue
New York, NY  10043
Attention: Pierre Guigui
Telephone: (212) 559-2849
Facsimile: (212)

                             Schedule 10.2, Page 1

<PAGE>   80

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:

2 Penn Way
Suite 200
New Castle, DE
Attention: Sally Schoenleber
Telephone: (302) 894-6061
Facsimile: (302) 894-6120

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Documentation Agent and a Bank

Address for Notices:

1 Chase Plaza
21st Floor
New York, NY 10081
Attention: Therese Bechet
Telephone: (212) 552-7785
Facsimile:  (212) 552-1118

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:

1 Chase Plaza
21st  Floor
New York, NY  10081
Attention: Sushil Patel
Telephone: (212) 552-7522
Facsimile:  (212) 552-7655

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as a Bank

Address for Notices:

One Wall Street
19th Floor
New York, NY 10286
Attention: Patrick Miller
Telephone: (212) 635-7607
Facsimile: (212) 635-6348

                             Schedule 10.2, Page 2

<PAGE>   81

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:

One Wall Street
19th Floor
New York, NY  10286
Attention: Sally Persaud
Telephone: (212) 635-6959
Facsimile: (212) 635-7552

BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago),
as a Bank

Address for Notices:

153 West 51st Street
New York, NY  10019
Attention: Patricia Yee
Telephone: (212) 373-1194
Facsimile:  (212) 373-1180

Domestic and Offshore Lending Office:

1 Bank One Plaza
16th Floor
IL1-0159
Chicago, IL 60670
Attention: Vicki Kobierski
Telephone: (312) 732-5627
Facsimile:  (312) 732-3537

                             Schedule 10.2, Page 3

<PAGE>   82

                                 SCHEDULE 10.6

         Any personal property pledgeable by any Borrower under Rule 15c 3-1 or
Rule 15c 3-3 of the SEC.

                             Schedule 10.6, Page 1

<PAGE>   83

                                   EXHIBIT A

                              NOTICE OF BORROWING

Date: __________________, 2000

To: Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent for the Banks parties to the
364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of __________________, 2000 (as
extended, renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement") among The John Nuveen Company, Nuveen Investments, certain Banks
which are signatories thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Documentation Agent.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned, [The John Nuveen Company] ([Nuveen Investments]),
refers to the Credit Agreement, the terms defined therein being used herein as
therein defined, and hereby gives you notice irrevocably, pursuant to Section
2.3 of the Credit Agreement, of the Borrowing specified below:

          1. The Borrower is [The John Nuveen Company], [Nuveen Investments]

          2. The Business Day of the proposed Borrowing is __________________,
             2000.

          3. The aggregate amount of the proposed Borrowing is $ ______________.

          4. The Borrowing is to be comprised of $__________________ of [Base
             Rate] [Federal Funds Rate] [Offshore Rate] Loans.

          [5. The duration of the Interest Period for the Offshore Rate Loans
     included in the Borrowing shall be _____ months].

         The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true
on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the proposed Borrowing,
before and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds
therefrom:

          (a) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers contained in
     Article V of the Credit Agreement are true and correct as though made on
     and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and
     warranties relate to an earlier date, in which case they are true and
     correct as of such date);

                               Exhibit A, Page 1

<PAGE>   84

          (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or
     would result from such proposed Borrowing; and

          (c) The proposed Borrowing will not cause the aggregate principal
     amount of all outstanding Loans to exceed the combined Commitments of the
     Banks.

                                             [THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY]
                                             [NUVEEN INVESTMENTS]

                                             By:
                                                 ------------------------------

                                             Title:
                                                    ---------------------------

                               Exhibit A, Page 2

<PAGE>   85

                                   EXHIBIT B

                       NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

                                                  Date: __________________, 2000

To:  Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Banks parties to the
     364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of ________, 2000 (as extended,
     renewed, amended or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement")
     among The John Nuveen Company , Nuveen Investments, certain Banks which are
     signatories thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as
     Citicorp USA, Inc., Syndication Agent and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
     Documentation Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned, [The John Nuveen Company] [Nuveen Investments](the
"Borrower"), refers to the Credit Agreement, the terms defined therein being
used herein as therein defined, and hereby gives you notice irrevocably,
pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement, of the [conversion]
[continuation] of the Loans specified herein, that:

          1. The Conversion/Continuation Date is __________________, 2000.

          2. The aggregate amount of the Loans to be [converted] [continued] is
     $____.

          3. The Loans are to be [converted into] [continued as] [Federal Funds
     Rate] [Offshore Rate] [Base Rate] Loans.

          4. [If applicable:] The duration of the Interest Period for the Loans
     included in the [conversion] [continuation] shall be [___ months].

                                             [THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY]
                                             [NUVEEN INVESTMENTS]

                                             By:
                                                 ------------------------------

                                             Title:
                                                    ---------------------------

                               Exhibit B, Page 1

<PAGE>   86

                                   EXHIBIT C

                             COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

                               Financial Statement Date:__________________, 2000

          Reference is made to that certain 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement
dated as of __________________, 2000 (as extended, renewed, amended or restated
from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among The John Nuveen Company, Nuveen
Investments, the several financial institutions from time to time parties to
this Credit Agreement and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the
Banks, Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Documentation Agent. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used
herein have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

          The undersigned hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is
the __________________ of the Parent and that, as such, he/she is authorized to
execute and deliver this Certificate to the Banks and the Agent on the behalf of
the Parent and its Subsidiaries, and that:

          1. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the
Credit Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her
supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions (financial or
otherwise) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period
covered by the attached financial statements.

          2. To the best of the undersigned's knowledge, the Borrowers, during
such period, have observed, performed or satisfied all of its covenants and
other agreements, and satisfied every condition in the Credit Agreement to be
observed, performed or satisfied by the Borrowers, and the undersigned has no
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default.

          4. The following financial covenant analyses and information set forth
on Schedule 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of
this Certificate.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as
of __________________, 2000.

                                             THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

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

                               Exhibit C, Page 1

<PAGE>   87

                                   Schedule 1

SECTION 6.13 - SALES OF ASSETS

Asset Dispositions for period from _________ 2000  to date of determination:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
     (a)  Permitted asset dispositions:

          10% of consolidated total assets of the Parent
          and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of
          preceding Fiscal Quarter*                         $
                                                            ------------

     (b)  Actual asset dispositions for such period         $
                                                            ------------
</TABLE>

     *Note: must also demonstrate (to the extent calculable) that total asset
     dispositions for such period do not involve Property which is responsible
     for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales or 20% of the Net Income of
     the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the 12-month period ending as of the
     last day of the Fiscal Quarter next preceding the date of determination.

SECTION 6.21.1 - MINIMUM NET WORTH

<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
1.   Required Net Worth:                                    $360,000,000
                                                            ------------
2.   Actual Net Worth:                                      $
                                                            ------------

SECTION 6.21.2 - LEVERAGE RATIO

1.   Maximum Leverage Ratio:                                   2.75 to 1
                                                            ------------

2.   Actual Leverage Ratio:

     (a)  Net Debt of the Parent and its Subsidiaries       $
                                                            ------------

     (c)  Annual Operating Cash Flow (preceding four
          Fiscal Quarters)                                  $
                                                            ------------

     (c)  Ratio of (a) to (b)
                                                            ------------

SECTION 6.22 - SUBSIDIARY BORROWER NET CAPITAL RATIO

1.   Minimum  Net Capital Ratio                                      5.5%
                                                            ------------

2.   Actual Net Capital Ratio

     (a)  Net Capital                                       $
                                                            ------------

     (b)  Aggregate Debit Items                             $
                                                            ------------

     (c)  Ratio of (a) to (b)
                                                            ------------
</TABLE>

                               Exhibit C, Page 2

<PAGE>   88

                                  EXHIBIT D-1

                                August 10, 2000

Bank of America, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60697

          and

Each of the Financial Institutions
identified on the attached Schedule I

     Re:  Three Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the "3 Year Credit Agreement")
          and 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "364 Day Credit
          Agreement"), both dated as of August 10, 2000 (collectively, the
          "Credit Agreements") and entered into among The John Nuveen Company, a
          Delaware corporation, ("Nuveen"), Nuveen Investments, a Delaware
          corporation ("Nuveen Investments"; together with Nuveen, the
          "Borrowers" or "Borrower"), the banks party thereto (the "Lenders"),
          Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
          Documentation Agent and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative
          Agent.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special counsel to the Borrowers in connection with
the Credit Agreements. This opinion is delivered to you responsive to Section
4.1(d) of the Credit Agreements. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined have the meanings ascribed in the Credit Agreements. The Credit
Agreements and the Notes of the Borrowers delivered in connection therewith are
referred to herein as the "Loan Documents".

         We have examined executed counterparts of the Credit Agreements and
originals of the Notes, if any. We also have examined originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such agreements,
corporate records, instruments, certificates of public officials and corporate
officers and such matters of law as we deemed necessary for purposes of this
opinion. We have relied, without independent investigation, upon statements of
officers of the Borrowers and the representations and warranties of the
Borrowers set forth in the Credit Agreements as to the nature of each Borrower's
business, its intended use of the proceeds of Borrowings under the Credit

                              Exhibit D-1, Page 1

<PAGE>   89

Agreements, the existence of any order, writ, judgment, decree, determination or
award that is binding upon the Borrowers, and as to pending or threatened
actions, suits, proceedings, governmental investigations or arbitrations. For
purposes of our opinions in paragraph 1, we have relied exclusively upon
certificates issued by a governmental authority in each relevant jurisdiction
and such opinions are not intended to provide any conclusion or assurance beyond
that conveyed by those certificates.

     We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of
all individuals who have executed the Loan Documents and all other documents we
have reviewed, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as
copies. We also have assumed that the Credit Agreements have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto (other than
the Borrowers) and are enforceable against such parties in accordance with their
terms. The term "actual knowledge" whenever it is used in this letter with
respect to our firm means conscious awareness on the date of this letter of
Dewey B. Crawford, Edward J. Tabaczyk and Charles J. Kolin, who are all of the
Gardner, Carton & Douglas attorneys who have given substantial attention to this
matter on behalf of the Borrowers.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein,
we are of the opinion that:

     1. Each Borrower is a corporation validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. Nuveen is duly qualified, in good
standing and authorized to conduct business as a foreign corporation in the
State of Illinois. Nuveen Investments is duly qualified, in good standing and
authorized to conduct business as a foreign corporation under the name John
Nuveen and Co. Incorporated in Illinois and is in the process of changing its
name to Nuveen Investments in accordance with applicable Illinois law.

     2. Each Borrower has all requisite corporate power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents,
to own its assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted.

     3. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party do not (a) violate any law, rule or regulation
(including Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) which, in our experience, is normally applicable both to general
business corporations (giving due regard to the regulated business activities of
Nuveen Investments and to the unregulated nature of the business activities of
Nuveen) and to transactions of the type contemplated by the Loan Documents, or,
to our actual knowledge, any order, writ, judgment, decree, determination or
award that is presently in effect and binding on such Borrower or (b) conflict
with or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of such Borrower.

     4. Each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Borrower and constitutes the valid
and binding obligation of such Borrower,

                              Exhibit D-1, Page 2

<PAGE>   90

enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of
general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of the rights of
creditors or by equitable principles, regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     5. No authorization, consent, approval, license, qualification or formal
exemption from, or filing, declaration or registration with, any Federal or
Illinois State governmental agency or authority is required in connection with
the execution or delivery by the Borrowers of the Loan Documents or the
borrowings by the Borrowers thereunder.

     6. To our actual knowledge, there is no action, suit, proceeding,
governmental investigation or arbitration pending or threatened against the
Borrowers before any court or arbitrator, any governmental or administrative
body, agency or official, or any self-regulatory organization which (a)
challenges the validity, or seeks to enjoin the performance of, any Loan
Document or (b) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7. Neither Borrower is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by
an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.

     8. Neither Borrower is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a
"holding company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" within the meaning of
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

     9. The rates of interest provided in the Credit Agreements do not violate
any laws of the State of Illinois relating to interest or usury.

     This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Illinois, the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United
States of America.

     The foregoing opinions are subject to and qualified by the effect of any
requirement that the Agent or the Lenders take certain actions or make certain
determinations in a commercially reasonable manner and in good faith. Moreover,
we express no opinion as to the enforceability of (a) any waiver of the right to
a jury trial, (b) any provision requiring the payment of interest on interest,
(c) express or implicit waivers of broad or vaguely stated rights, unknown
future rights, defenses to obligations or rights granted by law, where such
waivers are against public policy or prohibited by law, or (d) indemnity and
contribution rights that may be against public policy.

     This opinion speaks as of the time of its delivery on the date it bears. We
do not assume any obligation to provide you with any subsequent opinion or
advice by reason of any fact about which we did not have actual knowledge at
that time, by reason of any change subsequent to that time in any law covered by
any of our opinions, or for any other reason.

     This opinion is for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and their
permitted assignees in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents and may not be relied

                              Exhibit D-1, Page 3

<PAGE>   91

upon by any other Person or for any other purpose, or delivered to any other
Person for any purpose, without our prior written consent.

                               Very truly yours,

                              Exhibit D-1, Page 4

<PAGE>   92

                                   SCHEDULE I

Bank of America, N.A.
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60697

Citicorp USA, Inc.
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10043

The Chase Manhattan Bank
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10017

The Bank of New York
48 Wall Street
New York, New York  10015

Bank One, NA
Bank One Plaza
Chicago, Illinois  60670

                              Exhibit D-1, Page 5

<PAGE>   93

                                  EXHIBIT D-2

August 10, 2000

Bank of America, N.A.,
         as Administrative Agent
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60697

     and

Each of the Financial Institutions
identified on Schedule I hereto

     Re:  Three Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the "3 Year Credit Agreement")
          and 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "364 Day Credit
          Agreement"), both dated as of August 10, 2000 (collectively, the
          "Credit Agreements") and entered into among The John Nuveen Company, a
          Delaware corporation, ("Nuveen"), Nuveen Investments, a Delaware
          corporation ("Nuveen Investments"; together with Nuveen, the
          "Borrowers" or "Borrower"), the banks part y thereto (the "Lenders"),
          Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
          Documentation Agent and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am Senior Vice President and General Counsel of each of the Borrowers,
and have represented the Borrowers in connection with the Credit Agreements.
This opinion is delivered to you responsive to Section 4.1(d) of the Credit
Agreements. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the
meanings ascribed in the Credit Agreements. The Credit Agreements and the Notes
of the Borrowers delivered in connection therewith are referred to herein as the
"Loan Documents." The following subsidiaries of Nuveen are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Subsidiaries," with each referred to as a
"Subsidiary": Nuveen Investments; Nuveen/Flagship Acquisition Corporation, a
Delaware corporation; Nuveen Senior Loan Asset Management, Inc., a Delaware
corporation; Rittenhouse Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
Nuveen Advisory Corp., a Delaware corporation; Nuveen Institutional Advisory
Corp., a Delaware corporation; and Nuveen Asset Management Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

                              Exhibit D-2, Page 1

<PAGE>   94

     I have examined executed counterparts of the Credit Agreements and
originals of the Notes, if any. I also have examined originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such agreements,
corporate records, instruments, certificates of public officials and corporate
officers and such matters of law as I deemed necessary for purposes of this
opinion. For purposes of my opinions as to corporate existence, good standing
and qualification as a foreign corporation in paragraph 1, I have relied
exclusively upon certificates issued by a governmental authority in each
relevant jurisdiction and such opinions are not intended to provide any
conclusion or assurance beyond that conveyed by those certificates.

     I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
individuals who have executed the Loan Documents and all other documents I have
reviewed, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the
conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies.

     Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated herein,
I am of the opinion that:

     1. Each of the Borrowers and each Subsidiary is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Nuveen is duly qualified, in good standing and authorized to conduct
business as a foreign corporation in the jurisdictions specified in the attached
Schedule II. Nuveen Investments is duly qualified, in good standing and
authorized to conduct business as a foreign corporation under the name John
Nuveen & Co. Incorporated in the jurisdictions specified in the attached
Schedule II and is in the process of changing its name to Nuveen Investments in
accordance with applicable corporations law. Nuveen Investments is registered
with the SEC as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and is a member of the NASD. Each Subsidiary other than Nuveen
Investments and Nuveen/Flagship Acquisition Corporation is registered with the
SEC as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act.

     2. The execution, delivery and performance by each Borrower of the Loan
Documents to which is a party do not (a) violate any law, rule or regulation
(including Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) applicable to such Borrower or any Subsidiary or any order,
writ, judgment, decree, determination or award known to me that is presently in
effect and binding on such Borrower or any Subsidiary, (b) conflict with or
result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of such Borrower or any Subsidiary, (c) conflict with
or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in or require
the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the properties now owned by
such Borrower or any Subsidiary, under any indenture, credit agreement, material
lease or other material agreement or instrument to which such Borrower or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which they or any or their property is bound.

                              Exhibit D-2, Page 2

<PAGE>   95

     3. No authorization, consent, approval, license, qualification or formal
exemption from, or filing, declaration or registration with, any Governmental
Authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange is required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrowers of the
Loan Documents.

     4. There is no action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or
arbitration pending or, to my knowledge, overtly threatened against the
Borrowers or any Subsidiary or any of their respective material properties
before any court or arbitrator, any governmental or administrative body, agency
or official, or any self-regulatory organization which (a) challenges the
validity, or seeks to enjoin the performance of, any Loan Document or (b) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Illinois, the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United
States of America.

     This opinion speaks as of the time of its delivery on the date it bears. I
do not assume any obligation to provide you with any subsequent opinion or
advice by reason of any fact about which I did not have actual knowledge at that
time, by reason of any change subsequent to that time in any law covered by any
of my opinions, or for any other reason.

     This opinion is for the benefit of the Agent, the Lenders and their
permitted assignees in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents and may not be relied upon by any other Person, other than Gardner,
Carton & Douglas, or for any other purpose, or delivered to any other Person for
any purpose, without my prior written consent.

                               Very truly yours,

                               Allen Berkshire
                               Senior Vice President
                               and General Counsel

                              Exhibit D-2, Page 3

<PAGE>   96

                                   SCHEDULE I

Bank of America, N.A.
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60697

Citicorp USA, Inc.
399 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10043

The Chase Manhattan Bank
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10017

The Bank of New York
48 Wall Street
New York, New York  10015

Bank One, NA
Bank One Plaza
Chicago, Illinois  60670

                              Exhibit D-2, Page 4

<PAGE>   97

                                  SCHEDULE II

                             FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS

THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY                           NUVEEN/FLAGSHIP ACQUISITION
                                                        CORPORATION
     Illinois
                                                        Delaware
JOHN NUVEEN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                                     NUVEEN ADVISORY CORP.
     Arizona
     California                                         Illinois
     District of Columbia
     Florida
     Georgia                                 NUVEEN INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORY CORP.
     Illinois
     Massachusetts
     New York                                           Illinois
     Ohio                                               Missouri
     Pennsylvania                                       North Dakota
     Texas
     Washington                                 NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.

                                                        Illinois
                                                        Ohio

                                                  NUVEEN SENIOR LOAN ASSET
                                                       MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                                        Illinois

                                            RITTENHOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

                                                        Pennsylvania

                              Exhibit D-2, Page 5

<PAGE>   98

                                   EXHIBIT E

                 [FORM OF] ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT

     This ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT (this "Assignment and Acceptance")
dated as of __________, 2000__ is made between ______________________________
(the "Assignor") and __________________________ (the "Assignee").

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Assignor is party to that certain 364 Day Revolving Credit
Agreement dated as of _____________, 2000 (as amended, amended and restated,
modified, supplemented or renewed, the "Credit Agreement") among The John Nuveen
Company, Nuveen Investments, the several financial institutions from time to
time party thereto, and Bank of America , N.A., as Administrative Agent,
Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Documentation Agent. Any terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not defined
in this Assignment and Acceptance are used herein as defined in the Credit
Agreement;

     WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has committed
to making Loans (the "Loans") to the Borrowers in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $__________ (the "Commitment");

     WHEREAS, [the Assignor has made Loans in the aggregate principal amount of
$__________] [no Loans are outstanding under the Credit Agreement]; and

     WHEREAS, the Assignor wishes to assign to the Assignee [part of the] [all]
rights and obligations of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of
its Commitment, [together with a corresponding portion of each of its
outstanding Loans,] in an amount equal to $__________ (the "Assigned Amount") on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and the Assignee wishes
to accept assignment of such rights and to assume such obligations from the
Assignor on such terms and subject to such conditions;

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

                               Exhibit E, Page 1

<PAGE>   99

     1.   Assignment and Acceptance.

          (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Assignment and
Acceptance, (i) the Assignor hereby sells, transfers and assigns to the
Assignee, and (ii) the Assignee hereby purchases, assumes and undertakes from
the Assignor, without recourse and without representation or warranty (except as
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance) __% (the "Assignee's Percentage
Share") of (A) the Commitment [and the Loans] of the Assignor and (B) all
related rights, benefits, obligations, liabilities and indemnities of the
Assignor under and in connection with the Credit Agreement and the Loan
Documents.

          [If appropriate, add paragraph specifying payment to Assignor by
Assignee of outstanding principal of, accrued interest on, and fees with respect
to, Loans assigned.]

          (b) With effect on and after the Effective Date (as defined in Section
5 hereof), the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and succeed to
all of the rights and be obligated to perform all of the obligations of a Bank
under the Credit Agreement, including the requirements concerning
confidentiality and the payment of indemnification, with a Commitment in an
amount equal to the Assigned Amount. The Assignee agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the
Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Bank. It is the intent
of the parties hereto that the Commitment of the Assignor shall, as of the
Effective Date, be reduced by an amount equal to the Assigned Amount and the
Assignor shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
the Credit Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by the
Assignee; provided, however, the Assignor shall not relinquish its rights under
Sections 10.4 and 10.5 of the Credit Agreement to the extent such rights relate
to the time prior to the Effective Date.

          (c) After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth
herein, on the Effective Date the Assignee's Commitment will be $__________.

          (d) After giving effect to the assignment and assumption set forth
herein, on the Effective Date the Assignor's Commitment will be $__________.

     2.   Payments.

          (a) As consideration for the sale, assignment and transfer
contemplated in Section 1 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the
Effective Date in immediately available funds an amount equal to $__________,
representing the Assignee's Pro Rata Share of the principal amount of all Loans.

                              Exhibit E, Page 2 1.

<PAGE>   100

          (b) The [Assignor] [Assignee] further agrees to pay to the Agent a
processing fee in the amount specified in Section 10.9(a) of the Credit
Agreement.

     3. Reallocation of Payments.

     Any interest, fees and other payments accrued to the Effective Date with
respect to the Commitment and Loans shall be for the account of the Assignor.
Any interest, fees and other payments accrued on and after the Effective Date
with respect to the Assigned Amount shall be for the account of the Assignee.
Each of the Assignor and the Assignee agrees that it will hold in trust for the
other party any interest, fees and other amounts which it may receive to which
the other party is entitled pursuant to the preceding sentence and pay to the
other party any such amounts which it may receive promptly upon receipt.

     4. Independent Credit Decision.

     The Assignee (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits thereto, together with copies of the
most recent financial statements referred to in Section 6.1 of the Credit
Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate
to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into this
Assignment and Acceptance; and (b) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Assignor, the Agent or any other Bank and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit and legal decisions in taking or not taking
action under the Credit Agreement.

     5. Effective Date; Notices.

          (a) As between the Assignor and the Assignee, the effective date for
this Assignment and Acceptance shall be __________, 2000 (the "Effective Date");
provided that the following conditions precedent have been satisfied on or
before the Effective Date:

               (i) this Assignment and Acceptance shall be executed and
          delivered by the Assignor and the Assignee;

               (ii) the consent of the Borrowers and the Agent required for an
          effective assignment of the Assigned Amount by the Assignor to the
          Assignee under Section 10.9(a) of the Credit Agreement shall have been
          duly obtained and shall be in full force and effect as of the
          Effective Date;

                               Exhibit E, Page 3

<PAGE>   101

               (iii) the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor all amounts due to
          the Assignor under this Assignment and Acceptance;

               (iv) the processing fee referred to in Section 2(b) hereof and in
          Section 10.9(a) of the Credit Agreement shall have been paid to the
          Agent; and

               (v) the Assignor shall have assigned and the Assignee shall have
          assumed a percentage equal to the Assignee's Percentage Share of the
          rights and obligations of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement (if
          such agreement exists).

          (b) Promptly following the execution of this Assignment and
Acceptance, the Assignor shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Agent for
acknowledgment by the Agent, a Notice of Assignment [substantially] in the form
attached hereto as Schedule 1.

     [6. Agent. [INCLUDE ONLY IF ASSIGNOR IS AGENT]

          (a) The Assignee hereby appoints and authorizes the Assignor to take
such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit
Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the Banks pursuant to the terms of
the Credit Agreement.

          (b) The Assignee shall assume no duties or obligations held by the
Assignor in its capacity as Agent under the Credit Agreement.]

     7. Withholding Tax.

     The Assignee (a) represents and warrants to the Banks, the Agent and
the Borrowers that under applicable law and treaties no tax will be required to
be withheld by any Bank with respect to any payments to be made to the Assignee
hereunder, (b) agrees to furnish (if it is organized under the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof) to the Agent and
the Borrowers prior to the time that the Agent or any Borrower is required to
make any payment of principal, interest or fees hereunder, duplicate executed
originals of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, U.S. Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8INY(wherein
the Assignee claims entitlement to the benefits of a tax treaty that provides
for a complete exemption from U.S. federal income withholding tax on all
payments hereunder) and agrees to provide new Forms 4224 or 1001 upon the
expiration of any previously delivered form or comparable statements in
accordance with applicable U.S. law and regulations and amendments thereto, duly
executed and completed by the Assignee, and (c) agrees to comply with all
applicable U.S. laws and regulations with regard to such withholding tax
exemption.

                               Exhibit E, Page 4
<PAGE>   102

     8.   Representations and Warranties.

          (a) The Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and
beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such
interest is free and clear of any Lien or other adverse claim; (ii) it is duly
organized and existing and it has the full power and authority to take, and has
taken, all action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and
Acceptance and any other documents required or permitted to be executed or
delivered by it in connection with this Assignment and Acceptance and to fulfill
its obligations hereunder; (iii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or
approvals of, any Person are required (other than any already given or obtained)
for its due execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and
Acceptance, and apart from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by
the Credit Agreement, no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any
Person is required of it for such execution, delivery or performance; and (iv)
this Assignment and Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Assignor, enforceable
against the Assignor in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other
laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equitable principles.

          (b) The Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. The
Assignor makes no representation or warranty in connection with, and assumes no
responsibility with respect to, the solvency, financial condition or statements
of any Borrower, or the performance or observance by any Borrower, of any of
their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument
or document furnished in connection therewith.

          (c) The Assignee represents and warrants that (i) it is duly organized
and existing and it has full power and authority to take, and has taken, all
action necessary to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and any
other documents required or permitted to be executed or delivered by it in
connection with this Assignment and Acceptance, and to fulfill its obligations
hereunder; (ii) no notices to, or consents, authorizations or approvals of, any
Person are required (other than any already given or obtained) for its due
execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and Acceptance; and apart
from any agreements or undertakings or filings required by the Credit Agreement,
no further action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Person is required of it
for such execution, delivery or performance; (iii) this Assignment and
Acceptance has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legal,
valid

                               Exhibit E, Page 5

<PAGE>   103

and binding obligation of the Assignee, enforceable against the Assignee in
accordance with the terms hereof, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general application
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable principles;
and (iv) it is an Eligible Assignee.

     9.  Further Assurances.

         The Assignor and the Assignee each hereby agree to execute and deliver
such other instruments, and take such other action, as either party may
reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Assignment and Acceptance, including the delivery of any notices or other
documents or instruments to the Borrower or the Agent, which may be required in
connection with the assignment and assumption contemplated hereby.

     10.   Miscellaneous.

          (a) Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Assignment and
Acceptance shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No failure or
delay by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof and any waiver of any breach of the
provisions of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be without prejudice to any
rights with respect to any other or further breach thereof.

          (b) All payments made hereunder shall be made without any set-off or
counterclaim.

          (c) The Assignor and the Assignee shall each pay its own costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and
performance of this Assignment and Acceptance.

          (d) This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of
counterparts and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute one and the same instrument.

          (e) THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. The Assignor and the
Assignee each irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any State
or Federal court sitting in Illinois over any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Assignment and Acceptance and irrevocably agrees that
all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in such Illinois State or Federal court. Each party to this Assignment and

                               Exhibit E, Page 6

<PAGE>   104

Acceptance hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively
do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding.

          (f) THE ASSIGNOR AND THE ASSIGNEE EACH HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY
AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT
OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS AND
AGREEMENTS OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, OR STATEMENTS (WHETHER
ORAL OR WRITTEN).

          [Other provisions to be added as may be negotiated between the
Assignor and the Assignee, provided that such provisions are not inconsistent
with the Credit Agreement.]

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

                                                         [ASSIGNOR]

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

                                             [ASSIGNEE]

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

                               Exhibit E, Page 7

<PAGE>   105

                                   SCHEDULE 1

                      NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

                                                           _______________, 2000

Bank of America, N.A.
  as Administrative Agent
[address]

The John Nuveen Company
Nuveen Investments
[address]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We refer to the 364 Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of _________,
2000 (as amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented or renewed from
time to time the "Credit Agreement") among The John Nuveen Company, Nuveen
Investments, the Banks referred to therein and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., as Syndication Agent and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Documentation Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as therein defined.

     1. We hereby give you notice of, and request your consent to, the
assignment by __________________ (the "Assignor") to _______________ (the
"Assignee") of _____% of the right, title and interest of the Assignor in and to
the Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the right, title and
interest of the Assignor in and to the Commitments of the Assignor and all
outstanding Loans made by the Assignor) pursuant to the Assignment and
Acceptance Agreement attached hereto (the "Assignment and Acceptance"). Before
giving effect to such assignment the Assignor's Commitment is $ ___________ and
the aggregate amount of its outstanding Loans is $_____________.

     2. The Assignee agrees that, upon receiving the consent of the Agent and,
if applicable, the Borrowers to such assignment, the Assignee will be bound by
the terms of the Credit Agreement as fully and to the same extent as if the
Assignee were the Bank originally holding such interest in the Credit Agreement.

                               Exhibit E, Page 8

<PAGE>   106

     3.   The following administrative details apply to the Assignee:

     (A)  Notice Address:

          Assignee name:
                        ---------------------------------------------
          Address:
                    -------------------------------------------------
          Attention:
                     ------------------------------------------------
          Telephone:
                     ------------------------------------------------
          Telecopier:
                     ------------------------------------------------

     (B)  Payment Instructions:

          Account No.:
                       ----------------------------------------------
          At:
              -------------------------------------------------------
          Reference:
                     ------------------------------------------------
          Attention:
                     ------------------------------------------------

     4.   You are entitled to rely upon the representations, warranties
and covenants of each of the Assignor and Assignee contained in the Assignment
and Acceptance.

                               Exhibit E, Page 9

<PAGE>   107

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused this
Notice of Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective duly
authorized officials, officers or agents as of the date first above mentioned.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

                                             By:
                                                 -------------------------------

                                             Title:
                                                    ----------------------------

                                             [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

                                             By:
                                                 -------------------------------

                                             Title:
                                                    ----------------------------

ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASSIGNMENT
CONSENTED TO:

THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

By:
    -------------------------------

Title:
       ----------------------------

NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

By:
    -------------------------------

Title:
       ----------------------------

                               Exhibit E, Page 10

<PAGE>   108

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

By:
    -----------------------------

Its:
     ----------------------------

                               Exhibit E, Page 11

<PAGE>   109

                                   EXHIBIT F

                            FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

$_____________                                               _____________, 2000

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, [THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY] [NUVEEN
INVESTMENTS] a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to
the order of __________________ (the "Bank") the principal sum of Dollars
($_________) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans
made by the Bank to the Borrower under that certain 364 Day Revolving Credit
Agreement, dated as of ______________, 2000 (such 364 Day Revolving Credit
Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, being hereinafter called the "Credit Agreement"), among The
John Nuveen Company, Nuveen Investments, the Bank, the other banks parties
thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., as
Syndication Agent and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Documentation Agent on the
dates and in the amounts provided in the Credit Agreement. The Borrower further
promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans evidenced
hereby from time to time at the rates, on the dates, and otherwise as provided
in the Credit Agreement.

     The Bank is authorized to endorse the amount and the date on which each
Loan is made, the maturity date therefor and each payment of principal with
respect thereto on the schedules annexed hereto and made a part hereof, or on
continuations thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof;
provided, that any failure to endorse such information on such schedule or
continuation thereof shall not in any manner affect any obligation of the
Borrower under the Credit Agreement and this Promissory Note (the "Note").

     This Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the
benefits of, the Credit Agreement, which Credit Agreement, among other things,
contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening
of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof
prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

                               Exhibit F, Page 1

<PAGE>   110

     Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with their defined
meanings therein unless otherwise defined herein. This Note shall be governed
by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Illinois applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such
State.

                                             [THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY]
                                             [NUVEEN INVESTMENTS]

                                             By:
                                                 ------------------------------

                                             Title:
                                                    ---------------------------

                               Exhibit F, Page 2

<PAGE>   111

                                                              Schedule A to Note

                BASE RATE LOANS AND REPAYMENT OF BASE RATE LOANS

                         (2)                 (3)
     (1)           Amount of Base       Amount of Base            (4)
     Date            Rate Loan         Rate Loan Repaid      Notation Made By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                               Exhibit F, Page 3

<PAGE>   112

                                                              Schedule B to Note

            OFFSHORE RATE LOANS AND REPAYMENT OF OFFSHORE RATE LOANS

                  (2)               (3)               (4)
             Amount of Base    Maturity Date       Amount of           (5)
  (1)         Offshore Rate     of Offshore      Offshore Rate     Notation Made
  Date           Loan            Rate Loan        Loan Repaid          By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                               Exhibit F, Page 4

<PAGE>   113

                               Exhibit F, Page 5

<PAGE>   114

                                                              Schedule C to Note

                          FEDERAL FUNDS RATE LOANS AND
                     REPAYMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS RATE LOANS

                                              (3)
                          (2)           Amount of Federal
     (1)            Amount of Federal   Funds Rate Loan              (4)
    Date             Funds Rate Loan        Repaid             Notation Made By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                               Exhibit F, Page 6

<PAGE>   115

                               Exhibit F, Page 7

<PAGE>   116

                                   EXHIBIT G

                              ACCESSION AGREEMENT

     This Accession Agreement dated ___________, 200_ to ___________ the 364 Day
Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of , 2000 among The
John Nuveen Company, Nuveen Investments, certain financial institutions, Bank of
America, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., as the
Syndication Agent, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as the Documentation Agent.

                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides for an increase of the aggregate
Commitments;

     WHEREAS, [________] [the "Increasing Banks")] wish to increase [its]
[their] Commitment by $________ and [________] [(the "New Banks") wish to extend
[a] Commitment[s] of [________], causing the aggregate Commitments to equal
$_________;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrowers, the Agent [, the Increasing Banks] and (the
New Banks) agree as follows:

     1. All capitalized terms used in this Accession Agreement shall have the
meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise defined or the
context otherwise requires.

     2. The aggregate Commitments are hereby increased to $__________.

     3. Schedule 1.1 to the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to state as set
forth in the attached Schedule 1.1.

     4. As provided in Section 2.5 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers agree
to reimburse each Bank for the amount of any loss or expense arising as a result
of the effectiveness of this Accession Agreement during an Interest Period and
the purchase and sale of portions of Loans upon such effectiveness.

     [5. The New Banks shall be added as Banks party to the Agreement and shall
have the duties and rights of Banks therein.]

     6. This Accession Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Illinois without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

     7. As hereby supplemented, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect.

                               Exhibit G, Page 1

<PAGE>   117

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Accession
Agreement this ____ day of ____________, 200_.

                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                                        as Agent

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

                                        [Increasing Banks]

                                        [New Banks]

                                        THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

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

                                        NUVEEN INVESTMENTS
                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------

                               Exhibit G, Page 2

<PAGE>   118

                                  Schedule 2.1

                        COMMITMENTS AND PRO RATA SHARES

Bank                          Commitment                    Pro Rata Share
----                          ----------                    --------------

                               Exhibit G, Page 3

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