Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

                                       and

                           the Guarantors party hereto

                                   ----------

                              Series A and Series B

                          Senior Secured Notes due 2007

                                   ----------

                              Series A and Series B

                              Term B Notes due 2007

                                   ----------

                                    INDENTURE

                          Dated as of December 21, 2000

                                   ----------

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

                                   as Trustee

<PAGE>   2

                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture
  Act Section                                                Indenture Section
---------------                                              -----------------
<S>                                                          <C>
310(a)(1)................................................................7.10
   (a)(2)................................................................7.10
   (a)(3)................................................................N.A.
   (a)(4)................................................................N.A.
   (a)(5)................................................................7.10
   (b)..............................................................7.8; 7.10
   (c)...................................................................N.A.
311(a)...................................................................7.11
   (b)...................................................................7.11
   (c)...................................................................N.A.
312(a)....................................................................2.5
   (b)...................................................................11.3
   (c)...................................................................11.3
313(a)....................................................................7.6
   (b)(1).................................................................7.6
   (b)(2).................................................................7.6
   (c)....................................................................7.6
   (d)....................................................................7.6
314(a)...............................................................4.3; 4.4
   (b)...................................................................10.2
   (c)(1)................................................................11.4
   (c)(2)................................................................11.4
   (c)(3)................................................................N.A.
   (d)...................................................................10.3
   (e)...................................................................11.5
   (f)...................................................................N.A.
315(a)..................................................................7.1(2)
   (b)....................................................................7.5
   (c)..................................................................7.1(1)
   (d)..................................................................7.1(3)
   (e)...................................................................6.11
316(a)(last sentence).....................................................2.9
   (a)(1)(A)..............................................................6.5
   (a)(1)(B)..............................................................6.4
   (a)(2)................................................................N.A.
   (b)....................................................................6.7
   (c)...................................................................2.12
317(a)(1).................................................................6.8
   (a)(2).................................................................6.9
   (b)....................................................................2.4
318(a)...................................................................11.1
   (b)...................................................................N.A.
   (c)...................................................................11.1
"N.A." means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   3

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               Page
                                                                                               ----
                                                      ARTICLE 1
                                           DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
                                                     BY REFERENCE
<S>               <C>                                                                          <C>
Section 1.1.      Definitions.....................................................................1
Section 1.2.      Other Definitions..............................................................15
Section 1.3.      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act..............................16
Section 1.4.      Rules of Construction..........................................................16

                                                      ARTICLE 2
                                                      THE NOTES

Section 2.1.      Form and Dating................................................................17
Section 2.2.      Execution and Authentication...................................................17
Section 2.3.      Registrar, Paying Agent and Depository.........................................18
Section 2.4.      Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust............................................19
Section 2.5.      Holder Lists...................................................................19
Section 2.6.      Transfer and Exchange..........................................................19
Section 2.7.      Replacement Notes..............................................................24
Section 2.8.      Outstanding Notes..............................................................24
Section 2.9.      Treasury Notes.................................................................24
Section 2.10.     Temporary Notes................................................................24
Section 2.11.     Cancellation...................................................................25
Section 2.12.     Defaulted Interest.............................................................25
Section 2.13.     Legends........................................................................25

                                                      ARTICLE 3
                                                     REDEMPTION

Section 3.1.      Notices to Trustee.............................................................26
Section 3.2.      Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed..............................................26
Section 3.3.      Notice of Redemption...........................................................27
Section 3.4.      Effect of Notice of Redemption.................................................28
Section 3.5.      Deposit of Redemption Price....................................................28
Section 3.6.      Notes Redeemed in Part.........................................................28
Section 3.7.      Optional Redemption............................................................28

                                                      ARTICLE 4
                                                      COVENANTS

Section 4.1.      Payment of Notes...............................................................29
Section 4.2.      Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................30
Section 4.3.      Reports........................................................................30
Section 4.4.      Compliance Certificate.........................................................31
</TABLE>

                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>                                                                          <C>
Section 4.5.      Taxes..........................................................................32
Section 4.6.      Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.................................................32
Section 4.7.      Limitation on Restricted Payments..............................................32
Section 4.8.      Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends.............................34
Section 4.9.      Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness.......................................36
Section 4.10.     Limitation on Asset Sales......................................................38
Section 4.11.     Limitation on Transactions With Affiliates.....................................41
Section 4.12.     Limitation on Liens............................................................41
Section 4.13.     Corporate Existence............................................................42
Section 4.14.     Repurchase Upon a Change of Control............................................42
Section 4.15.     Maintenance of Properties......................................................44
Section 4.16.     Maintenance of Insurance.......................................................44
Section 4.17.     Restrictions on Sale and Issuance of Subsidiary Stock..........................44
Section 4.18.     Line of Business...............................................................44
Section 4.19.     Hedging Activities.............................................................44
Section 4.20.     Limitation on Impairment of Lien; Further Assurances...........................45
Section 4.21.     Additional Collateral..........................................................45
Section 4.22.     Limitations on Capital Expenditures............................................46
Section 4.23.     Excess Cash Flow Offer.........................................................46
Section 4.24.     Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer..............................................49
Section 4.25.     Fiscal Year End................................................................51

                                                     ARTICLE 5
                                                    SUCCESSORS

Section 5.1.      When the Company May Merge, etc................................................51
Section 5.2.      Successor Substituted..........................................................52

                                                     ARTICLE 6
                                               DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.1.      Events of Default..............................................................52
Section 6.2.      Acceleration...................................................................54
Section 6.3.      Other Remedies.................................................................55
Section 6.4.      Waiver of Past Defaults........................................................55
Section 6.5.      Control by Majority............................................................55
Section 6.6.      Limitation on Suits............................................................55
Section 6.7.      Rights of Holders to Receive Payment...........................................56
Section 6.8.      Collection Suit by Trustee.....................................................56
Section 6.9.      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................................56
Section 6.10.     Priorities.....................................................................57
Section 6.11.     Undertaking for Costs..........................................................57
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>                                                                          <C>
                                                      ARTICLE 7
                                                       TRUSTEE

Section 7.1.      Duties of Trustee...............................................................57
Section 7.2.      Rights of Trustee...............................................................58
Section 7.3.      Individual Rights of Trustee....................................................60
Section 7.4.      Trustee's Disclaimer............................................................60
Section 7.5.      Notice of Defaults..............................................................60
Section 7.6.      Reports by Trustee to Holders...................................................60
Section 7.7.      Compensation and Indemnity......................................................60
Section 7.8.      Replacement of Trustee..........................................................61
Section 7.9.      Successor Trustee by Merger, etc................................................62
Section 7.10.     Eligibility; Disqualification...................................................62
Section 7.11.     Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company...............................63

                                                      ARTICLE 8
                              SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.1.      Discharge:  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance............63
Section 8.2.      Legal Defeasance and Discharge..................................................63
Section 8.3.      Covenant Defeasance.............................................................64
Section 8.4.      Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance......................................64
Section 8.5.      Deposited Cash and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other
                  Miscellaneous Provisions........................................................65
Section 8.6.      Repayment to the Company........................................................65
Section 8.7.      Reinstatement...................................................................66

                                                      ARTICLE 9
                                                     AMENDMENTS

Section 9.1.      Without Consent of Holders......................................................66
Section 9.2.      With Consent of Holders.........................................................67
Section 9.3.      Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.............................................69
Section 9.4.      Revocation and Effect of Consents...............................................69
Section 9.5.      Notation on or Exchange of Notes................................................69
Section 9.6.      Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.................................................69

                                                     ARTICLE 10
                                        COLLATERAL AND SECURITY AND GUARANTY

Section 10.1.     Collateral Documents............................................................70
Section 10.2.     Opinions........................................................................71
Section 10.3.     Release and Substitution of Collateral..........................................71
Section 10.4.     [Intentionally Omitted.]........................................................71
Section 10.5.     [Intentionally Omitted.]........................................................71
Section 10.6.     Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee Under the Security
                  Documents.......................................................................71
</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>                                                                          <C>
Section 10.7.     Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the Security Documents...71
Section 10.8.     Release Upon Termination of the Company's Obligations...........................72
Section 10.9.     Guaranty........................................................................72
Section 10.10.    Execution and Delivery of Guaranty..............................................73
Section 10.11.    Limitation on Guarantor's Liability.............................................74
Section 10.12.    Rights under the Guaranty.......................................................74
Section 10.13.    Primary Obligations.............................................................74
Section 10.14.    Guarantee by Subsidiary.........................................................75
Section 10.15.    Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms..............................75
Section 10.16.    Release of Guarantors...........................................................76

                                                     ARTICLE 11
                                                    MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.1.     Trust Indenture Act Controls....................................................76
Section 11.2.     Notices.........................................................................76
Section 11.3.     Communication by Holders with Other Holders.....................................77
Section 11.4.     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent..............................77
Section 11.5.     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion...................................78
Section 11.6.     Rules by Trustee and Agents.....................................................78
Section 11.7.     Legal Holidays..................................................................78
Section 11.8.     No Recourse Against Others......................................................78
Section 11.9.     Governing Law...................................................................79
Section 11.10.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements...................................79
Section 11.11.    Successors......................................................................79
Section 11.12.    Severability....................................................................80
Section 11.13.    Counterpart Originals...........................................................80
Section 11.14.    Table of Contents, Headings, etc................................................80
Section 11.15.    Intercreditor Agreement.........................................................80
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SIGNATURES

<S>                 <C>                                                                         <C>
EXHIBIT A-1         --FORM OF SENIOR SECURED NOTE...............................................A-1-1

EXHIBIT A-2         --FORM OF TERM B NOTE.......................................................A-2-1

EXHIBIT B           --CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFEROR...................................................B-1

EXHIBIT C           --FORM OF NOTATION OF GUARANTY................................................C-1

EXHIBIT D           --FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE..............................................D-1

ANNEX A             --REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT.................................................1
</TABLE>

                                       v
<PAGE>   7

                  THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 21, 2000, is among
Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), the
Guarantors party hereto and The Bank of New York, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee").

                  The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee agree as follows
for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the
Holders of both series of the Company's Senior Secured Notes due 2007 and both
series of the Company's Term B Notes due 2007, in each case, without preference
of one such series over the other except as otherwise set forth herein:

                                   ARTICLE 1
                          DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
                                  BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1. Definitions.

                  "Acquired Debt" means Indebtedness of a Person existing at the
time such Person is merged with or into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness incurred in
connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person merging with or into the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided, that Indebtedness of such other Person that is redeemed, defeased,
retired or otherwise repaid at the time, or immediately upon consummation of the
transaction by which such other Person is merged with or into the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary shall not be Acquired
Debt.

                  "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition,
"control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling,"
"controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any
Person, shall mean (i) the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
(ii) in the case of a corporation, beneficial ownership of 10% or more of any
class of Capital Stock of such Person; and (iii) in the case of an individual
(A) members of such Person's immediate family (as defined in Instruction 2 of
Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) and (B) trusts, any
trustee or beneficiaries of which are such Person or members of such Person's
immediate family. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Initial Purchaser
nor any of its Affiliates will be deemed to be Affiliates of the Company.

                  "Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

                  "Asset Disposition" means any sale, lease, transfer or other
disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions),
whether or not the foregoing constitutes an "Asset Sale", and includes any
disposition resulting from a casualty event or the exercise of any right of
condemnation or expropriation other than a disposition of inventory in the
ordinary course of business.

                                       1
<PAGE>   8

                  "Asset Sale" means any sale, lease, transfer or other
disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) of
shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors'
qualifying shares), property or other assets, including by way of a
sale/leaseback transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition
as a "disposition"), by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
(including any disposition by means of merger, consolidation or similar
transaction) in a single transaction or a series of transactions, provided, that
such transaction or series of transactions (i) has a fair market value in excess
of $1.0 million, or (ii) results in Net Proceeds in excess of $1.0 million.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following transactions will be deemed not to
be Asset Sales: (i) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or
by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (ii) a
disposition of property or assets in the ordinary course of business, (iii)
dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (iv) for purposes
of Section 4.10 hereof only, a disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment
permitted by Section 4.7 hereof, (v) the sale, lease, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company as permitted
under Section 5.1 hereof, (vi) the grant of Liens permitted by Section 4.12
hereof and (vii) sales of obsolete or worn-out equipment; provided, that an
exchange of assets transaction or series of related exchange of assets
transactions (each an "Exchange Transaction") shall not be considered an "Asset
Sale" if the assets received are related to the business of the Company or its
Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that (A) in the event an Exchange Transaction
involves an aggregate value in excess of $1.0 million, the terms of such
Exchange Transaction shall have been approved by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors, (B) in the event such Exchange Transaction
involves an aggregate value in excess of $5.0 million, the Company shall have
received a written opinion from a nationally recognized independent investment
banking firm that the Company has received consideration equal to the fair
market value of assets disposed of and (C) any assets to be received shall be
comparable to those being exchanged as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors.

                  "Bankruptcy Law" means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar
Federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

                  "Board of Directors" means the board of directors or any duly
constituted committee of any corporation or of a corporate general partner of a
partnership and any similar body empowered to direct the affairs of any other
entity.

                  "Business Day" means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

                  "Capital Lease Obligation" means, as to any Person, the
obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP, and the amount of such
obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at
such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Capital Stock" means (i) with respect to any Person that is a
corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, and (ii) with respect to
any other Person, any and all partnership or other equity interests of such
Person.

                                       2
<PAGE>   9

                  "Cash Equivalents" means (i) securities issued by the United
States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, (ii) time deposits
and certificates of deposit and commercial paper issued by the parent
corporation of any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having
capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 and commercial paper issued by
others rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services or at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition and
(iii) investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets
comprise securities of the types described in clauses (i) and (ii) above and
(iv) repurchase obligations with Persons satisfying the criteria set forth in
clause (ii) above.

                  "Change of Control" means (i) the transfer (in one transaction
or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act), (ii) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the adoption of a
plan by the stockholders of the Company relating to the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, (iii) the acquisition by any Person or group (as
such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), except for one or
more Existing Holders, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of more
than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power of the total outstanding Voting
Stock of the Company, or (iv) during any period of two consecutive years,
Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company then still in office.

                  "Closing Date" means the date upon which the Series A Notes
are first issued.

                  "Collateral" means any assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries defined as "Collateral" in any of the Security Documents
and assets from time to time in which a Lien exists as security for any of the
Obligations.

                  "Collateral Agent" means the administrative agent for the
lenders specified as such in the New Credit Facility or such other person who is
a successor in such capacity pursuant to Section 5.09 of the Intercreditor
Agreement.

                  "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time
after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA, then the body performing
such duties at such time.

                  "Company" means the party named as such above, until a
successor replaces such Person in accordance with the terms of this Indenture,
and thereafter means such successor.

                  "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the
name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or Senior Vice
President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary and delivered to the Trustee.

                  "Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person (the
"referent Person") for any period, Consolidated Net Income of such Person and
its subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP, plus (to
the extent such amounts are deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income
of such Person for such period, and without

                                       3
<PAGE>   10

duplication) Consolidated Interest Expense, income tax expense, amortization,
depreciation and any non-cash income or charges (including, without limitation,
non-cash charges, amortization of goodwill, deferred financing fees and other
intangibles, and losses or gains from discontinued operations and non-cash stock
based compensation expense).

                  "Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to any
Person for any period, the consolidated interest expense (net of interest
income) of such Person and its subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or
accrued (including amortization of original issue discount, non-cash interest
payments and the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations but excluding
amortization of deferred financing costs), to the extent such expense was
deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, in
each case to the extent attributable to such period and excluding items
eliminated in consolidation.

                  "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person
(the "referent Person") for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such
Person and its subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP; provided, that (i) the Net Income of any Person that is
not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is either an Unrestricted Subsidiary or
accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included in calculating
the referent Person's Consolidated Net Income only to the extent of the amount
of dividends or distributions paid during such period to the referent Person or
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the referent Person, (ii) the Net Income of any
Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to
the date of such acquisition will be excluded, and (iii) the Net Income of any
Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that declarations of dividends or
similar distributions by that Subsidiary of such Net Income are not at the time
permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its organization
documents or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule
or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary or its owners.

                  "Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to any Person,
the total stockholders' equity of such Person determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to exclude (to the extent included in
calculating such equity), (i) the amount of any such stockholders' equity
attributable to Disqualified Stock of such Person and its consolidated
subsidiaries, and (ii) all upward revaluations and other write-ups in the book
value of any asset of such Person or a consolidated subsidiary of such Person
subsequent to the Closing Date, and (iii) all Investments in Persons that are
not consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries.

                  "Continuing Directors" means (i) individuals who at the
beginning of such period were directors of the Company and (ii) any director
whose election by the Board of Directors of the Company or whose nomination for
election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then still in office.

                  "Corporate Trust Office" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 11.2 or such other address as the Trustee may
specify by notice to the Company.

                  "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator
or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

                                       4
<PAGE>   11

                  "Default" means any event that is, or after notice or the
passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

                  "Definitive Notes" means Notes that are in substantially the
form of the Notes attached hereto as Exhibit A, that do not include the text
referred to in footnotes 1 and 3 thereto and the additional schedule referred to
in footnote 4 thereto.

                  "Depository" means the Person specified in Section 2.3 hereof
as the Depository with respect to the Notes issuable in global form, until a
successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable
provision of this Indenture, and, thereafter, "Depository" shall mean or include
such successor.

                  "Disqualified Stock" means any Equity Interest that either by
its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for
which it is exchangeable) is or upon the happening of an event would be required
to be redeemed or repurchased prior to the final stated maturity of the Notes or
is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to such
final stated maturity; provided, however, that Capital Stock that would
constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders thereof (or of any
security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) upon the
occurrence of any of the events constituting an Asset Sale or a Change of
Control shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if such Capital Stock (and all
such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable)
provides that the issuer thereof will not repurchase or redeem any such Capital
Stock (or any such security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable) pursuant to such provisions prior to compliance by the Company
with the provisions of this Indenture contained in Section 4.10 with respect to
an Asset Sale and Section 4.14 with respect to a Change of Control.

                  "Dollars" means the lawful currency of the United States.

                  "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.

                  "Equity Interests" means Capital Stock or warrants, options or
other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

                  "Excess Cash Flow" means for any fiscal year, Consolidated
EBITDA for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such year, minus each
of the following: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such year, (ii) income tax expense for such year,
and (iii) all Capital Expenditures made during such year by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries.

                  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                  "Exchange Offer" means an offer that may be made by the
Company pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement to exchange Series B Notes
for Series A Notes.

                  "Existing Holders" shall mean the holders of the Common Stock
of the Company on the Closing Date or any of their Affiliates and or holders of
at least one-third of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding.

                                       5
<PAGE>   12

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set
forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and
pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, and in the rules and regulations of the Commission, that
are in effect on the date of this Indenture.

                  "Global Note" means a Note that contains the text referred to
in footnotes 1 and 3 and the additional schedule referred to in footnote 4 in
the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                  "Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of
negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),
direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of
credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of
any Indebtedness.

                  "Guarantor" means (a) each domestic Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that executes a notation of Guaranty in accordance with Section
10.13 hereof and (b) the respective successors and assigns of such Restricted
Subsidiaries, as required under Article 10 hereof, in each case until such time
as any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be released and relieved of its
obligations pursuant to Section 10.15 hereof.

                  "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means (without duplication) (1)
all liabilities and obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) in
respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the
whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (ii) evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) representing the
deferred purchase price of property or services (other than liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business which are not more than 90 days past due),
(iv) created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the
rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of
default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (v) as lessee in
respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vi) under bankers' acceptance and
letter of credit facilities, (vii) to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or
otherwise acquire for value any Disqualified Stock, or (viii) in respect of
Hedging Obligations, (2) all liabilities and obligations of others of the type
described in clause (1), above, that are Guaranteed by such Person, and (3) all
liabilities and obligations of others of the type described in clause (1),
above, that are secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an
existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property
(including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such
Person; provided, that the amount of such Indebtedness shall (to the extent such
Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness in
full) be the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such property at the time of
determination and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness. The amount of
Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such
date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum
liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation,
of any contingent obligations at such date.

                                       6
<PAGE>   13

                  "Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented
from time to time.

                  "Initial Purchaser" means Jefferies & Company, Inc.

                  "Intercreditor Agreement" means the intercreditor agreement
among Hibernia National Bank as agent to the lenders under the New Credit
Facility and the Term Loan Credit Facility and as Collateral Agent, the Trustee,
the Collateral Agent and certain other parties thereto, dated the Closing Date
as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

                  "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, for any period, the ratio of
(i) Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for such period less Capital Expenditures
made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, to (ii)
Consolidated Interest Expense of the Company for such period. In calculating the
Interest Coverage Ratio for any period, pro forma effect shall be given to: (a)
the incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption or
retirement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness
subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Interest Coverage
Ratio is being calculated but on or prior to the date on which the event for
which the calculation is being made, as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable period; and (b) the occurrence of any Asset
Disposition during such period by reducing Consolidated EBITDA for such period
by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly
attributable to the assets sold and by reducing Consolidated Interest Expense by
an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to
any Indebtedness assumed by third parties or repaid with the proceeds of such
Asset Sale, in each case as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the
applicable period. For purposes of calculating both Consolidated EBITDA and
Consolidated Interest Expense, acquisitions that have been made by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries subsequent to the commencement of such
period but on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation
is being made shall be given effect on a pro forma basis, assuming that all such
acquisitions had occurred on the first day of such period. Without limiting the
foregoing, the financial information of the Company with respect to any portion
of such four fiscal quarters that falls before the Closing Date shall be
adjusted to give pro forma effect to the issuance of the Notes and the
application of the proceeds therefrom as if they had occurred at the beginning
of such four fiscal quarters.

                  "Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all
investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms
of loans, Guarantees, advances or capital contributions (excluding (i)
commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees of such Person
made in the ordinary course of business and (ii) bona fide accounts receivable
arising from the sale of goods or services in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice), purchases or other acquisitions for
consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, and any
other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP.

                  "Legal Holiday" means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York or at a place of payment are
authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

                                       7
<PAGE>   14

                  "Leverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the
ratio of (i) all Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (and including without
duplication all Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, if any, being incurred on
such date) to (ii) (A) Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for
which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such
date of determination (determined on a pro forma basis, including a pro forma
application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if such Indebtedness had been
acquired or such Disqualified Stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the
beginning of such four-quarter period, (B) minus all Capital Expenditures of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such four-quarter period. In
calculating the Leverage Ratio for any period, pro forma effect shall be given
to: (a) the incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, repayment, repurchase, redemption
or retirement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness or
Disqualified Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the
Leverage Ratio is being calculated but on or prior to the date on which the
event for which the calculation is being made, as if the same had occurred at
the beginning of the applicable period; and (b) the occurrence of any Asset
Disposition during such period by reducing Consolidated EBITDA for such period
by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) directly
attributable to the assets sold, in each case as if the same had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable period. For purposes of calculating Consolidated
EBITDA, acquisitions that have been made be the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries subsequent to the commencement of such period but on or prior to
the date on which the event for which the calculation is being made shall be
given effect on a pro forma basis, assuming that all such acquisitions had
occurred on the first day of such period. Without limiting the foregoing, the
financial information of the company with respect to any portion of such four
fiscal quarters that falls before the Closing Date shall be adjusted to give pro
forma effect to the issuance of the Notes and the application of the proceeds
therefrom as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of such four
fiscal quarters.

                  "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest or encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other
agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement
to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent
statutes) of any jurisdiction).

                  "Material Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (a) that is a
"Significant Subsidiary" of the Company as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation
S-X promulgated by the Commission or (b) is otherwise material to the business
of the Company.

                  "Mortgages" means those certain first priority mortgages and
deeds of trust, each with assignments of leases and rents and including fixture
filings, dated as of various dates prior to the Closing Date, as, in each case,
amended as of the Closing Date, made by the Company and the Guarantors in favor
of the Collateral Agent to secure the Notes and the obligations of the Company
under the New Credit Facility and the Term Loan Credit Facility.

                  "Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the net income (loss) of such Person for such period, determined in accordance
with GAAP, excluding any gain

                                       8
<PAGE>   15

(or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not
loss), realized in connection with any Asset Sales, and excluding any
extraordinary gain (or loss), together with any related provision for taxes on
such gain (but not loss).

                  "Net Proceeds" means the aggregate proceeds received in the
form of cash or Cash Equivalents in respect of any Asset Sale or Asset
Disposition (including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when
received), net of (i) the reasonable and customary direct out-of-pocket costs
relating to such Asset Sale or Asset Disposition (including, without limitation,
legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions), other than
any such costs payable to an Affiliate of the Company, (ii) taxes actually
payable directly as a result of such Asset Sale or Asset Disposition (after
taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements), (iii) amounts required to be applied to the permanent repayment
of Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Sale or Asset Disposition, and
(iv) appropriate amounts provided as a reserve by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary, in accordance with GAAP, or any amount while placed in escrow,
against any liabilities associated with such Asset Sale or Asset Disposition and
retained by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, after
such Asset Sale or Asset Disposition, including, without limitation, pension and
other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental
matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations arising from such
Asset Sale or Asset Disposition.

                  "New Credit Facility" means the Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, entered into on the Closing Date between the Company, the lenders
named therein and the agent for such lenders as the same may be amended,
modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, including
(i) any related notes, letters of credit, guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as
amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time;
and (ii) any notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection with such amendment, modification, renewal, refunding,
replacement or refinancing in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25 million.

                  "Notes" means, collectively, the Senior Secured Notes and the
Term B Notes, in each case, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Obligations" means any principal, interest, premium,
penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other obligations
and liabilities of the Company or any of the Guarantors under this Indenture,
the Security Documents, the Notes or the Guarantees of the Notes.

                  "Offering Circular" means the Company's Offering Circular
dated December 12, 2000.

                  "Officers" means the Chairman of the Board, the President, the
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, Controller, Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice President
of the Company.

                                       9
<PAGE>   16

                  "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed on behalf
of the Company by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal
executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting
officer of the Company.

                  "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who
is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Such counsel may be an employee of or
counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or the Trustee.

                  "Permitted Affiliate Transactions" means (i) employment
agreements, stock options or other incentive plans existing on the Closing Date
or thereafter entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business with the approval of a majority of the disinterested
members of the Company's Board of Directors; (ii) transactions between or among
the Company and/or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; or (iii) reasonable and
customary fees and compensation paid to and indemnity provided on behalf of,
officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary as determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested
directors of the Company's Board of Directors.

                  "Permitted Investments" means (i) Investments in the Company,
any Guarantor or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary (including without limitation,
Guarantees of Indebtedness of any such Person), (ii) Investments in Cash
Equivalents, (iii) Investments in a Person, if as a result of such Investment
(a) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or (b) such Person is merged,
consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially
all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided, that such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is
otherwise permitted by this Indenture pursuant to Section 5.1 or 10.14, as the
case may be, (iv) Hedging Obligations, (v) Investments in securities of trade
creditors or customers received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or
similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such trade creditors or
customers, (vi) Investments as a result of consideration received in connection
with an Asset Sale made in compliance with Section 4.10 of this Indenture, (vii)
Investments existing on the Closing Date, (viii) accounts receivable owing to
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, if created or acquired in the ordinary
course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary
trade terms, (ix) payroll, travel and similar advances in the ordinary course of
business, (x) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of
business; and (xi) Guarantees permitted to be made pursuant to Section 4.9.

                  "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens in favor of the Company
and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries other than with respect to intercompany
Indebtedness, (ii) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such
Person is acquired by, merged into or consolidated with the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, provided, that such Liens were not created in
contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to assets other than those
subject to such Liens immediately prior to such acquisition, (iii) Liens on
property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, provided, that such Liens were not created in
contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to assets other than those
subject to such Liens immediately prior to such acquisition, (iv) Liens incurred
in the ordinary course of business in respect of Hedging Obligations, provided,
that the aggregate amount of Hedging Obligations which may be secured shall not
exceed $1.0 million, (v) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business to
secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety or

                                       10
<PAGE>   17

appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations (exclusive of obligations
constituting Indebtedness) of a like nature including, without limitation, cash
retainages, (vi) Liens existing or created on the date of this Indenture, (vii)
Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet
delinquent or that are being contested or remedied in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided, that any
reserve or other appropriate provision as may be required in conformity with
GAAP has been made therefor, (viii) Liens arising by reason of any judgment,
decree or order of any court with respect to which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is then in good faith prosecuting an appeal or other
proceedings for review, the existence of which judgment, order or decree is not
an Event of Default under this Indenture, (ix) encumbrances consisting of zoning
restrictions, survey exceptions, utility easements, licenses, rights of way,
easements of ingress or egress over property of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, rights or restrictions of record on the use of real
property, minor defects in title, landlord's and lessor's liens under leases on
property located on the premises rented, mechanics' liens, warehouseman's liens,
supplier's liens, repairman's liens, vendors' liens, contractor's liens and
similar encumbrances, rights or restrictions on personal or real property, in
each case not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of
the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (x) Liens
incidental to the conduct of business or the ownership of properties incurred in
the ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the
performance of tenders, bids, and government contracts and leases and subleases,
(xi) Purchase Money Liens or an operating lease permitted to be incurred under
this Indenture; provided, that such Liens do not extend to any other property or
asset of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, (xii) any extension, renewal,
or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or
in part, of Liens described in clauses (i) through (xi) above, and (xiii) Liens
in addition to the foregoing, which in the aggregate, are secured by assets with
a fair market value not in excess of $100,000 at any time.

                  "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

                  "Pledge and Securities Account Agreement" means the Pledge and
Securities Account Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company,
the Collateral Agent, as securities entitlement holder, and Hibernia National
Bank, as securities intermediary, as the same may be amended, modified or
replaced from time to time.

                  "Purchase Money Liens" means Liens to secure or securing
Purchase Money Obligations permitted to be incurred under this Indenture,
provided, that such Liens extend only to the properties or assets the purchase,
lease or improvement of which was financed with Purchase Money Obligations
secured thereby (other than associated accounts, contracts and insurance
proceeds).

                  "Purchase Money Obligations" means Indebtedness (including
Capital Lease Obligations) incurred to finance the purchase, lease or
improvement of property (real or personal), equipment or other assets.

                  "QIB" shall mean "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in
Rule 144A.

                                       11
<PAGE>   18

                  "Qualified Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person,
Capital Stock of such Person other than Disqualified Capital Stock.

                  "Qualified Equity Offering" means (i) an underwritten primary
public offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) a private
offering of Qualified Capital Stock other than issuances of common stock
pursuant to employee benefit plans or as compensation to employees.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" means (a) the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by the Company and the Initial
Purchaser relating to the Original Senior Secured Notes and the Original Term B
Notes, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A, and (b) any similar
agreement that the Company and the Guarantors may enter into in relation to any
other Series A Notes, in each case as such agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

                  "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee,
means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee,
including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary,
assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the
designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have
direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

                  "Restricted Investment" means any Investment other than a
Permitted Investment.

                  "Restricted Securities" means Notes that bear or are required
to bear the legends set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 hereto.

                  "Restricted Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

                  "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or under any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Security Agreements" means each and every security agreement,
now or hereafter given by the Company or any Guarantor in favor of the
Collateral Agent or the Trustee to secure the Obligations, as the same may be
amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

                  "Security Documents" means, collectively, the Mortgages, the
Security Agreements, the Pledge and Securities Account Agreement, the
Intercreditor Agreement, and any other document, instrument or agreement
executed or delivered by the Company or any Guarantor from time to time pursuant
to which the Company or any such Guarantor shall grant a Lien on any of their
respective properties, assets or revenues to secure payment of the Obligations
hereunder and under the Notes or relating to intercreditor matters.

                                       12
<PAGE>   19

                  "Senior Secured Notes" means the Company's Series A and
Series B Senior Secured Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this
Indenture.

                  "Series A Notes" means the Series A Senior Secured Notes and
the Series A Term B Notes, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series A Senior Secured Notes" means the Company's Series A
Senior Secured Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series A Term B Notes" means the Company's Series A Term B
Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series B Notes" means the Series B Senior Secured Notes and
the Series B Term B Notes, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series B Senior Secured Notes" means the Company's Series B
Senior Secured Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Series B Term B Notes" means the Company's Series B Term B
Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Voting Stock thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other
subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof and (ii) any partnership in
which such Person or any of its subsidiaries is a general partner.

                  "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Term B Notes" means the Company's Series A and Series B
Term B Notes due 2007, as authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                  "Term Loan Credit Facility" means the Term Loan Credit
Agreement, entered into on the Closing Date between the Company, the lenders
named therein and the agent for such lenders as the same may be amended,
modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.

                  "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Sections 77aaa-77bbbb), as amended, as in effect on the date hereof until such
time as this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, and thereafter as in effect
on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.

                  "transfer" means any direct or indirect sale, assignment,
transfer, lease, conveyance, or other disposition (or series of related sales,
leases, transfers or dispositions) (including, without limitation, by way of
merger or consolidation).

                  "Trustee" means the party named as such above until a
successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this
Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

                                       13
<PAGE>   20

                  "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that has been
designated by the Company (by written notice to the Trustee as provided below)
as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, that a Subsidiary may not be designated
as an "Unrestricted Subsidiary" unless (i) such Subsidiary does not own any
Capital Stock of, or own or hold any Lien on any property of, the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than such Subsidiary), (ii) neither immediately
prior thereto nor after giving pro forma effect to such designation, would there
exist a Default or Event of Default, (iii) immediately after giving effect to
such designation on a pro forma basis, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of
Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9(a) of this Indenture and (iv) the creditors
of such Subsidiary have no direct or indirect recourse (including, without
limitation, recourse with respect to the payment of principal or interest on
Indebtedness of such Subsidiary) to the assets of the Company or of a Restricted
Subsidiary (other than such Subsidiary). The Board of Directors of the Company
may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary only if
(a) no Default or Event of Default is existing or will occur as a consequence
thereof and (b) immediately after giving effect to such designation, on a pro
forma basis, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to
Section 4.9(a) of this Indenture. Each such designation shall be evidenced by
filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect
to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such
designation complied with the foregoing conditions. The Company shall be deemed
to make an Investment in each Subsidiary designated as an "Unrestricted
Subsidiary" immediately following such designation in an amount equal to the
Investment in such Subsidiary and its subsidiaries immediately prior to such
designation; provided, that if such Subsidiary is subsequently redesignated as a
Restricted Subsidiary, the amount of such Investment shall be deemed to be
reduced (but not below zero) by the fair market value of the net consolidated
assets of such Subsidiary on the date of such redesignation.

                  "U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations of the
United States of America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof for the
payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is
pledged.

                  "Voting Stock" means, with respect to any Person, (i) one or
more classes of the Capital Stock of such Person having general voting power to
elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of
such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any
other class or classes have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency), (ii) any Capital Stock of such Person convertible
or exchangeable without restriction at the option of the holder thereof into
Capital Stock of such Person described in clause (i) above.

                  "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any
Indebtedness at any date, the number of years (rounded to the nearest
one-twelfth) obtained by dividing (i) the then outstanding principal amount of
such Indebtedness into (ii) the total of the products obtained by multiplying
(x) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity
or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in
respect thereof, by (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

                  "Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent (a) all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors'

                                       14
<PAGE>   21

qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by the
Company or (b) such Restricted Subsidiary is organized in a foreign jurisdiction
and is required by the applicable laws and regulations of such foreign
jurisdiction to be partially owned by the government of such foreign
jurisdiction or individual or corporate citizen of such foreign jurisdiction in
order for such Restricted Subsidiary to transact business in such foreign
jurisdiction, provided that the Company, directly or indirectly, owns the
remaining Capital Stock or ownership interests in such Restricted Subsidiary
and, by contract or otherwise, controls the management and business of such
Restricted Subsidiary and derives the economic benefits of ownership of such
Subsidiary to substantially the same extent as if such Subsidiary were a wholly
owned Restricted Subsidiary.

Section 1.2. Other Definitions.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        Term                                                               Defined in Section
        ----                                                               ------------------
<S>                                                                       <C>
        "Additional Excess Cash Flow"...................................  4.24
        "Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer".............................  4.24
        "Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer Period"......................  4.24
        "Additional Excess Cash Flow Payment Date"......................  4.24
        "Affiliate Transaction".........................................  4.11
        "Capital Expenditures"..........................................  4.7(a)
        "Change of Control Offer".......................................  4.14
        "Change of Control Payment".....................................  4.14
        "Change of Control Payment Date"................................  4.14
        "Definitive Notes"..............................................  2.1
        "Event of Default"..............................................  6.1
        "Excess Cash Flow Offer"........................................  4.23
        "Excess Cash Flow Offer Period".................................  4.23
        "Excess Cash Flow Payment Date".................................  4.23
        "Excess Proceeds"...............................................  4.10
        "Excess Proceeds Offer".........................................  4.10
        "Excess Proceeds Payment Date"..................................  4.10
        "Global Note"...................................................  2.1
        "Guaranty"......................................................  10.7
        "Hedging Obligations"...........................................  4.9(b)
        "Original Senior Secured Notes".................................  2.2
        "Original Term B Notes".........................................  2.2
        "Paying Agent"..................................................  2.3
        "Purchase Money Indebtedness"...................................  4.9(b)
        "Purchase Amount"...............................................  4.10
        "Refinance".....................................................  4.9(b)
        "Refinancing Indebtedness"......................................  4.9(b)
        "Registrar".....................................................  2.3
        "Resale Restriction Termination Date"...........................  Exhibits A-1 and A-2
        "Restricted Payments"...........................................  4.7
        </TABLE>

                                       15
<PAGE>   22

Section 1.3. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

                  Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the
provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

                  The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the
following meanings:

         "indenture securities" means the Notes,

         "indenture security holder" means a Holder of a Note;

         "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

         "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee;

         "obligor" on the Notes means the Company, the Guarantors and any
successor obligor upon the Notes.

                  All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the
TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule
under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.4. Rules of Construction.

                  Unless the context otherwise requires:

         (1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

         (2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with GAAP;

         (3) "or" is not exclusive;

         (4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include
the singular;

         (5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

         (6) the term "merger" includes an amalgamation, a compulsory share
exchange, a conversion of a corporation into another business entity and any
other transaction having effects substantially similar to a merger under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; and

         (7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor
sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time.

                                       16
<PAGE>   23

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                    THE NOTES

Section 2.1. Form and Dating.

                  The Senior Secured Notes and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached
hereto, the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part of this
Indenture. The Term B Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto, the terms of
which are incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule,
agreements to which the Company is subject or usage. Each Note shall be dated
the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issued in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

                  The Series A Senior Secured Notes and Series B Senior Secured
Notes, and the Series A Term B Notes and Series B Term B Notes, each shall be
considered collectively to be a single issue for all purposes of this Indenture,
including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to
purchase.

                  The Notes will be issued (i) initially in the form of one or
more Global Notes for each issue and (ii) in the circumstances specified in
Section 2.6(e) hereof in the form of Definitive Notes. Each Global Note shall
represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed
thereon; provided, that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented
thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to
reflect exchanges, repurchases and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note
to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding
Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee, in accordance with
instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6 hereof.

Section 2.2. Execution and Authentication.

                  One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds
that office at the time the Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless
be valid.

                  A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of the Trustee. The signature of an authorized signatory of the
Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under
this Indenture.

                  The Trustee shall authenticate (i) the Series A Senior Secured
Notes for original issue on the Closing Date in the aggregate principal amount
of $71,000,000 (the "Original Senior Secured Notes"), (ii) additional Series A
Senior Secured Notes for original issue from time to time after the Closing Date
in such principal amounts as may be set forth in a Company Order described in
this sentence, (iii) the Series B Senior Secured Notes from time to time for
issue only in exchange for a like principal amount of Series A Senior Secured
Notes, and (iv) up to an additional $4,500,000 aggregate principal amount of
Series A Senior Secured Notes or Series B Senior Secured Notes, as the case may
be, for original issue from time to time after the Closing Date, upon the
exercise by the Holders of the Term B Notes issued under this Indenture of their

                                       17
<PAGE>   24

exchange rights in accordance with paragraph 7 of the Term B Notes, in each case
upon delivery to the Trustee of a Company Order, which order shall specify (a)
the amount of Senior Secured Notes to be authenticated and the date of original
issue thereof, (b) whether the Senior Secured Notes are Series A Senior Secured
Notes or Series B Senior Secured Notes, and (c) the amount of Senior Secured
Notes to be issued in global form or definitive form. The aggregate principal
amount of Senior Secured Notes outstanding at any time may not exceed
$71,000,000 plus such additional principal amounts as may be issued and
authenticated pursuant to clauses (ii) and (iv) of this paragraph, except as
provided in Section 2.7 hereof.

                  The Trustee shall authenticate (i) the Series A Term B Notes
for original issue on the Closing Date in the aggregate principal amount of
$4,500,000 (the "Original Term B Notes"), (ii) additional Series A Term B Notes
for original issue from time to time after the Closing Date in such principal
amounts as may be set forth in a Company Order described in this sentence and
(iii) the Series B Term B Notes from time to time for issue only in exchange for
a like principal amount of Series A Term B Notes, in each case upon delivery to
the Trustee of a Company Order, which order shall specify (a) the amount of Term
B Notes to be authenticated and the date of original issue thereof, (b) whether
the Term B Notes are Series A Term B Notes or Series B Term B Notes, and (c) the
amount of Term B Notes to be issued in global form or definitive form. The
aggregate principal amount of Term B Notes outstanding at any time may not
exceed $4,500,000 plus such additional principal amounts as may be issued and
authenticated pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph, except as provided in
Section 2.7 hereof.

                  The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to
the Company to authenticate Notes. Unless limited by the terms of such
appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee
may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authenticating by the Trustee
includes authenticating by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same
rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

                  The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the owner
of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject
to the provisions of this Indenture and the Notes with respect to record dates)
interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such
Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the
Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 2.3. Registrar, Paying Agent and Depository.

                  The Company shall maintain in The City of New York (i) an
office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
for exchange ("Registrar") and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be
presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Company initially appoints the
Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent. The Registrar shall keep a register of
the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or
more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term
"Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes any
additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar
without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name
and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to
appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee

                                       18
<PAGE>   25

shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying
Agent or Registrar, except that for purposes of Articles Three and Eight and
Sections 4.1, 4.10, 4.14, 4.23 and 4.24 neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall act as Paying Agent.

                  The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement
with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the
provisions of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this
Indenture that relate to such Agent.

                  The Company initially appoints DTC to act as Depository with
respect to the Global Notes. The Trustee shall act as custodian for the
Depository with respect to the Global Notes.

Section 2.4. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

                  The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the
Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the
benefit of the Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the
payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes and shall notify
the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any
such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the
Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall
have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. If the Company
or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent (subject to Section 2.3), it
shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders
all money held by it as Paying Agent.

Section 2.5. Holder Lists.

                  The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and
addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If
the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at
least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other
times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such
date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the
Holders, including the aggregate principal amount thereof, and the Company shall
otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).

Section 2.6. Transfer and Exchange.

                  (a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive
Notes are presented by a Holder to the Registrar with a request (1) to register
the transfer of the Definitive Notes or (2) to exchange such Definitive Notes
for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of the same issue and of other
authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the
exchange as requested if its requirements for such transactions are met;
provided, that the Definitive Notes so presented (A) have been duly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney, duly authorized in
writing; and (B) in the case of a Restricted Security, such request shall be
accompanied by the following additional documents:

                                       19
<PAGE>   26

                           (i) if such Restricted Security is being (1)
         delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of
         such Holder, without transfer, or (2) transferred to the Company, a
         certification to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B
         attached hereto); or

                           (ii) if such Restricted Security is being transferred
         to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or pursuant to an effective
         registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to
         that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto);
         or

                           (iii) if such Restricted Security is being
         transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration
         requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect (in
         substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto), an opinion of
         counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the
         effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and,
         if so indicated in such Exhibit B, a written certification from the
         transferee to the effect set forth in such Exhibit B.

                  (b) Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in
a Global Note. A Definitive Note may be exchanged for, or transferred to a
Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a
Global Note of the same issue only upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive
Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with (A) written instructions from
the entity surrendering such Definitive Note directing the Trustee to make an
endorsement on the appropriate Global Note to reflect an increase in the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, and (B)
if such Definitive Note is a Restricted Security, the following additional
documents:

                           (i) if such Definitive Note is being (1) exchanged
         for a beneficial interest in a Global Note, without change of
         beneficial ownership, or (2) transferred to the Company, a
         certification to that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B
         attached hereto); or

                           (ii) if such Definitive Note is being transferred to
         a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or pursuant to an effective
         registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to
         that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto);
         or

                           (iii) if such Definitive Note is being transferred in
         reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the
         Securities Act, a certification to that effect (in substantially the
         form of Exhibit B attached hereto) and an opinion of counsel reasonably
         acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to the effect that such
         transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and, if so indicated
         in such Exhibit B, a written certification from the transferee to the
         effect set forth in such Exhibit B.

in which case the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause the
aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the appropriate Global Note
to be increased accordingly. If no

                                       20
<PAGE>   27

Global Note is then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate a new Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

                  (c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. The transfer and
exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected
through the Depository in accordance with this Indenture and the procedures of
the Depository therefor, which shall include restrictions on transfer comparable
to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.

                  (d) Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note for a
Definitive Note. Upon receipt by the Trustee of written transfer instructions
(or such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depository) from the
Depository (or its nominee) on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest
in a Global Note, the Trustee shall, in accordance with the standing
instructions and procedures existing between the Depository and the Trustee,
cause the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Global Note to be
reduced accordingly and, following such reduction, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the transferee
a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount; provided, that in the
case of a Restricted Security, such instructions shall be accompanied by the
following additional documents:

                           (i) if such beneficial interest is being (1)
         transferred to the Person designated by the Depository as being the
         beneficial owner, or (2) transferred to the Company, a certification to
         that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto);
         or

                           (ii) if such beneficial interest is being transferred
         to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or pursuant to an effective
         registration statement under the Securities Act, a certification to
         that effect (in substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto);
         or

                           (iii) if such beneficial interest is being
         transferred in reliance on another exemption from the registration
         requirements of the Securities Act, a certification to that effect (in
         substantially the form of Exhibit B attached hereto), an opinion of
         counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company and to the Registrar to
         the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act
         and, if so indicated on such Exhibit B, a written certification from
         the transferee to the effect set forth in such Exhibit B.

                  Definitive Notes issued in exchange for a beneficial interest
in a Global Note of the same issue shall be registered in such names and in such
authorized denominations as the Depository shall instruct the Trustee.

                  (e) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Indenture, the Global Note may not be transferred as a
whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of
the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the
Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such
successor Depository; provided, that if:

                                       21
<PAGE>   28

                           (i) the Company notifies the Trustee that the
         Depository is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository or if the
         Depository ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the
         Exchange Act and a successor Depository is not appointed by the Company
         within 90 days after delivery of such notice or cessation;

                           (ii) during the occurrence and continuance of an
         Event of Default, the Depository notifies the Trustee in accordance
         with its applicable procedures that it elects to cause the issuance of
         Definitive Notes under this Indenture; or

                           (iii) the Company, at its sole discretion, notifies
         the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of
         Definitive Notes under this Indenture,

then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make
available for delivery, Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of the Global Note of the same issue in
exchange for such Global Note in the names and in such authorized dominations as
the Depository shall direct the Trustee and such Notes shall be made available
for delivery to the Persons designated by the Depository.

                  (f) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such
time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for
Definitive Notes of the same issue, redeemed, repurchased or cancelled, the
Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee. At
any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note
is exchanged for Definitive Notes of the same issue, redeemed, repurchased or
cancelled, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by such Global
Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such
Global Note by the Trustee to reflect such reduction.

                  (g) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges. To
permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the
Registrar's request. All Definitive Notes and Global Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes or Global Notes shall
be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Definitive
Notes or Global Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.

                  No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable
in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar
governmental charge payable upon exchange (without transfer to another Person)
pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.7, 4.10, 4.14, 4.23, 4.24 and 9.5 of this Indenture
or paragraph 7 of the Term B Notes).

                  The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the
transfer of or exchange Notes during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under
Section 3.2 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption
in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part.

                                       22
<PAGE>   29

                  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any
Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in
whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for all
purposes, and neither the Trustee, any Agent nor the Company shall be affected
by notice to the contrary.

                  (h) Exchange of Series A Notes for Series B Notes. Series A
Notes of each issue may be exchanged for Series B Notes of such issue pursuant
to the terms of an Exchange Offer. The Trustee and Registrar shall make the
exchange as follows:

                  The Company shall present the Trustee with an Officers'
Certificate certifying the following:

                           (1) upon issuance of the Series B Notes of the
         applicable issue, the transactions contemplated by the applicable
         Exchange Offer have been consummated; and

                           (2) the principal amount of Series A Notes of the
         applicable issue properly tendered in the applicable Exchange Offer
         that are represented by a Global Note and the principal amount of
         Series A Notes of the applicable issue properly tendered in the
         applicable Exchange Offer that are represented by Definitive Notes, the
         name of each Holder of such Definitive Notes, the principal amount at
         maturity properly tendered in the applicable Exchange Offer by each
         such Holder and the name and address to which Definitive Notes for
         Series B Notes of the applicable issue shall be registered and sent for
         each such Holder.

                  The Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers' Certificate,
(ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Series B Notes of the
applicable issue have been registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and
this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA and (iii) the Company Order
referred to in Section 2.2 hereof, shall authenticate (A) a Global Note for
Series B Notes of such issue in a principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of all Series A Notes of such issue represented by a Global
Note indicated in such Officers' Certificate as having been properly tendered
and (B) Definitive Notes representing Series B Notes of the applicable issue
registered in the names, and in the principal amounts, indicated in such
Officers' Certificate.

                  If the principal amount of the Global Note for the Series B
Notes of either issue is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Series
A Notes of such issue represented by a Global Note , the Trustee shall make an
endorsement on such Global Note for Series A Notes of such issue indicating a
reduction in the principal amount represented thereby.

                  The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes for Series B
Notes of each issue to the Holders thereof as indicated in such Officers'
Certificate.

                                       23
<PAGE>   30

Section 2.7. Replacement Notes.

                  If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the
Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee
shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee's requirements for
replacements of Notes are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an
indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment
of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or
any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is
replaced. The Company or the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a
Note.

                  Every replacement Note is an obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

Section 2.8. Outstanding Notes.

                  The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes
authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered
to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note
effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those
described in this Section as not outstanding.

                  If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, the
replaced Note ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof
satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

                  If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under
Section 4.1 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to
accrue.

                  Subject to Section 2.9 hereof, a Note does not cease to be
outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

Section 2.9. Treasury Notes.

                  In determining whether the Holders of the required principal
amount of Notes have given or concurred in any request, demand, authorization,
direction, waiver, consent or other action under this Indenture, Notes owned by
the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and considered
as though not outstanding, except that for purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such act, only Notes that a Trustee
knows to be so owned shall be considered as not outstanding.

Section 2.10. Temporary Notes.

                  Pending the preparation of definitive Notes, the Company may
execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make
available for delivery, temporary Notes that are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized
denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes in lieu of
which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Notes may
determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Notes.

                                       24
<PAGE>   31

                  If temporary Notes are issued, the Company shall cause
definitive Notes to be prepared without unreasonable delay. The definitive Notes
shall be printed, lithographed or engraved, or provided by any combination
thereof, or in any other manner permitted by the rules and regulations of any
principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed,
all as determined by the Officers executing such definitive Notes. After the
preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be exchangeable for
definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the office or agency
maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof,
without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Notes, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and make available for delivery, in exchange therefor the same aggregate
principal amount of definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Until so
exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as definitive Notes.

Section 2.11. Cancellation.

                  The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The
Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of
transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall retain or
dispose of cancelled Notes in accordance with its normal practices (subject to
the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) unless the Company directs
them to be returned to it. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes
that have been redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.

Section 2.12. Defaulted Interest.

                  If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes,
it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent
lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent special record date, which date shall be at the earliest
practicable date but in all events at least five Business Days prior to the
payment date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.1
hereof. The Company shall, with the consent of the Trustee, fix or cause to be
fixed each such special record date and payment date. At least 15 days before
the special record date, the Company (or the Trustee, in the name of and at the
expense of the Company) shall mail to the Holders a notice that states the
special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to
be paid.

Section 2.13. Legends.

                  (a) Except as permitted by subsections (b) or (c) hereof, each
Note shall bear legends relating to restrictions on transfer pursuant to the
securities laws in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit
A-2, as applicable, attached hereto.

                                       25
<PAGE>   32

                  (b) Upon any sale or transfer of a Restricted Security
(including any Restricted Security represented by a Global Note) pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act:

                  (c) in the case of any Restricted Security that is a
Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such
Restricted Security for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends
required by subsection (a) above; and

                  (d) in the case of any Restricted Security represented by a
Global Note, such Restricted Security shall not be required to bear the legends
required by subsection (a) above, but shall continue to be subject to the
provisions of Section 2.6(c) hereof, provided, that with respect to any request
for an exchange of a Restricted Security that is represented by a Global Note
for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends required by subsection (a)
above, which request is made in reliance upon Rule 144, the Holder thereof shall
certify in writing to the Registrar that such request is being made pursuant to
Rule 144.

                  (e) The Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate
Series B Notes in exchange for Series A Notes accepted for exchange in an
Exchange Offer. The Series B Notes shall not bear the legends required by
subsection (a) above unless the Holder of such Series A Notes is either (A) a
broker-dealer who purchased such Series A Notes directly from the Company to
resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the
Securities Act, (B) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series A
Notes or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144A) of the
Company.

                  (f) Upon the request of a Holder and the surrender of its Note
to the Trustee at any time after the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the
Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note
without the legend required by subsection (a) above.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                                   REDEMPTION

Section 3.1. Notices to Trustee.

                  If the Company elects to redeem Notes of either issue pursuant
to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.7 hereof, it shall furnish to
the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, an Officers' Certificate setting forth (i) the clause of Section 3.7
pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii)
the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

Section 3.2. Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.

                  If less than all the Notes of either issue are to be redeemed,
the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed in compliance with the
requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the
Notes are listed, or, if the Notes are not so listed, pro rata, by lot or by
such method as the Trustee deems to be fair and reasonable.

                                       26
<PAGE>   33

                  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of
the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for
partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and
portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of
$1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption
also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.

                  The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs of this Section
3.2 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a Global Note,
whether such Global Note is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In case of any
such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Global Note shall be in an authorized denomination.

Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption.

                  At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption
date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first class mail to each
Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at such Holder's registered address.

                  The notice shall identify the Notes of the applicable issue to
be redeemed and shall state:

                           (1) the redemption date;

                           (2) the redemption price;

                           (3) if any Note is being redeemed in part only, the
         portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that,
         after the redemption date, upon cancellation of the original Note, a
         new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
         shall be issued;

                           (4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

                           (5) that Notes called for redemption must be
         surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

                           (6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such
         redemption payment, interest on Notes or portions of Notes called for
         redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

                           (7) the paragraph of the Notes and/or the Section of
         this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are
         being redeemed; and

                           (8) the CUSIP number of the Notes to be redeemed.

                  If any of the Notes to be redeemed is in the form of a Global
Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the extent necessary to
accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to redemption.

                                       27
<PAGE>   34

                  At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the name of the Company and at its expense; provided that the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 15 days (unless a shorter period
is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the mailing of the notice of redemption,
an Officers' Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and
setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the
preceding paragraph.

Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

                  Once notice of redemption has been mailed to the Holders in
accordance with Section 3.3 hereof, Notes called for redemption become
irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A
notice of redemption may not be conditional once mailed to the Holders pursuant
to Section 3.3 hereof. At any time prior to the mailing of a notice of
redemption to the Holders pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof, the Company may
withdraw, revoke or rescind any notice of redemption delivered to the Trustee
without any continuing obligation to redeem the Notes as contemplated by such
notice of redemption.

Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.

                  No later than 10:00 a.m. New York time on the redemption date,
the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as
Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.4 hereof)
money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of
and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent
shall return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the
Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and
accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.

                  Interest on the Notes to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on
the applicable redemption date, whether or not such Notes are presented for
payment, if the Company makes or deposits the redemption payment in accordance
with this Section 3.5. If any Note called for redemption shall not be paid upon
surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with
the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from
the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on
any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate
provided in the Notes and Section 4.1 hereof.

Section 3.6. Notes Redeemed in Part.

                  Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company
shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of
the Company a new Note of the same issue equal in principal amount to the
unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.

Section 3.7. Optional Redemption.

                  (a) The Senior Secured Notes are not redeemable at the
Company's option prior to November 1, 2002. Thereafter, the Senior Secured Notes
will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part,
at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set
forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any,

                                       28
<PAGE>   35

to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year                                                          Percentage
----                                                          ----------
<S>                                                           <C>
2002....................................................        104.0%
2003....................................................        103.0%
2004....................................................        102.0%
2005....................................................        101.0%
2006 and thereafter.....................................        100.0%
</TABLE>

                  (b) The Term B Notes are redeemable at the option of the
Company, at any time, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed
as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during
the relevant period indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Period                                                Percentage
--------------                                                ----------
<S>                                                           <C>
On or before November 1, 2001...........................        103.0%
On or before November 1, 2002...........................        102.0%
On or before November 1, 2003...........................        101.0%
November 2, 2003 and thereafter.........................        100.0%
</TABLE>

                  If the Company elects to redeem all of the Term B Notes, on
the date of redemption it must also prepay all of the Indebtedness outstanding
under the Term Loan Credit Facility. If less than all of the Term B Notes are to
be redeemed, a pro rata portion of the Indebtedness outstanding under the Term
Loan Credit Facility must also be prepaid.

                                   ARTICLE 4
                                   COVENANTS

Section 4.1. Payment of Notes.

                  The Company shall pay the principal and premium, if any, of,
and interest on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.
The Company shall pay any and all additional interest on the Notes, if any, on
the dates and at the rate required under the Registration Rights Agreement.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date
due if the Paying Agent, other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. New York time on that date money deposited by the Company
in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all
principal, premium, if any, and interest then due. Such Paying Agent shall
return to the Company, no later than three Business Days following the date of
payment, any money that exceeds such amount of principal, premium, if any, and
interest then due and payable on the Notes.

                  The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition
interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the
rate equal to the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay
interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding

                                       29
<PAGE>   36

under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to
any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

                  The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be
an office of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) in The City of New York
where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and
where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and
this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to
the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or
agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required
office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof,
such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

                  The Company may also from time to time designate one or more
other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for
any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations;
provided, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes in
The City of New York. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the
Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location
of any such other office or agency.

                  The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with
Section 2.3.

Section 4.3. Reports.

                  (a) The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days
after the time of filing with the Commission, copies of the reports, information
and other documents (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the
Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required
to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
If the Company is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the Trustee all such reports,
information and other documents as it would be required to file if it were
subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The
Company shall deliver (or cause the Trustee to deliver) copies of all reports,
information and documents required to be filed with the Trustee pursuant to this
Section 4.3 to the Holders at their addresses appearing in the register of Notes
maintained by the Registrar. The Company shall also comply with the provisions
of TIA Section 314(a).

                  (b) If the Company is required to furnish annual, quarterly or
current reports to its stockholders pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company
shall cause any annual, quarterly, current or other financial report furnished
by it generally to its stockholders to be filed with the Trustee mailed to the
Holders at their addresses appearing in the register of Notes maintained by the
Registrar. If the Company is not required to furnish annual, quarterly or
current reports to its stockholders pursuant to the Exchange Act, then, to the
extent not already filed with the Trustee or provided to the Holders pursuant to
paragraph (a) above, the Company shall cause the financial statements of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (and similar financial

                                       30
<PAGE>   37

statements for all unconsolidated Subsidiaries, if any), including any notes
thereto (and, with respect to annual reports, an auditors' report by an
accounting firm of established national reputation), and a "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,"
comparable to that which would have been required to appear in annual or
quarterly reports filed under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to be so
filed with the Trustee and mailed to the Holders promptly, but in any event,
within 90 days after the end of each of the fiscal years of the Company and
within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each such
fiscal year.

                  (c) So long as is required for an offer or sale of the Notes
to qualify for an exemption under Rule 144A, the Company (and the Guarantors)
shall, upon request, provide the information required by clause (d)(4)
thereunder to each Holder and to each beneficial owner and prospective purchaser
of Notes identified by any Holder of Restricted Securities.

                  (d) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the
Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).

Section 4.4. Compliance Certificate.

                  (a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate (provided, that one
of the signatories to such Officers' Certificate shall be the Company's
principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting
officer) stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the
supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determine whether each has
kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture,
and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled
each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the
performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof
or thereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing
all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge and what
action each is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).

                  (b) So long as not contrary to the then current
recommendations of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the
year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.3 above shall be
accompanied by a written statement of the independent public accountants of the
Company (which shall be a firm of established national reputation) that in
making the examination necessary for certification of such financial statements
nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that either
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated any provisions of this
Indenture or, if any such violation has occurred, specifying the nature and
period of existence thereof, it being understood that such accountants shall not
be liable directly or indirectly to any Person for any failure to obtain
knowledge of any such violation.

                                       31
<PAGE>   38

                  (c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company
shall deliver to the Trustee forthwith, and in any event, within five (5)
Business Days, upon any Officer becoming aware of (i) any Default or Event of
Default or (ii) any event of default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
referred to in Section 6.1(5) hereof, an Officers' Certificate specifying such
Default, Event of Default or other event of default and what action the Company
is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.5. Taxes.

                  The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, file
all tax returns required to be filed and to pay prior to delinquency all
material taxes, assessments and governmental levies except as contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which reserves have been
established in accordance with GAAP.

Section 4.6. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

                  The transactions and indebtedness evidenced by this Indenture
and the Notes are for commercial and business purposes. The Company covenants
(to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist
upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage
of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time
hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this
Indenture; and the Company hereby expressly (to the extent that it may lawfully
do so) waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it
shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of
any power herein granted to the Trustee but shall suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.7. Limitation on Restricted Payments.

                  (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

                           (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any
         distribution on account of any Equity Interests of the Company or any
         of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (x) dividends or
         distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
         Stock) of the Company or (y) dividends or distributions payable to the
         Company or any Restricted Subsidiary,

                           (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire
         for value any Equity Interest of the Company, any Subsidiary or any
         other Affiliate of the Company (other than any such Equity Interest
         owned by the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary),

                           (iii) make any principal payment on, or purchase,
         redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
         Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is subordinated in
         right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor's Guarantee thereof, as
         the case may be, or

                           (iv) make any Restricted Investment;

                                       32
<PAGE>   39

         (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through
         (iv) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments")
         unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

                           (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
         is continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof,

                           (2) immediately after giving effect thereto on a pro
         forma basis, the Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional
         Indebtedness under Section 4.9(a) hereof, and

                           (3) such Restricted Payment (the value of any such
         payment, if other than cash, being determined in good faith by the
         Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution set forth in an
         Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee), together with the
         aggregate of all other Restricted Payments made after the date of this
         Indenture (including Restricted Payments permitted by clause (i) of
         Section 4.7(b) and excluding Restricted Payments permitted by the other
         clauses therein), is less than the sum of (A) 50% of the Consolidated
         Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting
         period) from the beginning of the first quarter commencing immediately
         prior to the Closing Date to the end of the Company's most recently
         ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
         available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such
         Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, 100% of such
         deficit), plus (B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds (or of the
         net cash proceeds received upon the conversion of non-cash proceeds
         into cash) received by the Company from the issuance or sale, other
         than to a Subsidiary, of Equity Interests of the Company (other than
         Disqualified Stock) after the date of this Indenture and on or prior to
         the time of such Restricted Payment, plus (C) 100% of the aggregate net
         cash proceeds (or of the net cash proceeds received upon the conversion
         of non-cash proceeds into cash) received by the Company from the
         issuance or sale, other than to a Subsidiary, of any Disqualified Stock
         or convertible or exchangeable debt security of the Company that has
         been converted or exchanged into Equity Interests of the Company (other
         than Disqualified Stock) pursuant to the terms thereof after the date
         of this Indenture and on or prior to the time of such Restricted
         Payment (including any additional net cash proceeds not included in
         clause (B) above received by the Company upon such conversion or
         exchange), plus (D) to the extent that any Restricted Investment that
         was made after the Closing Date is sold for cash or otherwise
         liquidated or repaid for cash, the lesser of (1) the cash return of
         capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of
         disposition, if any) and (2) the initial amount of such Restricted
         Investment, plus (E) in the event that any Unrestricted Subsidiary is
         redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (1) an amount
         equal to the fair market value of the Company's Investment in such
         Restricted Subsidiary (as determined by the Board of Directors and
         evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate
         delivered to the Trustee) and (2) the amount of Restricted Investments
         previously made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such
         Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus (F) as of any date of determination, an
         amount equal to 50% of the excess of (1) the aggregate Excess Cash Flow
         for each day on which an Excess Cash Flow Offer was made prior to such
         date of determination over (2) the aggregate purchase price of all
         Notes (exclusive of interest) tendered and purchased and the

                                       33
<PAGE>   40

         aggregate amount of Indebtedness prepaid under the Term Loan Credit
         Facility prior to such date of determination pursuant to an Excess Cash
         Flow Offer, plus (G) as of any date of determination, an amount equal
         to 50% of the excess of (1) 50% of the amount by which Excess Cash Flow
         exceeds $5.0 million for each day on which an Additional Excess Cash
         Flow Offer was made prior to such date of determination over (2) the
         aggregate purchase price (exclusive of interest) of all Term B Notes
         tendered and purchased and the aggregate amount of Indebtedness prepaid
         under the Term Loan Credit Facility prior to such date of determination
         pursuant to an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer, minus (H) the amount
         of any expenditures in respect of fixed or capital assets ("Capital
         Expenditures"), made by the Company or any of its Restricted
         Subsidiaries (i) in respect of all assets other than newly constructed
         or acquired cafeterias (and fixtures related thereto) in excess of $8.0
         million during any fiscal year and (ii) in respect of newly constructed
         or acquired cafeterias (and fixtures related thereto) in excess of $6.0
         million during any fiscal year.

                  (b) The provisions of subsection (a) above shall not prohibit:

                           (i) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after
         the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration such
         payment would not have been prohibited by the provisions of this
         Indenture,

                           (ii) the redemption, purchase, retirement or other
         acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Company or Indebtedness of
         the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary solely in exchange for Equity
         Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock),

                           (iii) the redemption, repurchase or payoff of any
         Indebtedness with proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to
         be incurred pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.9(b)(x) hereof, or

                           (iv) Permitted Affiliate Transactions.

                  (c) Not later than the date of making each Restricted Payment
(other than Restricted Payments contemplated by clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) of
Section 4.7(b) above), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted, and setting forth
the basis upon which the calculations required by this Section 4.7 were
computed, which calculations may be based upon the Company's latest available
financial statements.

Section 4.8. Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends.

                  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to
exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Restricted Subsidiary:

                  (a) to (1) pay dividends or make any other distributions to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) on such Restricted
Subsidiary's Capital Stock or (B) with

                                       34
<PAGE>   41

respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, such
Restricted Subsidiary's profits or (2) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,

                  (b) to make loans or advances to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries,

                  (c) to transfer any of its assets to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, or

                  (d) to grant Liens to secure the Obligations, the obligations
under the New Credit Facility and the obligations under the Term Loan Credit
Facility,

except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

                           (i) the New Credit Facility, as in effect on the
         Closing Date, or any refinancings, amendments, modifications or
         supplements thereof containing dividend or other payment restrictions
         that are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those
         contained in the New Credit Facility on the Closing Date,

                           (ii) this Indenture, the Security Documents, the
         Notes and the Term Loan Credit Facility,

                           (iii) applicable law,

                           (iv) restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary that
         was not a Subsidiary on the Closing Date in existence at the time such
         Person becomes a Subsidiary (but not created as a result of or in
         anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary); provided, that such
         restrictions are not applicable to any other Person or the properties
         or assets of any other Person,

                           (v) customary non-assignment and net worth provisions
         of any contract or lease entered into in the ordinary course of
         business,

                           (vi) customary restrictions on the transfer of assets
         subject to a Lien permitted under this Indenture imposed by the holder
         of such Lien,

                           (vii) restrictions imposed by any agreement to sell
         assets or Capital Stock to any Person pending the closing of such sale,

                           (viii) negative pledges contained in capital leases
         or to secure purchase money obligations, provided, that such negative
         pledges do not extend to other property not the subject of such capital
         lease or purchase money obligation, and

                           (ix) Refinancing Indebtedness (including Indebtedness
         Refinancing Acquired Debt), provided, that such restrictions contained
         in any agreement governing such Refinancing Indebtedness are not
         materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in
         any agreements governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

                                       35
<PAGE>   42

Section 4.9. Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness.

                  (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (1) create, incur, issue,
assume, Guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect
to, contingently or otherwise (collectively, "incur"), any Indebtedness
(including Acquired Debt) or (2) issue any Disqualified Stock; provided, that
the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of
Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may incur Indebtedness
(including Acquired Debt), in each case if (x) no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or would occur after
giving effect on a pro forma basis to such incurrence or issuance, (y) the
Interest Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least equal to the ratio as is
then applicable for each applicable period as is set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period                                                            Ratio
------                                                            -----
<S>                                                              <C>

Closing Date until November 1, 2001...............................2.00 to 1.00
November 2, 2001 until November 1, 2002...........................2.25 to 1.00
thereafter........................................................2.50 to 1.00.
</TABLE>

in each case, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application
of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness (including
Acquired Debt) had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock had been issued, as
the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period, and (z) the
Leverage Ratio of the Company would be no greater than the ratio as is then
applicable for each applicable period as is set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period                                                            Ratio
------                                                            -----
<S>                                                              <C>

Closing Date until November 1, 2001...............................4.50 to 1.00
November 2, 2001 until November 1, 2002...........................4.25 to 1.00
thereafter........................................................4.00 to 1.00.
</TABLE>

                  (b) The limitations of Section 4.9(a) shall not prohibit the
incurrence of:

                           (i) (A) Indebtedness under the New Credit Facility,
         provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness so
         incurred on any date, together with all other Indebtedness incurred
         pursuant to this clause (A) and outstanding on such date, shall not
         exceed $25 million (minus any amounts as may be applied to repay such
         Indebtedness and permanently reduce the commitments to lend of the
         lenders under the New Credit Facility as required by Section 4.10
         hereof), and (B) Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility,
         provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness
         outstanding on any date shall not exceed $5.5 million (minus any
         amounts required to be repaid pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.23 or 4.24
         hereof),

                                       36
<PAGE>   43

                           (ii) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds,
         appeal bonds, surety bonds, insurance obligations or bonds and other
         similar bonds or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
         business,

                           (iii) net obligations in respect of termination
         payments owing (or which would be owed assuming a hypothetical
         termination as of any date of determination) under any interest rate
         swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other financial
         agreement or arrangement designed to fix the interest rate on any
         variable rate Indebtedness otherwise permitted by this Indenture
         ("Hedging Obligations"),

                           (iv) Indebtedness owed by (1) a Restricted Subsidiary
         to the Company or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or (2) the Company to a
         Wholly Owned Subsidiary,

                           (v) Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this
         Indenture, including the Series A Notes, Senior Secured Notes issued as
         a result of the exchange of Term B Notes, any Series B Notes issued in
         exchange for Series A Notes pursuant to an Exchange Offer or otherwise,
         and the Guarantees,

                           (vi) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank
         or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument
         inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against
         insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, that
         such Indebtedness is extinguished within three Business Days of
         incurrence,

                           (vii) Indebtedness represented by Guarantees by the
         Company of Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to
         this Section 4.9 and Indebtedness represented by Guarantees by a
         Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or another
         Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to
         this Section 4.9;

                           (viii) obligations with respect to customary
         provisions regarding post-closing purchase price adjustments,
         indemnification or similar obligations, in each case incurred or
         assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or
         Subsidiary of the Company otherwise permitted by this Indenture;

                           (ix) Purchase Money Obligations in an aggregate
         principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount of
         all other Indebtedness then outstanding and incurred pursuant to this
         clause (ix) does not exceed $2.0 million; and

                           (x) Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the
         proceeds of which are contemporaneously used to extend, refinance,
         renew, replace, or refund (collectively, "Refinance") Indebtedness
         referred to in clauses (ii), (v) and (ix) above or this clause (x) or
         Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Interest Coverage Ratio test set
         forth in Section 4.9(a) hereof ("Refinancing Indebtedness"); provided,
         that (A) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not
         exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so Refinanced (plus the
         premiums required to be paid, and the out-of-pocket expenses (other
         than those payable to an Affiliate of the Company) reasonably incurred,
         in connection therewith), (B) the Refinancing Indebtedness has a final

                                       37
<PAGE>   44

        scheduled maturity that exceeds the final stated maturity, and a
         Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is equal to or greater than the
         Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced,
         and (C) the Refinancing Indebtedness ranks, in right of payment, no
         more favorable to the Notes as the Indebtedness being Refinanced.

Section 4.10. Limitation on Asset Sales.

                  In addition to any restrictions imposed with respect to the
sale of assets constituting Collateral, the Company shall not, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Asset Sale unless:

                           (i) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
         receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to
         the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of
         Directors as evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set
         forth in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the
         assets subject to such Asset Sale;

                           (ii) at least 80% of the consideration for such Asset
         Sale is in the form of cash, Cash Equivalents or liabilities of the
         Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are
         by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee of the Notes)
         that are assumed by the transferee of such assets (provided, that
         following such Asset Sale there is no further recourse to the Company
         and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to such liabilities); and

                           (iii) within 12 months (subject to the second proviso
         in clause (c) below) of such Asset Sale, the Net Proceeds thereof are
         (a) in the case of any Asset Sale for Net Proceeds of less than $10.0
         million, invested in assets related to the business of the Company or
         its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (b) used to repay, purchase or
         otherwise acquire Indebtedness under the New Credit Facility, which
         repayment is accompanied by a permanent reduction in the commitments of
         the lenders thereunder, or other Indebtedness or liabilities
         (including, without limitation, the Notes) having a Lien on the
         property subject of such Asset Sale (but only to the extent such Lien
         was a Permitted Lien) or (c) to the extent not used as provided in
         clause (a) or (b), applied to make an offer to purchase Notes and
         prepay Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility, as
         described below (an "Excess Proceeds Offer"); provided, that if the
         amount of Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale not invested or used
         pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above is less than $5.0 million, the
         Company shall not be required to make an offer pursuant to clause (c)
         until the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds from all Asset Sales
         exceeds $5.0 million, and, provided further, that if the amount of Net
         Proceeds from any Asset Sale is equal to or greater then $10.0 million,
         to the extent such Net Proceeds shall not have been used pursuant to
         clause (b) above, the Company shall make such Excess Proceeds Offer
         within 30 days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds. Pending the
         final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or any
         Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under the New
         Credit Facility or temporarily invest such Net Proceeds in Cash
         Equivalents.

                                       38
<PAGE>   45

                  For the purposes of this covenant, securities received by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 90 days shall be
considered cash.

                  The amount of Net Proceeds not invested, used or applied as
set forth in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) constitutes "Excess Proceeds." If
the Company elects, or becomes obligated, to make an Excess Proceeds Offer, the
Company shall offer to purchase Notes and prepay Indebtedness outstanding under
the Term Loan Credit Facility, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
Excess Proceeds (the "Purchase Amount"), at 100% of the aggregate principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase or
prepayment date. The Company must commence such Excess Proceeds Offer not later
than 30 days after the expiration of the 12-month period following the Asset
Sale that produced Excess Proceeds (unless earlier required pursuant to the
second proviso to clause (c) above.) Each Excess Proceeds Offer shall remain
open for a period of 20 Business Days and no longer, unless a longer period is
required by law (the "Excess Proceeds Offer Period"). If the aggregate purchase
price for the Notes tendered pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer and the
principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility prepaid is
less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may
use the remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes not otherwise
prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

                  The Purchase Amount may be reduced by the principal amount of
Notes acquired by the Company through purchase or redemption and surrendered to
the Trustee for cancellation and the principal amount of Indebtedness under the
Term Loan Credit Facility prepaid (other than pursuant to a Change of Control
Offer, an Excess Cash Flow Offer or an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer)
subsequent to the date of the Asset Sale.

                  The Company shall, no later than 30 days following the
expiration of the 12-month period following the Asset Sale that produced Excess
Proceeds, unless earlier required pursuant to the first paragraph of this
Section 4.10, commence the Excess Proceeds Offer, if an Excess Proceeds Offer is
required by the terms of this Indenture, by mailing to the Trustee and each
Holder, at such Holder's last registered address, a notice, which shall govern
the terms of the Excess Proceeds Offer, and shall state:

                           (1) that the Excess Proceeds Offer is being made
         pursuant to this Section 4.10, the principal amount of Notes which
         shall be accepted for payment and the principal amount of Indebtedness
         under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid and that all Notes
         validly tendered together with the principal amount of Indebtedness
         under the Term Loan Credit Facility for which the holders thereof have
         requested prepayment shall be accepted for payment on a pro rata basis
         (unless some other method is required by law);

                           (2) the purchase price and the date of purchase (the
         "Excess Proceeds Payment Date");

                           (3) that any Notes not tendered or accepted for
         payment pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer shall continue to accrue
         interest;

                                       39
<PAGE>   46

                           (4) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment
         of the purchase price with respect to any Notes tendered, Notes
         accepted for payment pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer shall cease
         to accrue interest after the Excess Proceeds Payment Date;

                           (5) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased
         pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer shall be required to surrender
         their Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
         Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company prior to
         the close of business on the third Business Day immediately preceding
         the Excess Proceeds Payment Date;

                           (6) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their
         election if the Company receives, not later than the close of business
         on the second Business Day preceding the Excess Proceeds Payment Date,
         a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
         the Holder, the principal amount of Notes the Holder delivered for
         purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election
         to have such Notes purchased;

                           (7) that if the aggregate purchase price of the Notes
         tendered pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer and the principal amount
         of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid are
         less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use the remaining Excess
         Proceeds for general corporate purposes not otherwise prohibited by the
         terms of this Indenture.

                           (8) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in
         part shall be issued Notes representing the unpurchased portion of the
         Notes surrendered; provided that each Note purchased and each new Note
         issued shall be in principal amount of $1,000 or whole multiples
         thereof; and

                           (9) the instructions that Holders must follow in
         order to tender their Notes.

                  If any of the Notes subject to an Excess Proceeds Offer is in
the form of a Global Note, then the Company shall modify such notice to the
extent necessary to accord with the procedures of the Depository applicable to
repurchases.

                  On or before the Excess Proceeds Payment Date, the Company
shall (i) accept for payment on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary (unless
some other method is required by law) the Notes or portions thereof tendered and
prepay a pro rata portion of the Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan
Credit Facility for which the holders thereof have requested prepayment, in each
case, pursuant to the Excess Proceeds Offer, (ii) (A) deposit with the Paying
Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Notes or portions
thereof so accepted, and (B) pay to the holders of the Indebtedness then
outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility the pro rata portion of Excess
Proceeds required to be applied to prepay such Indebtedness, and (iii) deliver
to the Trustee the Notes so accepted, together with an Officers' Certificate
stating that the Notes or portions thereof tendered to the Company are accepted
for payment and specifying the principal amount of the Indebtedness under the
Term Loan Credit

                                       40
<PAGE>   47

Facility then required to be prepaid has been prepaid. The Paying Agent shall
promptly mail or deliver to each Holder of Notes so accepted payment in an
amount equal to the purchase price of such Notes, including accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, and the Company shall promptly issue a new Note, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holders, in
a principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Upon
completion of an Excess Proceeds Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be
reset to zero.

                  The Company shall make a public announcement of the results of
the Excess Proceeds Offer as soon as practicable after the Excess Proceeds
Payment Date. For the purposes of this Section 4.10, the Trustee shall act as
the Paying Agent.

                  Each Excess Proceeds Offer shall be conducted in compliance
with all applicable laws, including without limitation, Regulation 14E of the
Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state
securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Company shall
comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be
deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue
thereof.

Section 4.11. Limitation on Transactions With Affiliates.

                  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any
property or assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement, understanding,
loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of
the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), except for (i) Affiliate
Transactions, which together with all Affiliate Transactions that are part of a
common plan, have an aggregate value of not more than $1.0 million; provided,
that such transactions are conducted in good faith and on terms that are no less
favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that
would have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an
arm's-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Affiliate Transactions, which together with all
Affiliate Transactions that are part of a common plan, have an aggregate value
of not more than $2.5 million; provided, that a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors of the Company determine that such
transactions are conducted in good faith and on terms that are no less favorable
to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have
been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm's-length basis
from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, (iii) Affiliate Transactions for which the Company delivers to the
Trustee an opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from a financial point of view, issued by an investment banking firm
of national standing and (iv) Permitted Affiliate Transactions and other
Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions described in Section 4.7 hereof.

Section 4.12. Limitation on Liens.

                  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Lien on any asset (including, without limitation, all real, tangible or
intangible property) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, or on any income or profits therefrom, or assign or

                                       41
<PAGE>   48

convey any right to receive income therefrom, except (i) Liens in favor of the
Collateral Agent securing the Notes, the New Credit Facility (provided that the
aggregate principal amount to be secured thereunder shall not exceed $25
million), the Term Loan Credit Facility (provided that the aggregate principal
amount to be secured thereunder shall not exceed $5.5 million) and the
Obligations, and (ii) Permitted Liens.

Section 4.13. Corporate Existence.

                  Subject to Article 5 of this Indenture, the Company shall do
or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect (i) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other
existence of each of its respective Subsidiaries, in accordance with their
respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to
time) and (ii) its (and its Subsidiaries) rights (charter and statutory),
licenses and franchises; provided, that the Company shall not be required to
preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or
other existence of any Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors on behalf of the
Company shall determine in good faith that the preservation thereof is no longer
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders.

Section 4.14. Repurchase Upon a Change of Control.

                  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall
notify the Trustee in writing thereof and shall make an offer to purchase all of
the Notes then outstanding and prepay all Indebtedness outstanding under the
Term Loan Credit Facility as described below (the "Change of Control Offer") at
101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, to the date of repurchase or prepayment (the "Change of Control
Payment").

                  The Change of Control Offer shall be made in compliance with
all applicable laws, including without limitation, Regulation 14E of the
Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable Federal and state
securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or
regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.14, the Company shall
comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be
deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.14 by virtue
thereof.

                  Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company
shall commence the Change of Control Offer by mailing to the Trustee and each
Holder a notice, which shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer,
and shall state that:

                           (i) the Change of Control Offer is being made
         pursuant to this Section 4.14 and that all Notes validly tendered,
         together with the principal amount of all Indebtedness for which the
         holders thereof have requested prepayment, will be accepted for
         payment,

                           (ii) the purchase price and the purchase date, which
         shall be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days
         from the date such notice is mailed (the "Change of Control Payment
         Date"),

                                       42
<PAGE>   49

                           (iii) that any Note not tendered for payment pursuant
         to the Change of Control Offer shall continue to accrue interest,

                           (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment
         of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment
         pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest
         on the Change of Control Payment Date,

                           (v) that any Holder electing to have Notes purchased
         pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender
         such Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase"
         on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the
         address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the
         third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date,

                           (vi) that any Holder shall be entitled to withdraw
         such election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of
         business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control
         Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting
         forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes such Holder
         delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
         his election to have such Notes purchased,

                           (vii) that a Holder whose Notes are being purchased
         only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the
         unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion
         must be equal to $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple
         thereof,

                           (viii) the instructions that Holders must follow in
         order to tender their Notes, and

                           (ix) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding
         such Change of Control.

                  On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to
the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment the Notes or portions thereof tendered
and prepay the Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility for
which the holders thereof have requested prepayment pursuant to the Change of
Control Offer, (ii) (A) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the
Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so
tendered and not withdrawn and (B) pay to the holders Indebtedness under the
Term Loan Credit Facility the Change of Control Payment with respect to all
Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility for which the holders thereof
have requested prepayment, and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating
that the Notes or portions thereof tendered to the Company are accepted for
payment and specifying that the principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term
Loan Credit Facility required to be prepaid has been so prepaid. The Paying
Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so accepted payment in an
amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and mail to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any
unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any, provided, that each such
new Note will be in principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof.

                                       43
<PAGE>   50

                  The Company shall make a public announcement of the results of
the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of
Control Payment Date. For the purposes of this Section 4.14, the Trustee shall
act as the Paying Agent.

Section 4.15. Maintenance of Properties.

                  The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, maintain their properties and assets in normal working order
and condition as on the date of this Indenture (reasonable wear and tear
excepted) and make all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions,
betterments and improvements thereto, as shall be reasonably necessary for the
proper conduct of the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; provided, that nothing herein shall prevent the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries from discontinuing any maintenance of any such
properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

Section 4.16. Maintenance of Insurance.

                  The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, maintain liability, casualty and other insurance (including
self-insurance consistent with prior practice) with responsible insurance
companies in such amounts and against such risks as is in accordance with
customary industry practice in the general areas in which the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries operate.

Section 4.17. Restrictions on Sale and Issuance of Subsidiary Stock.

                  The Company shall not sell, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to issue or sell, any shares of Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors' qualifying shares) to any Person
other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; provided however, that this
provision shall not prohibit the sale of all of the Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries if
the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale are used in accordance with the provisions
of Section 4. 10 of this Indenture.

Section 4.18. Line of Business.

                  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, engage in any type of business other than the restaurant business
conducted by the Company on the Closing Date.

Section 4.19. Hedging Activities.

                  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, enter into any derivative, futures or any similar agreement or
instrument except in the ordinary course of business to hedge actual or expected
fluctuations in prices or interest rates.

                                       44
<PAGE>   51

Section 4.20. Limitation on Impairment of Lien; Further Assurances.

                  (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, take or omit to take any action which action or omission would have the
result of adversely affecting or impairing the Lien in favor of the Collateral
Agent (or the Trustee, if applicable), under the Security Documents or the
priority thereof; and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, grant to any Person, or suffer any Person (other than the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries) to have (other than to the Collateral Agent, the
lenders under the New Credit Facility, the Term Loan Credit Facility, the
Trustee and the Holders) any interest whatsoever in the Collateral other than
Permitted Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to,
enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms requires the proceeds
received from any sale of Collateral to be applied to repay, redeem, defease or
otherwise acquire or retire any Indebtedness, other than as contemplated by the
Intercreditor Agreement, the New Credit Facility, this Indenture and the
Security Documents.

                  (b) The Company shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, at
their sole cost and expense, execute and deliver all such agreements and
instruments as the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Requisite Creditors
shall reasonably request to more fully or accurately describe the property
intended to be Collateral or the obligations intended to be secured by the
Security Documents. The Company shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, at
their sole cost and expense, file any such notice filings or other agreements or
instruments as may be reasonably necessary or desirable under applicable law to
perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents at such times and at such
places as the Collateral Agent, the Trustee or the Requisite Creditors may
reasonably request.

Section 4.21. Additional Collateral.

                  From and after the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall
cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, grant to the Collateral Agent, subject only
to Permitted Liens, a first priority Lien on all property to the extent that the
New Credit Facility requires the creation of a Lien, such Lien to secure the
obligations under the New Credit Facility, the Term Loan Credit Facility and the
Notes on an equal basis, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
Without limitation of the foregoing, from and after the Closing Date, the
Company shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, grant to the
Collateral Agent to secure the obligations under the New Credit Facility, the
Term Loan Credit Facility and the Notes on an equal basis, subject to the terms
of the Intercreditor Agreement, to Permitted Liens and the other terms of this
Indenture, to the extent not already granted by the existing Security Documents,
a first priority Lien on all immovable or real property and related fixtures now
or thereafter acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and a first
priority Lien on all leasehold estates (other than leases for floor space within
a mall) and related fixtures now or thereafter acquired by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary to the extent permitted by the terms of the instrument
creating such leasehold estate (and if not permitted by the terms of such
instrument, the Company shall use reasonable commercial efforts, or cause its
Restricted Subsidiary to use reasonable commercial efforts, to obtain a consent
from the landlord to grant such mortgage) and to waive or subordinate its
landlord Lien (whether granted by the instrument creating the leasehold estate
or by applicable law). Without limitation of the foregoing, from and after the
Closing Date, in the event the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary begins to
operate in a state

                                       45
<PAGE>   52

or territory of the United States in which a financing statement perfecting the
Liens created by the Security Documents is then not perfected, the Company
shall, and shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to, execute, file and forward
to the Trustee and the Collateral Agent a copy of such filed financing
statement. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Collateral Agent and the Trustee, one or more Opinions of Counsel to the effect
that such Security Documents create legal, valid, binding and enforceable
obligations of the Company or Restricted Subsidiary party thereto and that all
such action and filings necessary to take such Liens have been taken.

Section 4.22. Limitations on Capital Expenditures.

                  The Company will not make any Capital Expenditures if, after
giving effect thereto, the aggregate of all such Capital Expenditures (i) in
respect of all assets other than new constructed or acquired cafeterias (and
fixtures related thereto) would exceed $8.0 million during any fiscal year and
(ii) in respect of newly constructed or acquired cafeterias (and fixtures
related thereto) would exceed $6.0 million during any fiscal year; provided the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures in excess
of the foregoing amounts provided it could make a Restricted Payment in an
amount equal to such Capital Expenditures under Section 4.7.

Section 4.23. Excess Cash Flow Offer.

                  (a) On the last Business Day of September of each year,
commencing September 28, 2001, the Company shall calculate its Excess Cash Flow
for the most recently ended fiscal, and certify to the Trustee in writing the
calculations to compute such Excess Cash Flow; and if the Company has Excess
Cash Flow of at least $2.5 million, it shall make an offer (an "Excess Cash Flow
Offer") to purchase Notes and prepay Indebtedness outstanding under the Term
Loan Credit Facility at 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus
accrued interest, if any, to the date of purchase or prepayment; provided that
the amount required to be paid by the Company to repurchase such Notes and
prepay Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility (exclusive
of interest) shall be limited to the lesser of (a) $5.0 million and (b) an
amount equal to such Excess Cash Flow; and provided further that, after
satisfying its obligations under Section 4.24, the Company may, but shall have
no obligation to, offer to purchase additional Notes and make additional
prepayments of the Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility,
also at 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest,
if any, up to the entire amount of the Excess Cash Flow (if greater than $5.0
million). The Company must commence its Excess Cash Flow Offer not later than
the date on which it delivers to the Trustee the certificate computing the
Excess Cash Flow. If the aggregate purchase price of the Notes (exclusive of
interest) tendered pursuant to such Excess Cash Flow Offer and the principal
amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid is less
than the Excess Cash Flow, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may
use the remaining Excess Cash Flow after making any required payments pursuant
to an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer in accordance with Section 4.24 for
general corporate purposes not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

                  (b) Each Excess Cash Flow Offer shall remain open for a period
of 20 Business Days and no longer, unless a longer period is required by law
(the "Excess Cash Flow

                                       46
<PAGE>   53

Offer Period"). Promptly after the termination of the Excess Cash Flow Period
(the "Excess Cash Flow Payment Date"), the Company shall purchase and mail or
deliver payment for the Notes or portions thereof tendered and the principal
amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid, pro
rata or by such other methods as may be required by law. The principal amount of
Notes required to be purchased and the principal amount of Indebtedness under
the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid pursuant to an Excess Cash Flow
Offer may be reduced by the principal amount of Notes acquired by the Company
through purchase or redemption and surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation
and the principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility
prepaid (other than pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, an Excess Proceeds
Offer or an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer) subsequent to the end of the
fiscal year preceding such Excess Cash Flow Offer and prior to the Excess Cash
Flow Payment Date.

                  (c) If an Excess Cash Flow Offer is required by the terms of
this Indenture, the Company shall commence such offer by mailing to the Trustee
and each Holder, at such Holder's last registered address, a notice, which shall
govern the terms of the Excess Cash Flow Offer and shall state:

                           (i) that the Excess Cash Flow Offer is being made
         pursuant to this Section 4.23, the principal amount of Notes which
         shall be accepted for payment and the principal amount of Indebtedness
         under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid and that all Notes
         validly tendered together with the principal amount of Indebtedness
         under the Term Loan Credit Facility for which the holders thereof have
         requested prepayment shall be accepted for payment on a pro rata basis
         (or by such other method as may be required by law);

                           (ii) the purchase price and the Excess Cash Flow
         Payment Date;

                           (iii) that any Notes not tendered or accepted for
         payment pursuant to the Excess Cash Flow Offer shall continue to accrue
         interest;

                           (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment
         of the purchase price with respect to any Notes tendered, Notes
         accepted for payment pursuant to the Excess Cash Flow Offer shall cease
         to accrue interest after the Excess Cash Flow Payment Date;

                           (v) that Holders electing to have Notes purchased
         pursuant to an Excess Cash Flow Offer shall be required to surrender
         their Notes, with the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect
         Purchase" on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Company prior to
         the close of business on the third Business Day immediately preceding
         the Excess Cash Flow Payment Date;

                           (vi) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their
         election if the Company receives, not later than the close of business
         on the second Business Day preceding the Excess Cash Flow Payment Date,
         a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
         the Holder, the principal amount of Notes the Holder

                                       47
<PAGE>   54

         delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
         his election to have such Notes purchased;

                           (vii) that if the aggregate purchase price (exclusive
         of interest) of the Notes tendered pursuant to the Excess Cash Flow
         Offer and the principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan
         Credit Facility to be prepaid are less than the Excess Cash Flow, the
         Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may use the remaining Excess
         Cash Flow for general corporate purposes not prohibited by the terms of
         this Indenture;

                           (viii) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in
         part shall be issued Notes representing the unpurchased portion of the
         Notes surrendered, provided that each Note purchased and each new Note
         issued shall be in principal amount of $1,000 or whole multiples
         thereof; and

                           (ix) the instructions that Holders must follow in
         order to tender their Notes.

                  (d) On or before the Excess Cash Flow Payment Date, the
Company shall (i) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent
necessary (unless some other method is required by law), the Notes or portions
thereof tendered and prepay a pro rata portion of the Indebtedness then
outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility for which the holders thereof
have requested prepayment, in each case pursuant to the Excess Cash Flow Offer,
(ii) (A) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the purchase
price of all Notes or portions thereof so accepted and (B) pay to the holders of
the Indebtedness then outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility the pro
rata portion of Excess Proceeds Offer required to be applied to prepay such
Indebtedness, and (iii) deliver to the Trustee the Notes so accepted, together
with an Officers' Certificate stating that the Notes or portions thereof
tendered to the Company are accepted for payment and specifying that the
principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility required to
be prepaid has been so prepaid. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail or deliver
to each Holder of Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase
price of such Notes, including accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
purchase, and the Company shall issue new Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly
authenticate and mail or deliver such new Notes to such Holders, in a principal
amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

                  (e) The Company shall make a public announcement of the
results of the Excess Cash Flow Offer as soon as practicable after the Excess
Cash Flow Payment Date. For the purposes of this Section 4.23, the Trustee shall
act as the Paying Agent.

                  (f) Each Excess Cash Flow Offer shall be conducted in
compliance with all applicable laws, including without limitation, Regulation
14E of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable
Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section
4.23, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and
regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this
covenant by virtue thereof.

                                       48
<PAGE>   55

Section 4.24. Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer.

                  (a) If the Company has Excess Cash Flow greater than $5.0
million, it shall make an offer (an "Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer") to
purchase Term B Notes and prepay Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan
Credit Facility at 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued
interest, if any, to the date of purchase or prepayment; provided that the
amount required to be paid by the Company to repurchase such Notes and prepay
Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Facility (exclusive of
interest) shall be limited to 50% of the amount by which Excess Cash Flow
exceeds $5.0 million. The Company must commence its Additional Excess Cash Flow
Offer within three Business Days of the commencement of the latest Excess Cash
Flow Offer. If the aggregate purchase price of the Term B Notes (exclusive of
interest) tendered pursuant to such Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer and the
principal amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be
prepaid is less than the Excess Cash Flow, then the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries may use the remaining Excess Cash Flow for general corporate
purposes not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

                  (b) Each Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer shall remain open
for a period of 20 Business Days and no longer, unless a longer period is
required by law (the "Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer Period"). Promptly after
the termination of the Additional Excess Cash Flow Period (the "Additional
Excess Cash Flow Payment Date"), the Company shall purchase and mail or deliver
payment for the Term B Notes or portions thereof tendered and the principal
amount of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid, pro
rata or by such other method as may be required by law. The principal amount of
Term B Notes required to be purchased and the principal amount of Indebtedness
under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid pursuant to an Additional
Excess Cash Flow Offer may be reduced by the principal amount of Term B Notes
acquired by the Company through purchase or redemption and the principal amount
of Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility prepaid (other than pursuant
to a Change of Control Offer, Excess Proceeds Offer or Excess Cash Flow Offer)
subsequent to the end of the fiscal year preceding such Additional Excess Cash
Flow Offer and prior to the Additional Excess Cash Flow Payment Date and
surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

                  (c) If an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer is required by the
terms of this Indenture, the Company shall commence such offer by mailing to the
Trustee and each Holder, at such Holder's last registered address, a notice,
which shall govern the terms of the Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer and shall
state:

                           (i) that the Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer is
         being made pursuant to this Section 4.24, the principal amount of Term
         B Notes which shall be accepted for payment and the principal amount of
         Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid and that
         all Term B Notes validly tendered together with the principal amount of
         Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility for which the holders
         thereof have requested prepayment shall be accepted for payment on a
         pro rata basis (or by such other method as may be required by law);

                                       49
<PAGE>   56

                           (ii) the purchase price and the Additional Excess
         Cash Flow Payment Date;

                           (iii) that any Term B Notes not tendered or accepted
         for payment pursuant to the Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer shall
         continue to accrue interest;

                           (iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment
         of the purchase price with respect to any Term B Notes tendered, Term B
         Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Additional Excess Cash Flow
         Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Additional Excess Cash
         Flow Payment Date;

                           (v) that Holders electing to have Term B Notes
         purchased pursuant to an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer shall be
         required to surrender their Term B Notes, with the form entitled
         "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Term B Note
         completed, to the Company prior to the close of business on the third
         Business Day immediately preceding the Additional Excess Cash Flow
         Payment Date;

                           (vi) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their
         election if the Company receives, not later than the close of business
         on the second Business Day preceding the Additional Excess Cash Flow
         Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting
         forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Term B Notes the
         Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is
         withdrawing his election to have such Term B Notes purchased;

                           (vii) that if the aggregate purchase price of the
         Term B Notes (exclusive of interest) tendered pursuant to the
         Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer and the principal amount of
         Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid are less
         than the Excess Cash Flow, the Company may use the remaining Additional
         Excess Cash Flow for general corporate purposes not prohibited by the
         terms of this Indenture;

                           (viii) that Holders whose Term B Notes are purchased
         only in part shall be issued Term B Notes representing the unpurchased
         portion of the Term B Notes surrendered, provided that each Term B Note
         purchased and each new Term B Note issued shall be in principal amount
         of $1,000 or whole multiples thereof; and

                           (ix) the instructions that Holders must follow in
         order to tender their Term B Notes.

                  (d) On or before the Additional Excess Cash Flow Payment Date,
the Company shall (i) accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent
necessary (unless some other method is required by law), the Term B Notes or
portions thereof tendered and the principal amount of Indebtedness under the
Term Loan Credit Facility to be prepaid pursuant to the Additional Excess Cash
Flow Offer, (ii) (A) deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the
purchase price of all Term B Notes or portions thereof so accepted and (B) pay
to the holders of Indebtedness then outstanding under the Term Loan Credit
Facility the pro rata portion of Excess Proceeds required to be applied to
prepay such Indebtedness and (iii) deliver to the Trustee the Term B Notes so
accepted, together with an Officers' Certificate stating that the Term B Notes
or portions thereof tendered to the Company are accepted for payment and

                                       50
<PAGE>   57

specifying that the principal amount of the Indebtedness under the Term Loan
Credit Facility then required to be prepaid has been so prepaid. The Paying
Agent shall promptly mail or deliver to each Holder of Term B Notes so accepted
payment in an amount equal to the purchase price of such Term B Notes including
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, and the Company shall issue
new Term B Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail or
deliver such new Term B Notes to such Holders, in a principal amount equal to
the unpurchased portion of the Term B Note surrendered.

                  (e) The Company shall make a public announcement of the
results of the Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer as soon as practicable after
the Additional Excess Cash Flow Payment Date. For the purposes of this Section
4.24, the Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent.

                  (f) Each Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer shall be conducted
in compliance with all applicable laws, including without limitation, Regulation
14E of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder and all other applicable
Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section
4.24, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and
regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this
covenant by virtue thereof.

Section 4.25. Fiscal Year End.

                  The Company shall not change its fiscal year end from June 30.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                                   SUCCESSORS

Section 5.1. When the Company May Merge, etc.

                  The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into
(whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign,
convey, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its properties
or assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries) in one or more related transactions to, any other Person unless:

                           (i) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person
         formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
         the Company) or to which such transfer has been made is a corporation
         organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state
         thereof or the District of Columbia,

                           (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such
         consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to
         which such transfer has been made assumes all the Obligations of the
         Company, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee under the Notes, this Indenture, the
         Security Documents and the Registration Rights Agreement,

                           (iii) immediately before and after such transaction,
         no Default or Event of Default exists, and

                                       51
<PAGE>   58

                           (iv) the Company, or any Person formed by or
         surviving any such consolidation or merger, or to which such transfer
         has been made, (A) has a Consolidated Net Worth (immediately after the
         transaction but prior to any purchase accounting adjustments resulting
         from the transaction) not less than 100% of the Consolidated Net Worth
         of the Company immediately preceding the transaction and (B) shall be
         permitted, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro forma
         effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of
         the applicable four-quarter period, to incur at least $1.00 of
         additional Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.9(a) hereof.

                  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the
consummation of any proposed transaction an Officers' Certificate to the
foregoing effect, an Opinion of Counsel, stating all conditions precedent to the
proposed transaction provided for in this Indenture have been complied with and
a written statement from a firm of independent public accountants of established
national reputation reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that the
proposed transaction complies with clause (iv) of this Section 5.1.

Section 5.2. Successor Substituted.

                  In the event of any transaction contemplated by Section 5.1
hereof, the successor formed by such consolidation or into or with which the
Company is merged or to which such transfer is made, as the case may be, shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company, and the Company shall be discharged from its Obligations under this
Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents and the Registration Rights
Agreement with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the
Company herein or therein; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
relieved from such Obligations in the case of a lease.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                              DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.1. Events of Default.

                  An "Event of Default" with respect to either the Senior
Secured Notes or Term B Notes occurs if:

                           (1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest
         on any Note of such issue when the same becomes due and payable and the
         Default continues for a period of 30 days;

                           (2) the Company defaults in the payment of the
         principal (or premium, if any) on any Note of such issue when the same
         becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration,
         in connection with an Excess Proceeds Offer, a Change of Control Offer,
         an Excess Cash Flow Offer, an Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer in the
         case of the Term B Notes or otherwise;

                           (3) the Company or any Guarantor defaults in the
         performance of or breaches the provisions of Section 4.7, 4.9 or 5.1
         hereof;

                                       52
<PAGE>   59

                           (4) the Company or any Guarantor fails to comply with
         any of its other agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the
         Notes of such issue, this Indenture or any Security Document and the
         Default continues for 30 days after written notice thereof has been
         given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee
         by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
         then outstanding Notes of such issue, such notice to state that it is a
         "Notice of Default",

                           (5) a default occurs under (after giving effect to
         any waivers, amendments, applicable grace periods or any extension of
         any maturity date) any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which
         there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
         Indebtedness by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (or the
         payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted
         Subsidiary), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists or is
         created after the date of this Indenture, if (a) either (i) such
         default results from the failure to pay principal on such Indebtedness
         or (ii) as a result of such default the maturity of such Indebtedness
         has been accelerated, and (b) the principal amount of such
         Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such
         Indebtedness with respect to which such a payment default (after the
         expiration of any applicable grace period or any extension of the
         maturity date) has occurred, or the maturity of which has been so
         accelerated, exceeds $5.0 million in the aggregate;

                           (6) a final non-appealable judgment or judgments for
         the payment of money (other than judgments as to which a reputable
         insurance company has accepted full liability subject only to customary
         deductibles) is or are entered by a court or courts of competent
         jurisdiction against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and such
         judgment or judgments remain undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a
         period of 60 days after entry, provided that the aggregate of all such
         judgments exceeds $5.0 million;

                           (7) written assertion is made by the Company or any
         of the Guarantors, of the unenforceability of their obligations under
         this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Notes, or the Guarantees to
         which they are a party;

                           (8) the Company or any Material Subsidiary pursuant
         to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

                                    (a)      commences a voluntary case,

                                    (b)      consents to the entry of an order
                                             for relief against it in an
                                             involuntary case,

                                    (c)      consents to the appointment of a
                                             Custodian of it or for all or
                                             substantially all of its property,

                                    (d)      makes a general assignment for the
                                             benefit of its creditors,

                                    (e)      admits in writing its inability to
                                             pay debts as the same become due;
                                             or

                                       53
<PAGE>   60

                           (9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order
         or decree, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for
         60 days under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                                    (a)      is for relief against the Company
                                             or any Material Subsidiary in an
                                             involuntary case,

                                    (b)      appoints a Custodian of the Company
                                             or any Material Subsidiary or for
                                             all or substantially all of their
                                             property,

                                    (c)      orders the liquidation of the
                                             Company, or any Material
                                             Subsidiary.

Section 6.2. Acceleration.

                  If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default
specified in clauses (8) and (9) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing with
respect to either issue of Notes, the Trustee by written notice to the Company,
or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes of each issue affected by written notice to the Company and
the Trustee, may declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest on all
the Notes of such issue to be due and payable. Upon such declaration the
principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of
Default specified in clause (8) or (9) of Section 6.1 with respect to the
Company occurs, all outstanding Notes of both issues shall ipso facto become and
be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the Trustee or any Holder. At any time after a declaration of acceleration,
but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained
by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes outstanding of such issue, by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (a) the
Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (i) all
sums paid or advanced by the Trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, (ii) all
overdue interest (including any interest accrued subsequent to an Event of
Default specified in clauses (8) and (9) of Section 6. 1) on all Notes of such
issue, (iii) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Notes of such issue
that have become due otherwise than by such declaration or occurrence of
acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes of such issue,
and (iv) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon
overdue interest at the rate borne by the Notes of such issue; (b) all Events of
Default, other than the non-payment of principal of and interest on the Notes of
such issue that have become due solely by such declaration or occurrence of
acceleration, have been cured or waived; and (c) the rescission would not
conflict with any judgment, order or decree of any court of competent
jurisdiction.

                  If an Event of Default occurs by reason of any willful action
(or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the
intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to
pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.7
hereof, then, upon acceleration of such Notes, an equivalent premium shall also
become and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law,
anything in this Indenture or in such Notes to the contrary notwithstanding.

                                       54
<PAGE>   61

Section 6.3. Other Remedies.

                  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect
to either issue of Notes, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy (under
this Indenture or otherwise) to collect the payment of principal or interest on
the Notes of the applicable issue to enforce the performance of any provision of
the Notes, this Indenture or the Security Documents.

                  The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not
possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A
delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy
accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are
cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

Section 6.4. Waiver of Past Defaults.

                  Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes of either issue by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes of such issue waive any
existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences with respect to such
issue under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in
the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any Note or a Default or an
Event of Default with respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note
affected. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every
purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.5. Control by Majority.

                  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes of either issue may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising
any trust or power conferred on it with respect to the Notes of such issue.
However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law
or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the
rights of other Holders, or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.6. Limitation on Suits.

                  A Holder of Notes of either issue may pursue a remedy with
respect to this Indenture or the Notes of such issue only if:

                  (a) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a
         continuing Event of Default;

                  (b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount
         of the then outstanding Notes of such issue make a written request to
         the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

                                       55
<PAGE>   62

                  (c) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to
         the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
         liability or expense;

                  (d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60
         days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the
         provision of indemnity; and

                  (e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in
         principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such issue do not
         give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or
to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

Section 6.7. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the
right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal and interest on
the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including
with respect to an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of the Holder.

Section 6.8. Collection Suit by Trustee.

                  If an Event of Default specified in Section 6. 1(1) or (2)
occurs and is continuing with respect to Notes of either issue, the Trustee is
authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal and interest
remaining unpaid on the Notes of such issue and interest on overdue principal
(and premium, if any) and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

Section 6.9. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

                  The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the
claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and
the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any
other obligor under the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be
entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such
judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to
the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to
it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.7 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and
any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof out of the estate in
any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall
be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and

                                       56
<PAGE>   63

all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the
Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in
liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize
or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or
the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect
of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10. Priorities.

                  If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it
shall pay out the money in accordance with the requirements of the Intercreditor
Agreement and to the extent received in accordance therewith, in the following
order:

                  First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts
due under Section 7.7, including payment of all compensation, expense and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and
expenses of collection,

                  Second: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for
principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for
principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively;

                  Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent
jurisdiction shall direct.

                  The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any
payment to Holders.

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.

                  In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by
any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit,
and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due
regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party
litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a
Holder pursuant to Section 6.7, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                                     TRUSTEE

Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee.

                           (1) If an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in
it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise
as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.

                                       57
<PAGE>   64

                           (2) Except during the continuance of an Event of
Default:

                                    (a) The duties of the Trustee shall be
                  determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture,
                  and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are
                  specifically set forth in this Indenture and the Security
                  Documents to which it is a party, and no others, and no
                  implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
                  Indenture against the Trustee.

                                    (b) In the absence of bad faith on its part,
                  the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
                  statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
                  therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
                  Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture
                  and the Security Documents. However, the Trustee shall examine
                  the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they
                  conform to the requirements of this Indenture and the Security
                  Documents (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of
                  mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

                           (3) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities
for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own
willful misconduct, except that:

                                    (a) This paragraph does not limit the effect
                  of paragraph (2) of this Section.

                                    (b) The Trustee shall not be liable for any
                  error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer,
                  unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in
                  ascertaining the pertinent facts.

                                    (c) The Trustee shall not be liable with
                  respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith
                  in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to
                  Section 6.5.

                           (4) Whether or not therein expressly so provided,
every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is
subject to paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this Section.

                           (5) No provision of this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may
refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives
indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

                           (6) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on
any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the
Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee.

                  (1) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document
(including a facsimile of such document) believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not
investigate any fact or matter stated in any

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<PAGE>   65

resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may
make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises
of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the
Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by
reason of such inquiry or investigation.

                           (2) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting,
it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The
Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel
or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

                           (3) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not
be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.

                           (4) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it
takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or
within its discretion or its rights or powers conferred upon it by this
Indenture.

                           (5) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this
Indenture or the Security Documents, any demand, request, direction or notice
from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company, on
behalf of the Company.

                           (6) Except with respect to Section 4. 1, the Trustee
shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company's covenants
in Article 4 hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default
occurring pursuant to Sections 6.1(1), 6.1(2) and 4. 1, or (ii) any Default or
Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer the Trustee shall have received
written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

                           (7) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the
request or discretion of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless
such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

                           (8) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities
and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to
be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in
each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person
employed to act hereunder.

                           (9) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver
an Officers' Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of
officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this
Indenture, which Officers' Certificates may be signed

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<PAGE>   66

by any person authorized to sign an Officers' Certificate, including any person
specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not
superseded.

Section 7.3. Individual Rights of Trustee.

                  The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become
the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not
Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee is
subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.4. Trustee's Disclaimer.

                  The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no
representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it
shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or
any money paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any
provision hereof, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any
money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults.

                  If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and
if the Trustee has knowledge thereof (within the meaning of Section 7.2(6)), the
Trustee shall mail to the Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default
within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default of an Event of
Default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note,
the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its
Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in
the interests of the Holders of the Notes.

Section 7.6. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

                  Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15
following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders a
brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA Section
313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the
twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The
Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). The Trustee shall also
transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA Section 313(c).

                  Commencing at the time this Indenture is qualified under the
TIA, a copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be
filed with the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed.
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any
stock exchange.

Section 7.7. Compensation and Indemnity.

                  The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such
compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the
parties shall agree in writing from

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<PAGE>   67

time to time. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on
compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the
Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and
expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its
services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements
and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel, except such disbursements,
advances and expenses as may be attributable to its negligence.

                  The Company shall indemnify the Trustee, and any predecessor
Trustee and their agents, against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses
incurred by it on its part arising out of or in connection with the acceptance
or administration of its duties or trusts under this Indenture, the
Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, except as set forth below.
The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek
indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the
Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the
Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. In the event that a conflict of interest
or conflicting defenses would arise in connection with the representation of the
Company and the Trustee by the same counsel, the Trustee may have separate
counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such
counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                  The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.7 shall
survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or
removal of the Trustee.

                  The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify
against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through its own
negligence.

                  To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section,
the Company hereby grants to the Trustee a security interest on all money or
property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on particular Notes. Such Lien
shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

                  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(8) or (9) occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.8. Replacement of Trustee.

                  A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's
acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

                  The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the
trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee
by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee
if.

                  (a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

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<PAGE>   68

                  (b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an
order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy
Law;

                  (c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee
or its property; or

                  (d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

                  If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in
the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a
successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed
by the Company.

                  If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, at the
Company's expense, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  If the Trustee after written request by any Holder who has
been a Holder for at least six months fails to comply with Section 7.10, such
Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the
Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                  A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the
successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee
under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its
succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all
property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided that all sums
owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid. Notwithstanding replacement of
the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company's obligations under
Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee, and
the Company shall pay to any such replaced or removed Trustee all amounts owed
under Section 7.7 upon such replacement or removal.

Section 7.9. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

                  If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or
transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another
corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the
successor Trustee. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail a
notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Notes

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

                  There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall (a)
be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States of America or of any state thereof or of the District of Columbia
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, (b) be subject
to supervision or examination by Federal or state or the District of Columbia
authority, and (c) have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

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<PAGE>   69

                  This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the
requirements of TIA Sections 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5). The Trustee is
subject to TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded
from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under
which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other
securities, of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such
exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

                  The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any
creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated
therein. The provisions of TIA Section 311 shall apply to the Company, as
obligor on the Notes.

                                   ARTICLE 8
            SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 8.1. Discharge: Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant
             Defeasance.

                  This Indenture and the Security Documents shall cease to be of
further effect (except that the Company's and the Guarantors' obligations under
Section 7.7 and the Trustee's and the Paying Agent's obligations under Sections
8.6 and 8.7 shall survive) when all outstanding Notes of both issues theretofore
authenticated and issued have been delivered (other than destroyed, lost or
stolen Notes that have been replaced or paid) to the Trustee for cancellation
and the Company or the Guarantors have paid all sums payable hereunder. In
addition, the Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by
a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, elect at any time to have
Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 of this Indenture applied to all outstanding Notes of
both issues upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article
8.

Section 8.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

                  Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company and the Guarantors shall be
deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to
all outstanding Notes of both issues on the date the conditions set forth below
are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal
Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire indebtedness represented by the Notes of both issues, and this
Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Notes of
both issues and the Guaranty, except as to be deemed to be "outstanding" only
for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and the Company and the Guarantors shall be
deemed to have satisfied all other of their respective obligations under such
Notes, the Guaranty, the Security Documents and this Indenture (and the Trustee,
on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until
otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of
outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on such Notes when such payments are due solely from the
trust described in

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<PAGE>   70

Section 8.5, (b) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under
Sections 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10 and 4.2 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts,
duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's and the
Guarantors' obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article 8. Subject
to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under
this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section
8.3 hereof with respect to the Notes.

Section 8.3. Covenant Defeasance.

                  Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the
option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company and the Guarantors shall be
released from their respective obligations under the covenants contained in
Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17,
4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, 4.24, 4.25 and clauses (iii) and (iv) of
Section 5.1 and Article 10 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes of both
issues on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied
(hereinafter, "Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes of both issues shall
thereafter be deemed not "outstanding" for the purposes of any direction,
waiver, consent or declaration or other act of Holders (and the consequences of
any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed
"outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, Covenant
Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes of both issues,
neither the Company nor any Guarantor need comply with and shall have any
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such
covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant
to any other provision herein or in any other document, but, except as specified
above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected
thereby. In addition, upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of
the option applicable to this Section 8.3, Sections 6.1(5) through 6.1(9) hereof
shall not constitute Events of Default with respect to the Notes.

Section 8.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

                  The following shall be the conditions to the application of
either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof to the outstanding Notes of both issues:

                  (i) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to
be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of
Section 7. 10 hereof who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this
Article 8 applicable to it), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the
Notes, cash, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof,
in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on such outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment
thereof or on the redemption date of such principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on such Notes, the Company shall specify whether the Notes are being
defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date, and the Holders of
Notes must have a valid, perfected, exclusive security interest in such trust,
(ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been
published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of
this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax
law, in

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<PAGE>   71

either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall
confirm that, the Holders of such outstanding Notes will not recognize income,
gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal
Defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the
same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal
Defeasance had not occurred; (iii) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that the Holders of such
outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to Federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (iv) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of
such deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result
in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound; (vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders of such Notes over the other creditors of the Company
with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding other creditors
of the Company; and (vii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the
conditions precedent provided for, in the case of the Officers' Certificate, (i)
through (vi) and, in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (i), (with
respect to the validity and perfection of the security interest) (ii), (iii) and
(v) of this paragraph, have been complied with.

Section 8.5. Deposited Cash and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust;
Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

                  Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all cash and U.S. Government
Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or
other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the
"Paying Agent") pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding
Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Paying Agent, in accordance with
the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly
or through any other Paying Agent as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders
of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal,
premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law.

                  The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any
tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government
Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 or the principal and interest
received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which
by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Notes.

Section 8.6. Repayment to the Company.

                  (a) Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee or the Paying Agent shall deliver or pay to the
Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any cash or U.S.
Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 8.4 hereof, which in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may
be the opinion

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<PAGE>   72

delivered under Section 8.3(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that
would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance
or Covenant Defeasance.

                  (b) Subject to applicable escheat and abandoned property laws,
any cash and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof)
deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in
trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any
Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if
any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its
request or if held by the Company shall be discharged from such trust; and the
Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the
Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however,
that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the
New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such
money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall
not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

                  Nothing contained in this Section 8.6 shall be deemed to
affect any obligation of the Trustee or any Paying Agent to search for lost
Holders pursuant to Rule 17Ad-17 under the Exchange Act.

Section 8.7. Reinstatement.

                  If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or
U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.5 hereof, by reason of
any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining,
restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, or if any event occurs at
any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit pursuant
to Section 8.4 hereof which event would constitute an Event of Default under
Section 6.1 (8) or (9) had Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case
may be, not occurred, then the Company's and the Guarantors' respective
obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Guaranty and the Security
Documents shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred
pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply such money in accordance with Sections 8.2 and 8.3 hereof, as
the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the cash or U.S.
Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

                                    ARTICLE 9
                                   AMENDMENTS

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.

                  Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the
Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture,
the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and any Security Document without the
consent of any Holder:

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<PAGE>   73

                           (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

                           (2) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition
         to or in place of certificated Notes;

                           (3) to comply with Article 5 and Section 10.13
         hereof;

                           (4) to make any change that would provide any
         additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does
         not materially adversely affect the legal rights hereunder or
         thereunder of any Holder,

                           (5) to comply with requirements of the Commission in
         order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under
         the TIA; or

                           (6) to release any Guarantee of the Notes permitted
         to be released under Section 10.14 hereof.

                  Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution of
any such supplemental indenture or amendment, and upon receipt by the Trustee of
the documents described in Section 9.6 hereof required or requested by the
Trustee, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
supplemental indenture or amendment authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and shall make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations
which may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter
into such supplemental indenture or amendment that affects its own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

                  Except as provided below in this Section 9.2, and subject to
the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Company, the Guarantors and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and
any Security Document and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes of each issue affected thereby then outstanding (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer
or exchange offer for the Notes of such issue), and, subject to Sections 6.4 and
6.7 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any
provision of this Indenture or the Notes of either issue may be waived with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes of each issue affected thereby (including consents obtained in
connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes of such issue).

                  Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution of
any such supplemental indenture or amendment, and upon filing with the Trustee
of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as
aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section
9.6 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such
supplemental indenture or amendment unless such supplemental indenture or
amendment affects

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<PAGE>   74

the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture,

                  It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under
this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent
approves the substance thereof.

                  After a supplemental indenture, amendment or waiver under this
Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of each Note of
each issue affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental
indenture, amendment or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice,
or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the
validity of any such supplemental indenture, amendment or waiver.

                  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, without the
consent of each Holder affected, a supplemental indenture, amendment or waiver
under this Section may not (with respect to any Notes of either issue held by a
non-consenting Holder):

                           (1) reduce the principal amount of Notes of such
         issue whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

                           (2) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment
         of interest, including any additional interest provided for in the
         Registration Rights Agreement, on any Note of such issue;

                           (3) reduce the principal of, or the premium on, or
         change the fixed maturity of any Note of such issue or alter Article 3
         hereof or numbered paragraph 5 or 6 of Exhibit A to this Indenture or
         the price at which the Company shall offer to purchase such Notes of
         such issue pursuant to Section 4.10, 4.14, 4.23 or, in the case of the
         Term B Notes, 4.24 hereof, or change the exchange ratio in paragraph 7
         of the Term B Notes;

                           (4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the
         payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on, or purchase
         payment with respect to, any Note of such issue (other than a Default
         in the payment of an amount due as a result of an acceleration if the
         Holders rescind such acceleration pursuant to Section 6.2);

                           (5) make any Note of such issue payable in money
         other than that stated in such Notes;

                           (6) make any change in Section 6.4 or 6.7 hereof or
         in this Section 9.2;

                           (7) waive a purchase payment with respect to any Note
         of such issue;

                           (8) make any change adversely affecting the
         contractual ranking of the Obligations with respect to such issue; or

                           (9) make any change in the foregoing amendments,
         supplement or waiver provisions.

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                  A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time
to time by the Company or the Trustee for the purpose of taking or consenting to
any action authorized or contemplated to be taken hereunder by the Holders,
notice of such meeting to be provided in the manner set forth herein.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such
reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any action by or any meeting
of Holders.

Section 9.3. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

                  If, at the time of an amendment or supplement to this
Indenture or the Notes, this Indenture shall be qualified under the TIA, every
amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in a
supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.4. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

                  Until a supplemental indenture, an amendment or waiver becomes
effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note of either issue is a continuing
consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note
of such issue that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Note, even
if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. A supplemental indenture,
amendment or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and
thereafter binds every Holder.

                  The Company may fix a record date for determining which
Holders must consent to such supplemental indenture, amendment or waiver. If the
Company fixes a record date, the record date shall be fixed at (i) the later of
30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most
recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation
pursuant to Section 2.5, or (ii) such other date as the Company shall designate.

Section 9.5. Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

                  The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about a
supplemental indenture, amendment or waiver on any Note thereafter
authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee
shall authenticate new Notes that reflect the supplement, amendment or waiver.

                  Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note
shall not affect the validity and effect of such supplement, amendment or
waiver.

Section 9.6. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

                  The Trustee shall sign any amendment or supplemental indenture
authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not
adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.
If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign it. In signing or refusing to
sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive and, subject to Section 7.1, shall be fully protected in relying upon,
an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that
such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture, and that it is valid

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<PAGE>   76

and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms. The Company may not
sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors of the
Company approves it.

                                   ARTICLE 10
                      COLLATERAL AND SECURITY AND GUARANTY

Section 10.1. Collateral Documents.

                  The due and punctual payment of the principal and premium, if
any, of, and interest on, the Notes when and as the same shall be due and
payable, whether on an interest payment date, at stated maturity, by
acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue
principal of and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on the Notes
and performance of all other Obligations, shall be secured as provided in the
Security Documents.

                  The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all such acts and things as may be
necessary or proper, or as may be required by the provisions of the Security
Documents, to assure and confirm to the Collateral Agent the security interest
in the Collateral contemplated hereby and by the Security Documents, as from
time to time constituted, so as to render the same available for the security
and benefit of this Indenture and of the Notes secured hereby, according to the
intent and purposes herein and therein expressed. The Company shall, and shall
cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take, upon request of the Trustee
or the Collateral Agent, any and all actions required to cause the Security
Documents to create and maintain, as security for the Obligations, valid and
enforceable, perfected (except as expressly provided herein or therein), Liens
in and on all the Collateral, in favor of the Collateral Agent, superior to and
prior to the rights of all third Persons, and subject to no other Liens, other
than as provided herein and therein.

                  Each Holder of a Note, by its acceptance thereof, consents and
agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement
(including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and
release of Collateral and indemnification of the Collateral Agent) as the same
may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their
terms and authorizes and directs (i) the Collateral Agent, with respect to each
of the Security Documents to which it is a party and the Intercreditor
Agreement, and (ii) the Trustee, with respect to the Intercreditor Agreement, to
perform their respective obligations and exercise their respective rights
thereunder in accordance therewith; provided, however, that upon qualification
of this Indenture with the TIA, if any provision of the Intercreditor Agreement
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the provisions of the
TIA, the TIA shall control.

                  The assets constituting "Collateral" on the Issue Date served
as collateral for the Company's credit facility as in effect immediately prior
to the Issue Date (the "Old Credit Facility"), and the lending institutions
thereunder amended the documents creating their Liens to also secure the Notes
in connection with the substitution, modification, refunding and replacement of
the Indebtedness outstanding under the Old Credit Facility contemplated by the
offering of the Notes, the Term Loan Credit Facility and the New Credit
Facility.

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<PAGE>   77

Section 10.2. Opinions.

                  To the extent required by the TIA, the Company shall furnish
to the Trustee within three months after each anniversary of the Closing Date,
an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of such date, stating either that (i) in the
opinion of such counsel, all action has been taken with respect to the
recording, registering, filing, re-recording, re-registering and refiling of
this Indenture and the Security Documents, financing statements, continuation
statements or other instruments of further assurance as is necessary to maintain
the Liens intended to be created by the Security Documents and reciting the
details of such action or (ii) in the opinion of such Counsel, no such action is
necessary to maintain such Liens, which Opinion of Counsel also shall state what
actions it then believes are necessary to maintain the effectiveness of such
Liens during the next two years.

Section 10.3. Release and Substitution of Collateral.

                  Collateral shall be released or substituted in accordance with
the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 10.4. [Intentionally Omitted.]

Section 10.5. [Intentionally Omitted.]

Section 10.6. Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee Under the
              Security Documents.

                  Subject to the provisions of the Security Documents to which
it is a party and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may, in its sole
discretion and without the consent of the Holders, on behalf of the Holders,
take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to (a) enforce any
of the terms of the Security Documents and (b) collect and receive any and all
amounts payable in respect of the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors
hereunder. The Trustee shall have the power to institute and to maintain such
suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the
Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security
Documents or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee may
deem expedient to preserve or protect its interest and the interests of the
Holders in the Collateral (including power to institute and maintain suits or
proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or
other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment,
rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to
the interests of the Holders or the Trustee).

Section 10.7. Authorization of Receipt of Funds by the Trustee Under the
              Security Documents.

                  The Trustee is authorized to receive any funds for the benefit
of the Holders distributed under the Security Documents, and to make further
distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this
Indenture and the Security Documents to which it is a party.

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<PAGE>   78

Section 10.8. Release Upon Termination of the Company's Obligations.

                  (a) If the Company delivers to the Trustee (i) an Officers'
Certificate certifying that this Indenture has been discharged pursuant to
Section 8.1 hereof or (ii) an Officers' Certificate pursuant to clause (vii) of
Section 8.4 hereof, thereupon the Trustee shall deliver to the Collateral Agent
a notice stating that the Trustee, for itself and on behalf of the Holders,
disclaims and has given up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral,
and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and, upon and after the
receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall no
longer be deemed to hold the Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee for
the benefit of itself and the Holders.

                  (b) Any release of Collateral made in compliance with this
Section 10.7 shall not be deemed to impair the Lien under the Security Documents
or the Collateral thereunder in contravention of the provisions of this
Indenture or the Security Documents.

Section 10.9. Guaranty.

                  For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, subject to Section 10.10 hereof,
each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees (such
guarantees being collectively called, the "Guaranty") to each Holder, the
Trustee and the Collateral Agent, irrespective of the validity or enforceability
of this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents or the Obligations
hereunder or thereunder: (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal and
premium, if any, of, and interest on, the Notes (including, without limitation,
interest after the filing of a petition initiating any proceedings referred to
in clause (8) or (9) of Section 6.1 hereof), whether at stated maturity or on an
interest payment date, by acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise; (ii)
the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and premium,
if any, of, and interest on, the Notes, if lawful; (iii) the due and punctual
payment and performance of all other Obligations, all in accordance with the
terms set forth herein and in the Notes and the Security Documents; and (iv) in
case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such
other Obligations, the due and punctual payment or performance thereof in
accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

                  Failing payment when due by the Company, subject to any
applicable grace period, of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the
Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.

                  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that (i) its obligations
hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or
enforceability of the Notes, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the
Obligations hereunder or thereunder, the absence of any action to enforce the
same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof
or thereof, any releases of Collateral, any amendment of this Indenture, the
Notes or Security Documents, any delays in obtaining or realizing upon or
failures to obtain or realize upon Collateral, the recovery of any judgment
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any action to enforce the same,
or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of a guarantor and (ii) this Guaranty will not be
discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations.

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<PAGE>   79

                  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that it shall not be entitled to
and irrevocably waives (i) diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of
claim with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any
Guarantor, any other Subsidiary of the Company or any other obligor under the
Notes, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, any
Guarantor, any other Subsidiary of the Company or any other obligor under this
Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents, protest, notice and all demands
whatsoever, (ii) any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration,
contribution or indemnification in respect of any Obligations guaranteed hereby
and (iii) any claim or other rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that arise from the existence or
performance of its Obligations under this Guaranty, including, without
limitation, any right to participate in any claim or remedy of a Holder against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Collateral that a Holder now has
or hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises, in
equity or under contract, statute or common law, by any payment made hereunder
or otherwise, and including, without limitation, the right to take or receive
from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, in cash or
other property, by setoff or in any other manner, payment or security on account
of such claim or other rights.

                  If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or
otherwise to return to the Company, any Guarantor, any other Subsidiary of the
Company or any other obligor under this Indenture, the Notes or the Security
Documents, trustee, liquidator, or other similar official, any amount paid by
the Company, any Guarantor, any other Subsidiary of the Company or any other
obligor under this Indenture, the Notes or the Security Documents to the Trustee
or such Holder, this Guaranty, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be
reinstated in full force and effect.

                  Each Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the
one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity
of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Section
6.2 for the purposes of this Guaranty, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or
other prohibition preventing such acceleration as to the Company of the
Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of
acceleration of those Obligations as provided in Section 6.2, those Obligations
(whether or not due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by each
of the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guaranty.

Section 10.10. Execution and Delivery of Guaranty.

                  To evidence the Guaranty set forth in Section 10.8 each
Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Guaranty substantially as set
forth on Exhibit C hereto may be endorsed on each Note authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee. Such endorsement shall be executed on behalf of each
Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, Secretary or any Vice President.

                  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guaranty set forth in
Section 10.8 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure
to endorse on each Note a notation of such Guaranty.

                  If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer
holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Notes on which a
Guaranty is endorsed, the Guaranty shall nevertheless be valid.

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<PAGE>   80

                  The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the
authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guaranty
on behalf of the Guarantor.

Section 10.11. Limitation on Guarantor's Liability.

                  Each Guarantor and by its acceptance hereof each Holder hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such
Guarantor pursuant to its Guaranty not constitute a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance for purposes of any Federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing
intention, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the
obligations of each Guarantor under its Guaranty shall be limited to the maximum
amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed
liabilities of such Guarantor and to any collections from or payments made by or
on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other
Guarantor under its Guaranty, result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under
the Guaranty not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer
under Federal or state law.

Section 10.12. Rights under the Guaranty.

                  (a) No payment by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions
hereof shall entitle such Guarantor to any payment out of any Collateral or give
rise to any claim of the Guarantors against the Trustee or any Holder.

                  (b) Each Guarantor waives notice of the issuance, sale and
purchase of the Notes and notice from the Trustee or the Holders from time to
time of any of the Notes of their acceptance and reliance on this Guaranty.

                  (c) No set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any
obligation or any defense of any kind or nature (other than performance by the
Guarantors of their obligations hereunder) that any Guarantor may have or assert
against the Trustee or any Holder shall be available hereunder to such
Guarantor.

                  (d) Each Guarantor shall pay all costs, expenses and fees,
including all reasonable attorneys' fees, that may be incurred by the Trustee in
enforcing or attempting to enforce the Guaranty or protecting the rights of the
Trustee or the Holder, if any, in accordance with this Indenture.

Section 10.13. Primary Obligations.

                  The Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall constitute a
guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor agrees that it is
directly liable to each Holder hereunder, that the Obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder are independent of the Obligations of the Company or any other
Guarantor, and that a separate action may be brought against each Guarantor,
whether such action is brought against the Company or any other Guarantor or
whether the Company or any other Guarantor is joined in such action. Each
Guarantor agrees that its liability hereunder shall be immediate and shall not
be contingent upon the exercise or enforcement by the Trustee or the Holders of
whatever remedies they may have against the Company or any other Guarantor, or
the enforcement of any lien or realization upon any security Trustee may at any
time possess. Each Guarantor agrees that any release that may be given by the
Trustee or the Holders to the Company or any other Guarantor shall not release
such Guarantor.

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Section 10.14. Guarantee by Subsidiary.

                  The Company shall cause each domestic Restricted Subsidiary
that is formed or acquired after the date hereof or that otherwise becomes a
domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the date hereof, in each case concurrently
therewith, to (i) become a Guarantor hereunder and execute and deliver to the
Trustee a notation of Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto and a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D
attached hereto pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary shall
unconditionally guarantee all of the Company's Obligations as set forth in
Section 10.8 of this Indenture; and (ii) execute a Security Agreement
(substantially in the form of the Security Agreement entered into on the Closing
Date) and other Security Documents necessary or reasonably requested by the
Trustee to grant the Trustee a valid, enforceable, perfected Lien on the
Collateral described therein, subject only to Liens permitted under Section
4.12; and (iii) cause such Restricted Subsidiary to deliver to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, that (i)
such Security Agreement, supplemental indenture and notation of Guaranty have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Restricted Subsidiary, (ii)
such Security Agreement, this Indenture and such Guaranty constitute a legal,
valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, subject
to customary exceptions for bankruptcy, fraudulent transfer and equitable
principles and (iii) to such further effect as required by Section 9.6 hereof.

Section 10.15. Guarantors May Consolidate, Etc., on Certain Terms.

                  (a) Except as set forth in Articles 4 and 5 hereof, nothing
contained in this Indenture shall prohibit a merger between a Guarantor and
another Guarantor or a merger between a Guarantor and the Company.

                  (b) No Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge with or into
(whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other
than the Company or another Guarantor), whether or not affiliated with such
Guarantor, unless, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 10.15 hereof, the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
such Guarantor) assumes all the Obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to a
supplemental indenture, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto; (ii)
immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or
Event of Default exists; (iii) the Company would have Consolidated Net Worth
(immediately after giving effect to such transaction but prior to any purchase
accounting adjustments resulting from the transaction), equal to or greater than
the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately preceding the transaction;
and (iv) the Company, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro forma
effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Interest Coverage Ratio test set forth
in the first paragraph of Section 4.9 hereof.

                  (c) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the
consummation of any proposed transaction an Officers' Certificate to the
foregoing effect, an Opinion of Counsel, stating all conditions precedent to the
proposed transaction provided for in this Indenture have

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<PAGE>   82

been complied with and a written statement from a firm of independent public
accountants of established national reputation reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee stating that the proposed transaction complies with clause (iv) of
subsection (b) above.

                  (d) In the case of any such consolidation or merger and upon
the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto, of the
Obligations of the Guarantor, such successor Person shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Guarantor.

Section 10.16. Release of Guarantors.

                  In the event of a sale or other disposition (other than to the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) of all of the Capital Stock of
any Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, then such Guarantor
shall be released and relieved of all its Obligations; provided, however, that
(i) in the event such transaction constitutes an Asset Sale, the Net Proceeds
from such sale or other disposition are treated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4.10 hereof and (ii) the Company is in compliance with all
other provisions of this Indenture applicable to such disposition. Further, in
the event that the Company designates a Guarantor to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary, then such Guarantor shall be release and relieved of any obligations
under its Guaranty; provided, however, that such designation is conducted in
accordance with this Indenture. Upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of
an Officers' Certificate to the effect of the foregoing, the Trustee shall
execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of
any Guarantor from its obligations under its Guaranty. Any Guarantor not
released from its obligations under its Guaranty shall remain liable for the
full amount of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and
for the other Obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in
this Article 10.

                                   ARTICLE 11
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.1. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

                  If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or
conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA Section 318(c), the imposed duties
shall control.

Section 11.2. Notices.

                  Any notice or communication by the Company, any Guarantor or
the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing (in the English language)
and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified,
return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next
day delivery, to the others' addresses:

                  If to the Company or the Guarantors:

                  Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc.
                  3232 Sherwood Forest Blvd.
                  Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
                  Attention:  Mark L. Mestayer
                  Telecopier No.:  (225) 296-8332

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<PAGE>   83

                  If to the Trustee:

                  The Bank of New York
                  101 Barclay Street, 21W
                  New York, New York 10286
                  Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
                  Telecopier No.:  (212) 815-5915

                  The Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee by notice to
the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent
notices or communications.

                  All notices and communications (other than those sent to
Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand,
if personally delivered; upon receipt, if deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day
after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery. All notices and communications to the Trustee
shall be deemed to have been duly given only if actually received by the
Trustee.

                  Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by
first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, to his
address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication
shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 313 (c), to the
extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a
Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to
other Holders.

                  If a notice communication is mailed in the manner provided
above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.

                  If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it
shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 11.3. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

                  Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with
other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.
The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other person shall have the
protection of TIA Section 312(c).

Section 11.4. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

                  Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee
to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the
Trustee:

                  (a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
         forth in Section 11.5) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
         conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this
         Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

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<PAGE>   84

                  (b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
         satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set
         forth in Section 11.5) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel,
         all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.

Section 11.5. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

                  Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate
provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of
TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

                  (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or
         opinion has read such covenant or condition;

                  (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
         examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions
         contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

                  (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has
         made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
         express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
         condition has been complied with; and

                  (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
         Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with,

provided, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely
upon an Officers' Certificate or a certificate of a public official.

Section 11.6. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

                  The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a
meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and
set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 11.7. Legal Holidays.

                  If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment,
payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal
Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

Section 11.8. No Recourse Against Others.

                  No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or
controlling person of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any
liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes,
this Indenture or a Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by
accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release
shall be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes and the
Guarantees. Notwithstanding

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<PAGE>   85

the foregoing, nothing in this provision shall be construed as a waiver or
release of any claims under the Federal securities laws.

Section 11.9. Governing Law.

                  THIS INDENTURE, THE GUARANTY AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF
THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF
ANY COMPETENT NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE
CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE
CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF
ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID
COURTS. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TRIAL BY JURY AND
ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF
ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT
ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT
IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS IRREVOCABLY
CONSENTS, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO UNDER APPLICABLE LAW,
TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION
OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL,
POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 11.2
HEREOF, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING
HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY NOTEHOLDER TO SERVE PROCESS
IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR
OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ANY GUARANTOR IN ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION.

Section 11.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

                  This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture,
loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Any such
indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.11. Successors.

                  All agreements of the Company and any Guarantors in this
Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements
of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

                                       79
<PAGE>   86

Section 11.12. Severability.

                  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.

Section 11.13. Counterpart Originals.

                  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.
Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the
same agreement.

Section 11.14. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

                  The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of
the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience
of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way
modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 11.15.    Intercreditor Agreement

                  This Indenture is subject to the limitations, terms and
conditions set forth in that certain Intercreditor and Collateral Agency
Agreement date of even date herewith among the Company, the Lenders, Hibernia
National Bank, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and as Collateral Agent
and the Trustee, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced
from time to time. Each Holder of a Note, by its acceptance thereof, is deemed
to have authorized and instructed the Trustee to enter into the Intercreditor
Agreement on its behalf.

                                       80
<PAGE>   87

                                   SIGNATURES

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and
delivered this Indenture as of the date first written above.

                                    PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

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

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

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

<PAGE>   88

                                                                     EXHIBIT A-1

                          (Face of Senior Secured Note)

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (THE "DEPOSITORY") TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE
DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.
OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY
OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE &
CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.(1)

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION
OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION. THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH
SHORTER PERIOD THAT MAY HEREAFTER BE PROVIDED UNDER RULE 144(K) AS PERMITTING
RESALES BY NON-AFFILIATES OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES WITHOUT RESTRICTION) AFTER
THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY
PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE) (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") EXCEPT (A)
TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE
144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE

---------

(1) This paragraph should be included only if the Senior Secured Note is issued
in global form.

                                     A-1-1
<PAGE>   89

TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND
SALES TO FOREIGN PERSONS THAT OCCUR IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS AND WITHOUT
DIRECTED SELLING EFFORTS WITHIN THE MEANINGS OF SUCH TERMS AS DEFINED IN
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT THAT IS PURCHASING THE NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S AND THE TRUSTEE'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE
OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH
OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE
FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE
TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE
RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE](2)

THE INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN
THAT CERTAIN INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT DATE OF EVEN DATE
HEREWITH AMONG THE COMPANY, THE LENDERS, HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK, AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE LENDERS AND AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE, AS
THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED, MODIFIED, SUPPLEMENTED OR REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME.
EACH HOLDER OF A SENIOR SECURED NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, IS DEEMED TO
HAVE AUTHORIZED AND INSTRUCTED THE TRUSTEE TO ENTER INTO THE INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT ON ITS BEHALF.

                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.
                    [SERIES A] [SERIES B] SENIOR SECURED NOTE
                                    DUE 2007

No.                                                           $
   ------------                                                -----------------
CUSIP NO. [719567-AC-3](3)
CUSIP NO. [719567-AD-1](4)

----------

(2) This paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Series A Senior
Secured Notes for Series B Senior Secured Notes for Series B Senior Secured
Notes in an Exchange Offer or upon the transfer of the Series A Senior Secured
Notes that have been sold pursuant to the terms of the shelf registration
contemplated by a Registration Rights Agreement.

(3) This should be included only if the Senior Secured Note is issued to a
Qualified Institutional Buyer.

(4) This should be included only if the Senior Secured Note is issued to an
Institutional Accredited Investor.

                                     A-1-2
<PAGE>   90

                  Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the
"Company"), as obligor, for value received promises to pay to _________________
or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars [, or such
greater or less amount as may be endorsed on the Schedule of Exchange of Notes
attached hereto,](5) on November 1, 2007.

                  Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1.

                  Record Dates: April 15 and October 15 (whether or not a
Business Day).

                  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this
Senior Secured Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions
shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Senior Secured
Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officer.

                                                  PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

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

Trustee's Certificate of Authentication:

This is one of the Senior Secured Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:

The Bank of New York, as Trustee

By:
   -------------------------------
   Authorized Signatory

Dated:
      -----------------

----------

(5) This should be included only if the Senior Secured Note is issued in global
form.

                                     A-1-3
<PAGE>   91

                          (Back of Senior Secured Note)

                    [SERIES A] [SERIES B] SENIOR SECURED NOTE
                                    DUE 2007

                  1. Interest. Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), as obligor, promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Senior Secured Note at the rate and in the manner
specified below.

                  The Senior Secured Notes will bear interest from December 21,
2000. The interest rate borne by this Senior Secured Note will initially be
12.0% per annum. Beginning November 1, 2001, the annual interest rate will be
12.0 % per annum, plus an amount equal to .50% per annum for every $1.0 million
of Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
(calculated for the preceding fiscal year) in excess of $27.0 million; provided
that (i) in no event shall the annual interest rate borne by the Senior Secured
Notes increase by more than 1.50% per annum during any 12-month period in excess
of the rate borne by the Senior Secured Notes during the preceding 12-month
period; (ii) in no event shall annual rate of interest borne by the Senior
Secured Notes be in excess of 16.5% per annum; and (iii) only whole multiples of
$1.0 million will be computed for this calculation.

                  In connection with the delivery of the financial statements
required by Section 4.3(a) of the Indenture for the preceding fiscal year, so
long as any Senior Secured Notes are outstanding, the Company will prepare and
deliver to the Trustee a certificate certifying (A) the calculation of
Consolidated EBITDA for the preceding fiscal year, (B) the amount of
Consolidated EBITDA in excess of $27.0 million, and (C) the interest rate to be
borne on the Senior Secured Notes for the next 12-month period commencing on the
November 1 following delivery of such certificate. If, on or before October 31
of each year the Company has not delivered the forgoing certificate, then the
Trustee may calculate the amount of such interest rate if directed to do so by
Holders of more than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Senior
Secured Notes and such amount shall be effective as of such November 1. If the
Company fails to timely provide the financial statements required for purposes
of this calculation or if the Trustee is unable to calculate such amount after a
request from the requisite Holders of the Senior Secured Notes, then the
interest rate borne on the Senior Secured Notes will be increased by amount
about equal to 1.50% per annum for the 12-month period in question, subject to
the limitation provided in clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph.

                  The interest rate on this Senior Secured Note is subject to
increase in the circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement
referred to below. The Company shall pay interest semi-annually on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, and on the maturity date, commencing on May 1, 2001, or
if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each
an "Interest Payment Date").

                  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall accrue from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the
date of original issuance; provided, that if there is no existing Default or
Event of Default in the payment of interest, and if this Senior Secured Note is
authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next
succeeding

                                     A-1-4
<PAGE>   92

Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest
Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of Senior Secured
Notes, in which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The
Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding
under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to
time on demand at a rate that is the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace
periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

                  2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the
Senior Secured Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Senior Secured Notes at the close of business on the
record date next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Senior
Secured Notes are cancelled after such record date and on or before such
Interest Payment Date. The Holder must surrender this Senior Secured Note to a
Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Senior Secured Notes shall be
payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest at the office or agency
of the Company maintained for such purpose within The City and State of New
York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on
all Global Senior Secured Notes and all other Senior Secured Notes the Holders
of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the
Paying Agent prior to the applicable Record Date. Such payment shall be in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

                  3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, the Trustee shall
act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent,
Registrar or co-registrar without notice to any Holder. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

                  4. Indenture. The Company issued the Senior Secured Notes
under an Indenture dated as of December 21, 2000 (the "Indenture") among the
Company, the Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Senior
Secured Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA") (15 U.S.
Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture until such
time as the Indenture is qualified under the TIA and thereafter as in effect on
the date the Indenture is so qualified. The Senior Secured Notes are subject to
all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such act for a
statement of such terms. The terms of the Indenture shall govern any
inconsistencies between the Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes. Terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture. The
Senior Secured Notes are limited to $71,000,000 in aggregate outstanding
principal amount in the case of Senior Secured Notes issued on the Closing Date,
plus up to $4,500,000 in additional aggregate principal amount that may be
issued upon exchange of the Company's Term B Notes issued under the Indenture
pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Term B Notes.

                  The Obligations under the Indenture, the Senior Secured Notes
and the Guaranty thereof are secured by the Collateral described in the Security
Documents, subject to the

                                     A-1-5
<PAGE>   93

provisions of such agreement. Holders are referred to the Security Agreement for
a statement of such terms.

                  5. Optional Redemption. The Senior Secured Notes are not
redeemable at the Company's option prior to November 1, 2002. Thereafter, the
Senior Secured Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company,
in whole or in part, upon prior notice to the Holders of at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if
any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning on November 1 of the years indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year                                                          Percentage
----                                                          ----------
<S>                                                           <C>
2002....................................................        104.0%
2003....................................................        103.0%
2004....................................................        102.0%
2005....................................................        101.0%
2006 and thereafter.....................................        100.0%
</TABLE>

                  6. Mandatory Redemption. There shall be no mandatory
redemption of the Senior Secured Notes; provided, however, Holders may require
the Company to purchase their Senior Secured Notes in the event of a Change of
Control or from the process of certain Asset Sales or in the event the Company
has Excess Cash Flow, in each case at the respective purchase prices and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Indenture.

                  7. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Senior Secured Notes
are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Senior Secured Notes may be registered and
Senior Secured Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The
Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish
appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a
Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.
The Registrar and the Company need not exchange or register the transfer (i) of
any Senior Secured Note or portion of a Senior Secured Note selected for
redemption or (ii) of any Senior Secured Notes for a period of 15 days before a
selection of Senior Secured Notes to be redeemed.

                  8. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Senior Secured Note, the registered Holder of a
Senior Secured Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

                  9. Amendments and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture, the Senior Secured Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the
Security Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Senior Secured Notes (including consents obtained in connection with
a tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Secured Notes) and of each other
issue of Notes affected thereby, and any existing Default or Event of Default
(except certain payment defaults) may be waived with the consent of the Holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Senior Secured Notes (including consents

                                     A-1-6
<PAGE>   94

obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Senior Secured
Notes). Without the consent of any Holders, the Indenture, the Senior Secured
Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents may be amended or
supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
assumption of the Company's obligations to the Holders in the case of a merger
or consolidation, to provide for uncertificated Senior Secured Notes in addition
to or in place of certificated Senior Secured Notes, to make any change that
would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Senior
Secured Notes, or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights
under the Indenture of any Holder, to add any Guarantor or to release any
Guarantee of the Senior Secured Notes permitted to be released under the terms
of the Indenture or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA.

                  10. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and
is continuing with respect to the Senior Secured Notes, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Senior Secured Notes may declare by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee all the Senior Secured Notes to be due and payable immediately, except
that in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Senior Secured Notes become due and
payable immediately without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce
the Indenture or the Senior Secured Notes except as provided in the Indenture.
The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it before it enforces the
Indenture or the Senior Secured Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Senior
Secured Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The
Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.

                  11. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee under the
Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept
deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may
otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

                  12. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer,
employee, incorporator, stockholder or controlling person of the Company or any
Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guarantor under the Senior Secured Notes, the Indenture or the
Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by
reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Senior
Secured Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are
part of the consideration for the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes and the
Guaranty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this provision shall be
construed as a waiver or release of any claims under the Federal securities
laws.

                  13. Authentication. This Senior Secured Note shall not be
valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an
authenticating agent.

                  14. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may he used in the
name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT
(= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

                                     A-1-7
<PAGE>   95

                  15. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by
the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Senior Secured Notes and the Trustee
may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on
the Senior Secured Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and
reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

                  16. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Securities. In
addition to the rights provided to Holders of Senior Secured Notes under the
Indenture, Holders of Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of even date with the Indenture,
between the Company and the Initial Purchaser named on the signature page
thereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

                  The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request
and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights
Agreement. Requests may be made to: Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., 3232 Sherwood
Forest Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816, Attention: Chief Financial
Officer.

THIS SENIOR SECURED NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED
WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                                     A-1-8
<PAGE>   96

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

         To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and
transfer this Note to

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

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

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

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint
                       -------------------------------------
agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.

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

Date:
     -----------------

                            Your Signature:
                                           --------------------------------
                                   (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                   on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*

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

*        NOTICE:  The signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a
                  member of one of the following recognized signature guarantee
                  programs:

                  (1) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP);
                  (2) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP);
                  (3) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP).

                                     A-1-9
<PAGE>   97

                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

         If you want to elect to have all or any part of this Senior Secured
Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.14, or Section
4.23 of the Indenture, as the case may be, check the applicable box below and
state the amount you elect to have purchased (if all, write "ALL"):
$_________________

[ ]   Section 4.10 (Excess Proceeds Offer)
[ ]   Section 4.14 (Change of Control Offer)
[ ]   Section 4.23 (Excess Cash Flow Offer)

Date:
     ----------------

                         Your Signature:
                                        ---------------------------------
                                 (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                 on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*

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

*        NOTICE:  The signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a
                  member of one of the following recognized signature guarantee
                  programs:

                  (1)   The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP);
                  (2)   The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP);
                  (3)   The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP).

                                     A-1-10
<PAGE>   98

                        SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES(6)

                  The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for
other Senior Secured Notes have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS
                    AMOUNT OF DECREASE IN      AMOUNT OF INCREASE IN     GLOBAL NOTE FOLLOWING
                    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS  SUCH DECREASE (OR IN-     SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED
DATE OF EXCHANGE    GLOBAL NOTE                GLOBAL NOTE               CREASE                    SIGNATORY OF TRUSTEE
----------------    ------------------------   ------------------------  ------------------------  -----------------------
<S>                 <C>                        <C>                       <C>                       <C>

</TABLE>

----------

(6) This should be included only if the Senior Secured Note is issued in global
form.

                                     A-1-11
<PAGE>   99

                                                                     EXHIBIT A-2

                              (Face of Term B Note)

FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, THIS NOTE BEARS ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT. INFORMATION INCLUDING THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE HOLDERS UPON REQUEST TO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE COMPANY, AT (225)
293-9440.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE
FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY (THE "DEPOSITORY") TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE
DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.
OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY
OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE &
CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.(1)

[THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION
OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION. THE
HOLDER OF THIS NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS (OR SUCH
SHORTER PERIOD THAT MAY HEREAFTER BE PROVIDED UNDER RULE 144(K) AS PERMITTING
RESALES BY NON-AFFILIATES OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES WITHOUT RESTRICTION) AFTER
THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY
PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE) (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") EXCEPT (A)
TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED
EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES

----------

(1) This paragraph should be included only if the Term B Note is issued in
global form.

                                      A-2-1
<PAGE>   100

ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS
GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO
OFFERS AND SALES TO FOREIGN PERSONS THAT OCCUR IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS AND
WITHOUT DIRECTED SELLING EFFORTS WITHIN THE MEANINGS OF SUCH TERMS AS DEFINED IN
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501 (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT THAT IS PURCHASING THE NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S AND THE TRUSTEE'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE
OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH
OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE
FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE
TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE
RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE](2)

THE INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN
THAT CERTAIN INTERCREDITOR AND COLLATERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT DATE OF EVEN DATE
HEREWITH AMONG THE COMPANY, THE LENDERS, HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK, AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE LENDERS AND AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE, AS
THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED, MODIFIED, SUPPLEMENTED OR REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME.
EACH HOLDER OF A TERM B NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, IS DEEMED TO HAVE
AUTHORIZED AND INSTRUCTED THE TRUSTEE TO ENTER INTO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
ON ITS BEHALF.

----------

(2) This paragraph should be removed upon the exchange of Series A Term B Notes
for Series B Term B Notes in an Exchange Offer or upon the transfer of the
Series A Term B Notes that have been sold pursuant to the terms of the shelf
registration contemplated by a Registration Rights Agreement.

                                      A-2-2
<PAGE>   101

                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.
                        [SERIES A] [SERIES B] TERM B NOTE
                                    DUE 2007

No.                                                         $
   -----------------------                                   -------------------
CUSIP NO.         [719567-AH-2](3)
                  [719567-AJ-8](4)

                  Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the
"Company"), as obligor, for value received promises to pay to _________________
or registered assigns, the principal sum of ________________ Dollars [, or such
greater or less amount as may be endorsed on the Schedule of Exchange of Notes
attached hereto,]5 on November 1, 2007.

                  Interest Payment Dates: February 1, May 1, August 1 and
November 1.

                  Record Dates: January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15
(whether or not a Business Day).

                  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this
Term B Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for
all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Term B Note to
be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officer.

                                     PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

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

Trustee's Certificate of Authentication:

This is one of the Term B Notes referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture:

The Bank of New York, as Trustee

By:
   --------------------------------
   Authorized Signatory

Dated:
      -----------------

----------

(3) This should be included only if the Term B Note is issued to a Qualified
Institutional Buyer.

(4) This should be included only if the Term B Note is issued to an
Institutional Accredited Investor.

(5) This should be included only if the Term B Note is issued in global form.

                                     A-2-3
<PAGE>   102

                              (Back of Term B Note)

                        [SERIES A] [SERIES B] TERM B NOTE
                                    DUE 2007

                  1. Interest. Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), as obligor, promises to pay interest on the
principal amount of this Term B Note at the rate and in the manner specified
below.

                  The Term B Notes will bear interest at a floating rate
determined in the manner provided below. Interest will be payable quarterly on
each Interest Payment Date commencing February 1, 2001, to Holders in whose name
the Term B Notes are registered at the close of business on the record date for
such Interest Payment Date.

                  The per annum interest rate on the Term B Notes (the "Floating
Interest Rate") in effect for each day of an Interest Period (as defined below)
will be equal to the Three-Month LIBOR Rate (as defined below) plus 450 basis
points (4.5%). The Floating Interest Rate for each Interest Period will be set
on the 1st day of the months of February, May, August and November of each year,
commencing February 1, 2001 (each such date, an "Interest Reset Date") and, in
the case of the Interest Period from December 21, 2000 to February 1, 2001, at
the Three-Month LIBOR Rate determined at December 19, 2000, until the principal
of the Term B Notes is paid or made available for payment (the "Principal
Payment Date"). If any Interest Reset Date and Interest Payment Date would
otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date and
Interest Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

                  "Interest Period" shall mean the period from and including an
Interest Reset Date to but excluding the next succeeding Interest Reset Date
and, in the case of the last such period, from and including the Interest Reset
Date immediately preceding the Principal Payment Date, as the case may be, to
but not including the Principal Payment Date. If the Principal Payment Date is
not a Business Day, then the principal amount of the Term B Notes plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day
and no interest shall accrue for the Principal Payment Date or any day
thereafter.

                  The "Three-Month LIBOR Rate" shall mean the rate determined in
accordance with the following provisions:

                           (i) On the second Business Day preceding each
         Interest Reset Date or, in the case of the initial interest period,
         December 19, 2000 (each such date, an "Interest Determination Date"),
         The Bank of New York (it and each other Person so appointed by the
         Company, the "Calculation Agent") will determine the Three-Month LIBOR
         Rate which shall be the rate for deposits in the London interbank
         market in Dollars having a three-month maturity commencing on the
         second Business Day immediately following such Interest Determination
         Date which appears on the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., New York
         City time, on such Interest Determination Date. "Telerate Page 3750"
         means the display on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Telerate Service (or
         such other page as may replace that page on that service for the
         purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates of major banks for
         Dollar deposits). If the Three-Month LIBOR Rate on

                                     A-2-4
<PAGE>   103

         such Interest Determination Date does not appear on the Telerate Page
         3750, such Three-Month LIBOR Rate will be determined as described in
         (ii) below.

                           (ii) With respect to an Interest Determination Date
         for which the Three-Month LIBOR Rate does not appear on the Telerate
         Page 3750 as specified in (i) above, the Calculation Agent will request
         the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London
         interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the
         Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in Dollars
         having a three-month maturity commencing on the second Business Day
         immediately following such Interest Determination Date to prime banks
         in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York
         City time, on such Interest Determination Date and in a principal
         amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market
         at such time. If at least two quotations are provided, the Three-Month
         LIBOR Rate on such Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic
         mean (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one
         hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 5 or more one-millionths
         of one percentage point rounded upwards) of such quotations. If fewer
         than two quotations are provided, the Three-Month LIBOR Rate determined
         on such Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean
         (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth
         of a percentage point, with 5 or more one-millionths of one percentage
         point rounded upwards) of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
         New York City time, on such Interest Determination Date for loans in
         Dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity
         commencing on the second Business Day immediately following such
         Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
         representative for a single transaction in that market at such time by
         three major banks in The City of New York, selected by the Calculation
         Agent. However, if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are
         not quoting as aforesaid, the Three-Month LIBOR Rate with respect to
         such Interest Determination Date will be the Three-Month LIBOR Rate in
         effect on such Interest Determination Date.

                  The amount of interest for each day that a Term B Note is
outstanding (the "Daily Interest Amount") will be calculated by dividing the
Floating Interest Rate in effect for such day by 360 and multiplying the result
by the principal amount of such Term B Note. The amount of interest to be paid
on such Term B Note for any Interest Period will be calculated by adding the
Daily Interest Amounts for each day in such Interest Period.

                  The Floating Interest Rate, as increased in the circumstances
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement discussed below, will in no event
be higher than the maximum rate permitted by the law of the State of New York,
or, if higher, the law of the United States of America.

                  The Floating Interest Rate and amount of interest to be paid
on the Term B Notes for each Interest Period will be determined by the
Calculation Agent. All calculations made by the Calculation Agent shall, in the
absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the
Company and Holders of the Term B Notes. So long as the Three-Month LIBOR Rate
is required to be determined with respect to the Term B Notes, there will at all
times be a Calculation Agent. In the event that any then acting Calculation
Agent shall be unable or unwilling to act, or that such Calculation Agent shall
fail duly to establish the Three-Month

                                     A-2-5
<PAGE>   104

LIBOR Rate for any Interest Period, or that the Company proposes to remove such
Calculation Agent, the Company shall appoint another Person which is a bank,
trust company, investment banking firm or other financial institution to act as
the Calculation Agent.

                  The interest rate on this Term B Note is subject to increase
in the circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement referred to
below.

                  Interest shall accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of
original issuance; provided, that if there is no existing Default or Event of
Default in the payment of interest, and if this Term B Note is authenticated
between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest
Payment Date, except in the case of the original issuance of Term B Notes, in
which case interest shall accrue from the date of authentication. The Company
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on
overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace
periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful.

                  2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest on the
Term B Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered
Holders of Term B Notes at the close of business on the record date next
preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Term B Notes are cancelled
after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. The Holder
must surrender this Term B Note to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments.
The Term B Notes shall be payable as to principal, premium, if any, and interest
at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within The
City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth
in the register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of
immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and
interest and premium, if any, on all Global Term B Notes and all other Term B
Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the
Company or the Paying Agent prior to the applicable Record Date. Such payment
shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

                  3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, the Trustee shall
act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent,
Registrar or co-registrar without notice to any Holder. Subject to certain
exceptions, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

                  4. Indenture. The Company issued the Term B Notes under an
Indenture dated as of December 21, 2000 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the
Guarantors party thereto and the Trustee. The terms of the Term B Notes include
those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference
to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA") (15 U.S. Code Sections
77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture until such time as the
Indenture is qualified under the TIA and thereafter as in effect on the date the
Indenture is so qualified. The Term B Notes are subject to all such terms, and
Holders are referred to the

                                     A-2-6
<PAGE>   105

Indenture and such act for a statement of such terms. The terms of the Indenture
shall govern any inconsistencies between the Indenture and the Term B Notes.
Terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Indenture. The Term B Notes are limited to $4,500,000 in aggregate outstanding
principal amount in the case of Term B Notes issued on the Closing Date.

                  The Obligations under the Indenture, the Term B Notes and the
Guaranty thereof are secured by the Collateral described in the Security
Documents, subject to the provisions of such agreement. Holders are referred to
the Security Agreement for a statement of such terms.

                  5. Optional Redemption. The Term B Notes are redeemable at the
option of the Company, at any time, in whole or in part, upon prior notice to
the Holders of at least 30 days but not more than 60 days, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date,
if redeemed during the relevant period indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Period                                                Percentage
--------------                                                ----------
<S>                                                           <C>
On or before November 1, 2001...........................        103.0%
On or before November 1, 2002...........................        102.0%
On or before November 1, 2003...........................        101.0%
November 2, 2003 and thereafter.........................        100.0%
</TABLE>

                  If the Company elects to redeem all of the Term B Notes, on
the date of redemption it must also prepay all of the Indebtedness outstanding
under the Term Loan Credit Facility. If less than all of the Term B Notes are to
redeemed, a pro rata portion of the Indebtedness outstanding under the Term Loan
Credit Facility must also be prepaid.

                  6. Mandatory Redemption. There shall be no mandatory
redemption of the Term B Notes; provided, however, Holders may require the
Company to purchase their Term B Notes in the event of a Change of Control or
from the process of certain Asset Sales or in the event the Company has Excess
Cash Flow or Additional Excess Cash Flow, in each case at the respective
purchase prices and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture.

                  7. Exchange Rights. Holders of Term B Notes may exchange their
Notes for Senior Secured Notes of an equal aggregate principal amount. Holders
may exchange Term B Notes only in denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of
$1,000.

                  A Holder of Term B Notes may exercise its exchange rights on
any interest payment date for the Senior Secured Notes at or prior to May 1,
2007, upon delivery of notice to the Trustee in the form attached hereto at
least 15 days prior to such interest payment date, provided that no Term B Note
may be exchanged during any period commencing on the date on which the Company
has given the Holders a notice of optional redemption for all or any part of the
Term B Notes and ending on the redemption date set forth in such notice of
redemption. To exchange a Term B Note, the Holder thereof must surrender its
Term B Note to the Trustee and a new Senior Secured Note and/or Term B Note will
be issued by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in the respective
principal amounts outstanding after giving effect to such

                                     A-2-7
<PAGE>   106

exchange. From and after the date of exchange, the Senior Secured Note issued in
exchange will accrue interest at the rate set forth in such Notes from the date
of exchange.

                  Holders electing to exchange their Term B Notes will not be
required to pay any taxes or other governmental charges relating to the issuance
or delivery of Senior Secured Notes, but they will be required to pay any tax or
other governmental charge that may be payable relating to any transfer involved
in the issuance or delivery of the Senior Secured Notes in a name other than the
exchanging Holder.

                  8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Term B Notes are in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Term B Notes may be registered and Term B
Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the
Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay
any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar
and the Company need not exchange or register the transfer (i) of any Term B
Note or portion of a Term B Note selected for redemption or (ii) of any Term B
Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Term B Notes to be redeemed.

                  9. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Term B Note, the registered Holder of a Term B
Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

                  10. Amendments and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture, the Term B Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security
Documents may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Term B
Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange
offer for Term B Notes) and of each other issue of Notes affected thereby, and
any existing Default or Event of Default (except certain payment defaults) may
be waived with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Term B Notes (including consents
obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Term B Notes).
Without the consent of any Holders, the Indenture, the Term B Notes, the
Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents may be amended or
supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
assumption of the Company's obligations to the Holders in the case of a merger
or consolidation, to provide for uncertificated Term B Notes in addition to or
in place of certificated Term B Notes, to make any change that would provide any
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Term B Notes, or that does
not materially adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any
Holder, to add any Guarantor or to release any Guarantee of the Term B Notes
permitted to be released under the terms of the Indenture or to comply with
requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the TIA.

                  11. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and
is continuing with request to the Term B Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Term B Notes may
declare by written notice to the Company and the Trustee all the Term B Notes to
be due and payable immediately, except that in the case of an Event of Default
arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all

                                     A-2-8
<PAGE>   107

outstanding Term B Notes become due and payable immediately without further
action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Term B Notes
except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity
satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Term B Notes. Subject
to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Term B Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any
trust or power. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the
Trustee.

                  12. Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee under the
Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept
deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may
otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

                  13. No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer,
employee, incorporator, stockholder or controlling person of the Company or any
Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or any Guarantor under the Term B Notes, the Indenture or the Registration
Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such
obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Term B Note waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the Term B Notes and the Guaranty.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this provision shall be construed as a
waiver or release of any claims under the Federal securities laws.

                  14. Authentication. This Term B Note shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

                  15. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may he used in the
name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT
(= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (=
Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

                  16. CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by
the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has
caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Term B Notes and the Trustee may use
CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No
representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on
the Term B Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be
placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

                  17. Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Securities. In
addition to the rights provided to Holders of Term B Notes under the Indenture,
Holders of Restricted Securities shall have all the rights set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of even date with the Indenture, between
the Company and the Initial Purchaser named on the signature page thereof (the
"Registration Rights Agreement").

                  The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request
and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights
Agreement. Requests may be made to: Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., 3232 Sherwood
Forest Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816, Attention: Chief Financial
Officer.

                                     A-2-9
<PAGE>   108

THIS TERM B NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

         To assign this Term B Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign
and transfer this Term B Note to

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

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

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint
                       ----------------------------------
agent to transfer this Term B Note on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.

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

Date:
     ------------------------

                          Your Signature:
                                         --------------------------------
                                  (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                  on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*

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

*       NOTICE:   The signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a
                  member of one of the following recognized signature guarantee
                  programs:

                  (1)   The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP);
                  (2)   The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP);
                  (3)   The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP).

                                     A-2-10
<PAGE>   109

                 OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE

         If you want to elect to have all or any part of this Term B Note
purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10, Section 4.14, Section 4.23 or
Section 4.24 of the Indenture, as the case may be, or exchanged pursuant to
paragraph 7 of this Term B Note, check the applicable box below and state the
amount you elect to have purchased or exchanged (if all, write "ALL"):
$_________________

Purchase pursuant to       [ ]  Section 4.10 (Excess Proceeds Offer)
                           [ ]  Section 4.14 (Change of Control Offer)
                           [ ]  Section 4.23 (Excess Cash Flow Offer)
                           [ ]  Section 4.24 (Additional Excess Cash Flow Offer)

Exchange pursuant to       [ ]  Paragraph 7 of this Term B Note

Date:
     ------------------

                          Your Signature:
                                         --------------------------------
                                  (Sign exactly as your name appears
                                  on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*

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

*        NOTICE:  The signature must be guaranteed by an institution which is a
                  member of one of the following recognized signature guarantee
                  programs:

                  (1)   The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP);
                  (2)   The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MSP);
                  (3)   The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP).

                                     A-2-11
<PAGE>   110

                       SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES(7)

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for other Term B Notes
have been made:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS
                    AMOUNT OF DECREASE IN      AMOUNT OF INCREASE IN     GLOBAL NOTE FOLLOWING
                    PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS  SUCH DECREASE (OR IN-     SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED
DATE OF EXCHANGE    GLOBAL NOTE                GLOBAL NOTE               CREASE                    SIGNATORY OF TRUSTEE
----------------    ------------------------   ------------------------  ------------------------  -----------------------
<S>                 <C>                        <C>                       <C>                       <C>

</TABLE>

----------

(7) This should be included only if the Term B Note is issued in global form.

                                     A-2-12
<PAGE>   111

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

    CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF
                                     NOTES

Re:      [Series A] [Series B] [Senior Secured] [Term B] Notes due 2007 (the
         "Notes") of Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc. (the "Company").

         This Certificate relates to $___________ principal amount of Notes held
in * book-entry or definitive form by ________________________ (the
"Transferor").

The Transferor, by written order, has requested the Trustee:

[ ]      to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note
         held by the depository, a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form
         of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to
         its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof
         indicated above) or vice versa; or

[ ]      to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes in definitive,
         registered form.

[ ]      In connection with such request and in respect of each such Note or
         beneficial interest, the Transferor does hereby certify that Transferor
         is familiar with the Indenture relating to the above captioned Notes
         and, the transfer or exchange of each such Note or beneficial interest
         does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended (the "Securities Act") because each such Note or beneficial
         interest:

[ ]      is being acquired for the Transferor's own account, without transfer;

[ ]      is being transferred to the Company;

[ ]      is being transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement;

[ ]      is being transferred to a person the Transferor reasonably believes is
         a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the
         Securities Act), in reliance on such Rule 144A;

[ ]      is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in
         accordance with Rule 903 or 904 under the Securities Act;**

[ ]      is being transferred to an institutional "accredited investor" within
         the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act
         that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an
         institutional "accredited investor," for investment purposes and
         without a view to any distribution in violation of the Securities
         Act;*** or

[ ]      is being transferred pursuant to another exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act
         (explain:
                  ---------------------------------------------------------

         ------------------------------------------------------------------ ).**

                                                    ---------------------------
                                                    [INSERT NAME OF TRANSFEROR]

                                                    By:
                                                       -------------------------
Date:
     ---------------------

                                       B-1
<PAGE>   112

         *        Check applicable box.
         **       If this box is checked, this certificate must be accompanied
                  by an opinion of counsel to the effect that such transfer is
                  in compliance with the Securities Act.

         ***      If this box is checked, the certificate must be accompanied by
                  an opinion of counsel referred to above and a letter from the
                  transferee to the Company is substantially in the form of
                  Annex A to the Offering Circular of the Company dated December
                  12, 2000.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>   113

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                          [FORM OF NOTION OF GUARANTY]

                                    GUARANTY

                  For good and valuable consideration received from the Company
by the undersigned (hereinafter referred to as the "Guarantors," which term
includes any successor or additional Guarantors), the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, subject to and in accordance with, Sections 10.8
through 10.15 of the Indenture, each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby
unconditionally guarantees, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of
the Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents or the Obligations, (a) the due
and punctual payment of the principal and premium, if any, of and interest on
the Notes (including, without limitation, interest after the filing of a
petition initiating any proceedings referred to in Sections 6.1(8) or (9) of the
Indenture), whether at maturity or on an interest payment date, by acceleration,
call for redemption or otherwise, (b) the due and punctual payment of interest
on the overdue principal and premium, if any, of and interest, if any, on the
Notes, if lawful, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all other
Obligations, all in accordance with the terms set forth in the Indenture, the
Notes and the Security Documents, and (d) in case of any extension of time of
payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other Obligations, the due and
punctual payment or performance thereof in accordance with the terms of the
extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

                  This Guaranty is subject to release as and to the extent
provided in Section 10.15 of the Indenture.

                  No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or
controlling person of the Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability under
this Guaranty for any obligations of the Guarantor under the Notes, the
Indenture or a Registration Rights Agreement or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of
the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

                                                  [GUARANTORS]

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

                                      C-1
<PAGE>   114

                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

                                       and

                           the Guarantors party hereto

                                   ----------

                              Series A and Series B

                          Senior Secured Notes due 2007

                                   ----------

                              Series A and Series B

                              Term B Notes due 2007

                                   ----------

                         Form of Supplemental Indenture
                      and Amendment - Subsidiary Guarantee

                         Dated as of ________ ___, ____

                                   ----------

                              The Bank of New York,

                                   as Trustee

                                   ----------

                                      D-1
<PAGE>   115

         This SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of __________ ___, ____, is among
Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), each of
the parties identified under the caption "Guarantors" on the signature page
hereto (the "Guarantors") and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee entered into an
Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2000 (the "Indenture"), pursuant to which
the Company has originally issued $71,000,000 in principal amount of Senior
Secured Notes due 2007 and $4,500,000 in principal amount of the Term B Notes
due 2007 (collectively, the "Notes"); and

         WHEREAS, Section 9.1(3) of the Indenture provides that the Company and
the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture in order to execute and
deliver a guarantee (a "Guaranty") to comply with Section 10.13 thereof without
the consent of the Holders of the Notes; and

         WHEREAS, all acts and things prescribed by the Indenture, by law and by
the charter and the bylaws (or comparable constituent documents) of the Company,
of the Guarantors and of the Trustee necessary to make this Supplemental
Indenture a valid instrument legally binding on the Company, the Guarantors and
the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, have been duly done and performed;

         NOW, THEREFORE, to comply with the provisions of the Indenture and in
consideration of the above premises, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee
covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective
Holders of the Notes as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

         SECTION 1.01. This Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the
Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed
in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes.

         SECTION 1.02. This Supplemental Indenture shall become effective
immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Company, the
Guarantors and the Trustee.

                                    ARTICLE 2

         From this date, in accordance with Section 10.13 and by executing this
Supplemental Indenture and the accompanying notation of Guaranty (a copy of
which is attached hereto), the Guarantors whose signatures appear below are
subject to the provisions of the Indenture to the extent provided for in
Sections 10.9 through 10.16 thereof.

                                       D-2
<PAGE>   116

                                    ARTICLE 3

         SECTION 3.01. Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture and
the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed (mutatis mutandis) and
shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms with all
capitalized terms used herein without definition having the same respective
meanings ascribed to them as in the Indenture.

         SECTION 3.02. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties,
responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be
assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Supplemental Indenture. This
Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee subject to all
the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and
effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made
applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto. The recitals contained herein
shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and the
Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental
Indenture.

         SECTION 3.03. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED
TO CONSTRUE AND ENFORCE THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

         SECTION 3.04. The parties may sign any number of copies of this
Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of such
executed copies together shall represent the same agreement.

                          [NEXT PAGE IS SIGNATURE PAGE]

                                      D-3
<PAGE>   117

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first written above.

                                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

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

                                           GUARANTORS
                                           [              ]
                                            --------------

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

                                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

                                           By
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                           PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

                                  71,000 UNITS

                                  CONSISTING OF

                    $71,000,000 SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2007
                                      WITH
                      71,000 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS

                                       AND

                                   4,500 UNITS

                                  CONSISTING OF

                        $4,500,000 TERM B NOTES DUE 2007
                                      WITH
                      4,500 COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                               December 12, 2000

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
400 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"),
and Jefferies & Company, Inc. (the "Initial Purchaser") have entered into that
certain Purchase Agreement dated December 12, 2000 (the "Original Purchase
Agreement"). The Company hereby confirms its agreement with you, the Initial
Purchaser, to amend and restate the Original Purchase Agreement in its entirety
as set forth below (the Original Purchase Agreement as so amended and restated,
the "Agreement"):

         1. The Units. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, the
Company shall issue and sell to the Initial Purchaser (i) an aggregate of 71,000
units (each a "Fixed Rate Unit" and collectively, the "Fixed Rate Units"), each
Fixed Rate Unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount of its Series A Senior
Secured Notes due 2007 (the "Fixed Rate Notes") and
<PAGE>   2
one warrant (collectively, the "Warrants") to purchase initially 10.51 shares of
the Company's common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), at an initial
purchase price per share equal to 110% of the last reported sale price of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 20, 2000 and (ii) an
aggregate of 4,500 units (each a "Term B Unit," collectively the "Term B Units"
and together with the Fixed Rate Units, the "Units"), each Term B Unit
consisting of $1,000 principal amount of its Series A Term B Notes due 2007 (the
"Term B Notes" and together with the Fixed Rate Notes, the "Senior Notes") and
one Warrant. The Senior Notes are to be issued under an Indenture (the
"Indenture") to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below)
by and between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The Senior Notes will be secured on a pari passu basis with each other, with any
indebtedness under the $5.5 million Term Loan Credit Agreement (the "Term Loan
Credit Facility") dated as of the Closing Date among the Company, as borrower,
Hibernia National Bank, as administrative agent, and each lender a party thereto
and with the obligations of the Company under its New Credit Facility (as
defined in the Indenture), but subject to certain priorities granted in favor of
the financial institutions holding such obligations under the New Credit
Facility as more specifically set forth in an Intercreditor and Collateral
Agency Agreement (the "Intercreditor Agreement") to be dated as of the Closing
Date among the Company, the Trustee, Hibernia National Bank, as collateral agent
(the "Collateral Agent") and such financial institutions. The Warrants are to be
issued under a Warrant Agreement between the Company and The Bank of New York,
as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"), to be dated as of the Closing Date (the
"Warrant Agreement") for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Notes (the
"Noteholders"). The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants are herein referred to as the "Warrant Shares." The Fixed Rate Notes,
the Term B Notes, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, the Fixed Rate Units and the
Term B Units are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities."

         The Units are being offered and sold to the Initial Purchaser without
being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), in
reliance on exemptions therefrom.

         In connection with the sale of the Units, the Company has prepared a
preliminary offering circular dated November 13, 2000 (the "Preliminary
Memorandum"), and a final offering circular dated the date hereof (the "Final
Memorandum"; the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum each herein
being referred to as a "Memorandum"), setting forth or including, among other
things, a description of the terms of the Units, the terms of the offering of
the Units and a description of the business of the Company and any material
developments relating to the Company occurring after the date of the most recent
historical financial statements included therein.

         The Initial Purchaser and its direct and indirect transferees of the
Securities will be entitled to the benefits of a Registration Rights Agreement
to be dated as of the Closing Date (the "Registration Rights Agreement"),
pursuant to which the Company will agree, among other things, to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), under the circumstances
set forth therein, (i) a single registration statement under the Act (the
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement"), relating to the Series B Senior
Secured Notes due 2007 of the Company and the Series B Term B Notes due 2007 of
the Company (collectively, the "Exchange Notes") to be offered in exchange (the
"Exchange Offer") for the Fixed Rate Notes and the Term B Notes, respectively,
(ii) as and to the extent required by the Registration Rights Agreement, a

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (the "Shelf
Registration Statement"), relating to the resale by certain holders of the
Senior Notes and (iii) a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Act (the "Warrant Registration Statement" and, together with the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement, the
"Registration Statements") covering the issuance by the Company of the Warrant
Shares and the resale of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares and to use its best
efforts to cause such Registration Statements to be declared effective.

         This Agreement, the Senior Notes, the Indenture, Security Documents (as
defined in Annex I hereto), the Security Document Amendments (as defined in
Annex I hereto), the Intercreditor Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement are hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Operative Documents."

         2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants
to and agrees with the Initial Purchaser that:

                  (a) As of its date, the Preliminary Memorandum did not, and on
         the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Final
         Memorandum does not and will not, and any amendment or supplement
         thereto will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in
         this Section 2(a) do not apply to statements or omissions made in
         reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the
         Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by the Initial
         Purchaser expressly for use in the Preliminary Memorandum, Final
         Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto.

                  (b) The Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in
         good standing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, with all
         requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and
         conduct its business as now conducted and as described in the Final
         Memorandum; the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
         corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the
         ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business
         requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
         qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
         adverse effect on the general affairs, management, business, condition
         (financial or otherwise), prospects or results of operations of the
         Company (any such effect, a "Material Adverse Effect").

                  (c) The Company has all requisite corporate power and
         authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
         Agreement and the other Operative Documents to which it is a party and
         to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
         including, without limitation, the power and authority to issue, sell
         and deliver the Units as contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (d) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
         executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and legally
         binding obligation of the Company

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of
         indemnification and contribution, by principles of public policy or
         U.S. federal or state securities laws relating thereto.

                  (e) The Senior Notes have been duly and validly authorized for
         issuance and sale to the Initial Purchaser by the Company pursuant to
         this Agreement and, when issued and authenticated in accordance with
         the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor in
         accordance with the terms hereof, will be the valid and legally binding
         obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with
         their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except as
         such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (f) The Fixed Rate Notes issuable in exchange for the Term B
         Notes have been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company
         and, when issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the
         Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligations of the
         Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms and
         entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except as such
         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (g) The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized
         for issuance by the Company and, when issued and authenticated in
         accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights
         Agreement and the Exchange Offer, will be the valid and legally binding
         obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with
         their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except as
         such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (h) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when duly executed and delivered (assuming the due
         execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee), will be a valid and
         legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in
         accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited
         by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar
         laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
         rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of
         whether such enforceability is considered in a

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

         proceeding in equity or at law). The Indenture meets the requirements
         for qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
         (the "TIA").

                  (i) Each of the Security Documents and Security Document
         Amendments has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and,
         when duly executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due
         execution and delivery thereof by each other party thereto), will be a
         valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against
         it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be
         limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
         similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting
         creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (j) The Intercreditor Agreement has been duly and validly
         authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the
         Company (assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by each other
         party thereto), will be a valid and legally binding obligation of the
         Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as
         such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (k) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and
         validly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered
         by the Company (assuming the due execution and delivery thereof by the
         Initial Purchaser), will be a valid and legally binding obligation of
         the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
         except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of
         indemnification and contribution, by principles of public policy or
         U.S. federal or state securities laws relating thereto.

                  (l) The Warrant Agreement has been duly and validly authorized
         by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company
         (assuming due execution and delivery thereof by the Warrant Agent),
         will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company,
         enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such
         enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in
         effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
         general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability
         is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  (m) The Warrants have been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company and, when duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the
         Warrant Agent in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant
         Agreement and when delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchaser
         in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         been duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
         legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of
         the Warrant Agreement and enforceable against the Company in accordance
         with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar
         laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors'
         rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of
         whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
         at law).

                  (n) The Warrant Shares have been duly and validly authorized
         for issuance by the Company and, when issued upon exercise of the
         Warrants in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the
         Warrant Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
         and non-assessable and will not be subject to any preemptive or similar
         rights. The Warrant Shares have been duly reserved for issuance in
         accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agreement.

                  (o) No consent, waiver, approval, authorization or order of or
         filing, registration, qualification, license or permit of or with any
         court or governmental agency or body, or third party is required for
         the issuance and sale by the Company of the Units to the Initial
         Purchaser or the consummation by the Company of each of the other
         transactions contemplated hereby or by any of the other Operative
         Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Exchange
         Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the issuance of Fixed Rate Notes
         in exchange for Term B Notes and the issuance of the Warrant Shares
         upon the exercise of the Warrants), except, in each case, such as have
         been obtained, and other than such as may be required under state
         securities or "Blue Sky" laws in connection with the purchase and
         resale of the Units by the Initial Purchaser and the receipt by the
         Company of orders from the Commission declaring the Warrant
         Registration Statement, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
         and/or the Shelf Registration Statement effective. The Company is not
         (A) in violation of its charter or bylaws, (B) in breach or violation
         of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable
         to it or any of its properties or assets, except for any such breach or
         violation which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
         Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in breach of or default under (nor has
         any event occurred which, with notice or passage of time or both, would
         constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms or
         provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement,
         note, lease, license, permit, certificate, contract or other agreement
         or instrument to which it is a party or to which it or its properties
         or assets is subject (collectively, "Contracts"), except for any such
         breach, default, violation or event which would not, individually or in
         the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (p) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
         this Agreement and each of the other Operative Documents and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
         (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Units to
         the Initial Purchaser, the issuance of Fixed Rate Notes in exchange for
         Term B Notes, the issuance of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer
         and the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the
         Warrants), do not and will not violate, conflict with or constitute or
         result in a breach of or a default under (or

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

         constitute an event which with notice or passage of time or both would
         constitute a default under) or cause an acceleration of any obligation
         under, or (except for the transactions contemplated hereby) result in
         the imposition or creation of (or the obligation to create or impose)
         any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of
         any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention
         agreement or lease in the nature thereof) other than those created by
         the Security Documents and the Security Document Amendments, on any
         properties or assets of the Company with respect to (A) the terms or
         provisions of any Contract, (B) the charter or bylaws of the Company,
         or (C) (assuming compliance with all applicable state securities or
         "Blue Sky" laws and assuming the accuracy of the representations and
         warranties of the Initial Purchaser in Section 8 hereof) any statute,
         judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company
         or any of its properties or assets.

                  (q) Ernst & Young LLP, which is reporting on certain of the
         audited financial statements of the Company included in the Final
         Memorandum, are independent public accountants within the meaning of
         the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The
         audited financial statements of the Company and related notes thereto
         included in the Final Memorandum present fairly in all material
         respects the consolidated financial position of the Company, as of the
         dates indicated, and its consolidated results of operations and cash
         flow for the periods specified, in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently applied throughout such
         periods, except as otherwise stated therein. The summary and selected
         historical financial and operating data included in the Final
         Memorandum present fairly in all material respects the information
         shown therein and have been prepared and compiled on a basis consistent
         with the audited financial statements included therein, except as
         stated therein.

                  (r) The pro forma financial and operating data (including the
         notes thereto) and other pro forma financial information included in
         the Final Memorandum (i) comply as to form in all material respects
         with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X promulgated under
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
         (ii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with the
         Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
         statements, and (iii) have been properly computed on the bases
         described therein; the assumptions used in the preparation of the pro
         forma financial and operating data and other pro forma financial
         information included in the Final Memorandum are reasonable and the
         adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the
         transactions or circumstances referred to therein.

                  (s) There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
         threatened, any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to
         which the Company is a party, or to which the property or assets of the
         Company is subject, before or brought by any court, arbitrator or
         governmental agency or body which, if determined adversely to the
         Company, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
         Adverse Effect or which seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the
         consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale of the
         Units to be sold hereunder or the consummation of the other
         transactions described in the Final Memorandum.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                  (t) The Company owns or possesses adequate licenses or other
         rights to use all trademarks, service marks, trade names and know-how
         necessary to conduct the businesses now or proposed to be operated by
         it and as described in the Final Memorandum; the Company has not
         received any notice of conflict with (or knows of any such conflict
         with) asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, service
         marks, trade names or know-how which, if such assertion of conflict
         were sustained, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                  (u) The Company possesses all licenses, permits, certificates,
         consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made
         all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other
         governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all
         courts and other tribunals, including without limitation under any
         applicable Environment Laws (as defined below), presently required or
         necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its
         respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now
         or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Final Memorandum
         ("Permits"), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; the
         Company has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect
         to such Permits and no event has occurred which allows, or after notice
         or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or
         results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of
         any such Permit, except where the failure to perform such obligations
         or the occurrence of such event would not have a Material Adverse
         Effect; and the Company has not received any notice of any proceeding
         relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except where
         such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the
         aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (v) Since the respective dates as to which information is
         given in the Final Memorandum, except as described therein and except
         for the transactions contemplated hereby, (i) the Company has not
         incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or
         entered into or agreed to enter into any transactions or contracts
         (written or oral) not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the
         Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor
         declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any
         kind on its capital stock and (iii) there has not been any change in
         the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company other than
         changes in borrowings under the Company's revolving line of credit in
         the ordinary course of business.

                  (w) The Company has filed all necessary federal, state and
         foreign income and franchise tax returns and, has paid all taxes shown
         as due thereon; and other than tax deficiencies which the Company is
         contesting in good faith and for which the Company has provided
         adequate reserves, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted
         against the Company that would have, individually or in the aggregate,
         a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                  (x) The statistical and market-related data included in the
         Final Memorandum are based on or derived from sources which the Company
         believes to be reliable and accurate.

                  (y) Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has
         taken or will take any action that might cause this Agreement or the
         sale of the Units to violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect, or
         as the same may hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date.

                  (z) The Company has good and defensible title to all real
         property and good title to all personal property described in the Final
         Memorandum as being owned by it and good and defensible title to a
         leasehold estate in the real and personal property described in the
         Final Memorandum as being leased by it free and clear of all liens,
         charges, encumbrances or restrictions other than Permitted Liens (as
         defined in the Indenture).

                  (aa) There are no legal or governmental proceedings involving
         or affecting the Company or any of its properties or assets which would
         be required to be described in a prospectus pursuant to the Act that
         are not described in the Final Memorandum, nor are there any material
         contracts or other documents which would be required to be described in
         a prospectus pursuant to the Act that are not described in the Final
         Memorandum.

                  (bb) Except as described in the Final Memorandum or as would
         not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
         (A) the Company is in compliance with and not subject to any known
         liability under applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B)
         the Company has made all filings and provided all notices required
         under any applicable Environmental Law, and has, and is in compliance
         with, all Permits required under any applicable Environmental Laws and
         each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no civil,
         criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice
         of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or
         request for information pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
         threatened against the Company under any Environmental Law, (D) no
         lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been recorded under any
         Environmental Law with respect to any assets, facility or property
         owned, operated, leased or controlled by the Company, (E) the Company
         has not received notice that it has been identified as a potentially
         responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
         Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), or any
         comparable state law, and (F) no property or facility of the Company is
         (i) listed or, to the knowledge of the Company proposed for listing on
         the National Priorities List under CERCLA or (ii) listed in the
         Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability
         Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, or on any
         comparable list maintained by any state or local governmental
         authority.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, "Environmental Laws" means the
         common law and all applicable federal, state and local laws or
         regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued,
         promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

         pollution or protection of public or employee health and safety or the
         environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to (i)
         emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of hazardous
         materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
         air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata),
         (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation,
         treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of hazardous
         materials, and (iii) underground and above ground storage tanks and
         related piping, and emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
         releases therefrom.

                  (cc) There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work
         stoppage with the employees of the Company which is pending or, to the
         knowledge of the Company, threatened. To the knowledge of the Company,
         no collective bargaining organizing activities are taking place with
         respect to the Company.

                  (dd) The Company does not have any liability for any
         prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any complete or partial
         withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing,
         401(k) plan or other plan which is subject to the Employee Retirement
         Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), to which the Company
         makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of the
         Company is or has ever been a participant. With respect to such plans,
         the Company is in compliance in all material respects with all
         applicable provisions of ERISA.

                  (ee) After giving effect to the offering and sale of the
         Units, the Company will not be an "investment company" or "promoter" or
         "principal underwriter" for an "investment company," as such terms are
         defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
         rules and regulations thereunder.

                  (ff) The Fixed Rate Notes, the Term B Notes, the Exchange
         Notes, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, the Common Stock, the Fixed
         Rate Units, the Term B Units, the Indenture, the Registration Rights
         Agreement, the Security Documents, the Security Document Amendments,
         the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement conform in all material
         respects to the descriptions thereof in the Final Memorandum.

                  (gg) No holder of securities of the Company will be entitled
         to have such securities registered under the registration statements
         required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights
         Agreement other than as expressly permitted thereby.

                  (hh) Immediately after the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture, the fair value and
         present fair saleable value of the assets of the Company will exceed
         the sum of its stated liabilities and identified contingent
         liabilities; the Company is not and after giving effect to the
         execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
         Indenture, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
         and thereby will not be, (a) left with unreasonably small capital with
         which to carry on its business as it is proposed to be conducted, (b)
         unable to pay its debts (contingent or otherwise) as they mature or (c)
         otherwise insolvent.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                  (ii) When the Units are issued and delivered pursuant to this
         Agreement, none of the Securities (except for the Warrant Shares) will
         be of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act) as
         any other securities of the Company that are listed on a national
         securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or
         that are quoted in a United States automated inter-dealer quotation
         system.

                  (jj) Each of the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final
         Memorandum, as of its date, contains all the information specified in,
         and meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.

                  (kk) Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
         warranties of the Initial Purchaser in Section 8 hereof, it is not
         necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Units
         to the Initial Purchaser in the manner contemplated by this Agreement
         to register any of the Units under the Act or to qualify the Indenture
         under the TIA.

                  (ll) The Company has not taken, and will not take, directly or
         indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be reasonably
         expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
         price of the Securities.

                  (mm) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which
         information is given in the Final Memorandum, there has not been any
         event or condition having a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (nn) The respective forms of the Security Documents and the
         Security Document Amendments, including the respective forms of
         acknowledgments thereto, comply with the laws of the jurisdiction where
         the property and interests covered by such documents are located,
         including all applicable recording, filing and registration laws and
         regulations, and are adequate and legally sufficient for the purposes
         intended to be accomplished thereby.

                  (oo) The Security Documents, as amended by the Security
         Document Amendments, create a valid lien on the collateral described
         therein in favor the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the
         Noteholders and the commercial lending institutions that are or may
         become parties to the Company's New Credit Facility, as security for
         the obligations stated to be secured thereby, but subject to the terms
         of the Intercreditor Agreement. The liens and security interests
         created by the Security Documents prior to the execution and delivery
         of the Security Document Amendments are valid and perfect first
         priority liens and security interests, subject only to Permitted Liens
         (as defined in the Indenture); and all filings and all other actions
         necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and
         priority of such lien prior to the Closing Date have been made or
         taken. Upon the filing of the Security Document Amendments in the
         places specified in Schedule C, the liens and security interests
         created by the Security Documents, as amended by the Security Document
         Amendments, will be perfected, first priority liens and security
         interests, subject only to such liens and security interests as

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

         may have priority subject only to Permitted Liens (as defined in the
         Indenture). The execution and delivery of the Security Document
         Amendments will not affect or impair the priority of the liens and
         security interests created by the Security Documents and existing prior
         to the execution of the Security Document Amendments. No other filings
         are necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and
         priority of the liens and security interests created by the Security
         Documents, as amended by the Security Document Amendments, other the
         filing of periodic UCC continuation statements.

                  (pp) Neither the Company nor any of its respective Affiliates
         (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Act) has directly,
         or through any agent, (i) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to
         buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any "security" (as defined
         in the Act) which is or could be integrated with the sale of the Fixed
         Rate Units or the Term B Units in a manner that would require the
         registration under the Act of either the Fixed Rate Units or the Term B
         Units or (ii) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general
         advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) in
         connection with the offering of the Units or in any manner involving a
         public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act.

                  (qq) The Company has (a) all insurance policies sufficient for
         compliance with all material governmental requirements and all material
         agreements and (b) insurance coverage in at least amounts and against
         such risks (including public liability) that are usually insured
         against by companies similarly situated and engaged in the same or a
         similar business for the assets and operations of the Company.

         3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Units. On the basis of the
representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to the Initial Purchaser, and Initial Purchaser agrees to
purchase from the Company (i) 71,000 Fixed Rate Units at a purchase price of
$873.00 per Fixed Rate Unit and (ii) 4,500 Term B Units at a purchase price of
$873.00 per Term B Unit. One or more certificates in definitive global form
representing the Fixed Rate Units and one or more certificates in definitive
global form representing the Term B Units, all registered in the name of Cede &
Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), shall be deposited on
the Closing Date, by or on behalf of the Company, with DTC or its designated
custodian, against payment by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser of the
purchase price therefor, by wire transfer (same day funds) to such account or
accounts as the Company shall specify at least 48 hours prior to the Closing
Date. Such delivery of and payment for the Units shall be made at the offices of
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P., Four United
Plaza, 8555 United Plaza Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809, at 10:00 a.m.,
Baton Rouge time, on December 21, 2000, or at such other place, time or date as
the Initial Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may
agree upon, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein referred
to as the "Closing Date."

         4. Offerings by the Initial Purchaser. The Initial Purchaser proposes
to offer the Units at the prices and upon the terms set forth in the Final
Memorandum, as soon as practicable after this Agreement is entered into and as
in the judgment of the Initial Purchaser is advisable.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         5. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the
Initial Purchaser that:

                  (a) The Company shall not make any amendment or supplement to
         the Final Memorandum of which the Initial Purchaser shall not
         previously have been advised and furnished a copy for a reasonable
         period of time prior to the proposed amendment or supplement and as to
         which the Initial Purchaser shall not have given its consent. The
         Company shall promptly, upon the reasonable request of the Initial
         Purchaser, make any amendments or supplements to the Preliminary
         Memorandum or the Final Memorandum that may be necessary or advisable
         in connection with the resale of the Units by the Initial Purchaser.

                  (b) The Company shall cooperate with the Initial Purchaser in
         arranging for the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
         under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the
         Initial Purchaser may designate and shall continue such qualifications
         in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the resale of the
         Units; provided, however, that in connection therewith, the Company
         shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute
         a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject
         itself to taxation in excess of a nominal dollar amount in any such
         jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

                  (c) If, at any time prior to the completion of the initial
         resale by the Initial Purchaser of the Units, any event occurs as a
         result of which the Final Memorandum as then amended or supplemented
         would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state
         a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
         of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if
         for any other reason it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement
         the Final Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will
         promptly notify the Initial Purchaser thereof and will prepare, at the
         expense of the Company, an amendment or supplement to the Final
         Memorandum that corrects such statement or omission or effects such
         compliance.

                  (d) The Company will, without charge, provide to the Initial
         Purchaser and to counsel for the Initial Purchaser as many copies of
         the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto as the
         Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.

                  (e) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offerings
         of the Units as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Final
         Memorandum.

                  (f) For so long as any of the Securities (other than the
         Warrant Shares) remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the
         Initial Purchaser copies of all reports and other communications
         (financial or otherwise) furnished by the Company to the Trustee, the
         Collateral Agent, the Warrant Agent or to the holders of the Securities
         and, as soon as available, copies of any reports or financial
         statements furnished to or filed by the Company with the Commission or
         any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of
         the Company may be listed.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                  (g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the
         Initial Purchaser, as soon as they have been prepared, if at all, a
         copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for
         any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent
         financial statements appearing in the Final Memorandum.

                  (h) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will sell,
         offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in
         respect of any "security" (as defined in the Act) which could be
         integrated with the sale of the Fixed Rate Units or the Term B Units in
         a manner which would require the registration under the Act of either
         the Fixed Rate Units or the Term B Units.

                  (i) The Company will not solicit any offer to buy or offer to
         sell the Units by means of any form of general solicitation or general
         advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Act) or
         in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section
         4(2) of the Act.

                  (j) For so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding,
         the Company will make available, upon request, to any seller or
         prospective purchaser of any of the Securities the information
         specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act, unless the Company is then
         subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

                  (k) The Company will use its best efforts to permit the
         Securities (other than the Warrant Shares) to be (i) designated PORTAL
         securities in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the
         NASD relating to trading in the PORTAL Market and (ii) eligible for
         clearance and settlement through DTC, including preparation of a Letter
         of Representations.

                  (l) The Company will cure promptly any defects in the creation
         and issuance of the Securities and the execution and delivery of the
         Security Documents and the Security Document Amendments. At its
         expense, the Company will promptly execute and deliver to the
         Collateral Agent upon request all such other documents, agreements and
         instruments to comply with or accomplish the covenants and agreements
         of the Company in the Security Documents and the Security Document
         Amendments or to further evidence and more fully describe the
         collateral intended as security for the Senior Notes, or to correct any
         omissions in the Security Documents and the Security Document
         Amendments, or to state more fully the security obligations set out
         herein or in any of the Security Documents or the Security Document
         Amendments, or to perfect, protect, preserve and maintain any liens
         created pursuant to any of the Security Documents or the Security
         Document Amendments and the first priority status of such liens
         (subject only to Permitted Liens (as defined in the Indenture)), or to
         make any recordings, to file any notices or obtain any consents, all as
         may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith. The Company
         will warrant and defend the first priority status of the liens created
         by the Security Documents and the Security Document Amendments, subject
         only to Permitted Liens.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

                  (m) The Company shall use its best efforts to do and perform
         all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this
         Agreement by it prior to the Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions
         precedent to the delivery of the Units.

                  (n) During the period of two years after the Closing Date (or
         such shorter period as may be provided for in Rule 144(k) under the
         Act, as the same may be in effect from time to time), the Company will
         not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates
         (as defined in Rule 144A under the Act) controlled by it to resell any
         of the Securities which constitute "restricted securities" under Rule
         144 that have been reacquired by any of them, except pursuant to an
         effective registration statement under the Act.

         6. Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident
to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 11 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i)
the printing, word processing or other production of documents with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby, including any costs of printing the
Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum and any amendment or supplement
thereto, (ii) all arrangements relating to the delivery to the Initial Purchaser
of copies of the foregoing documents, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the
counsel, the accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the
Company, (iv) preparation, issuance and delivery to the Initial Purchaser of the
Units, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state securities and "Blue
Sky" laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel incurred
by the Initial Purchaser relating thereto, (vi) the fees, disbursements and
charges of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to the Initial Purchaser, incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (vii) expenses in
connection with any meetings with prospective investors in the Units, (viii)
fees and expenses of the Trustee, the Warrant Agent and the Collateral Agent,
including fees and expenses of their respective counsel, (ix) all expenses and
listing fees incurred in connection with the application for quotation of any of
the Securities on the PORTAL Market and (x) any fees charged by investment
rating agencies for the rating of the Fixed Rate Notes or the Term B Notes. If
the sale of the Units provided for herein is not consummated because any
condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 7
hereof is not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated or because of any
failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform all
obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder (other than solely by reason of a default by the Initial Purchaser on
its obligations hereunder after all conditions hereunder have been satisfied in
accordance herewith), the Company agrees to promptly reimburse the Initial
Purchaser upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees,
disbursements and charges of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Initial
Purchaser) that shall have been incurred by the Initial Purchaser in connection
with the proposed purchase and sale of the Units. The Company shall not be
liable to the Initial Purchaser for loss of contemplated profits from the
transactions covered by this Agreement.

         7. Conditions of the Initial Purchaser's Obligations. The obligation of
the Initial Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Fixed Rate Units shall be
subject to its concurrent purchase of the Term B Units and vice versa. In
addition, the obligation of the Initial Purchaser to purchase and pay for either
the Fixed Rate Units or the Term B Units shall, in its sole

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

discretion, be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions
on or prior to the Closing Date:

                  (a) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
         received the opinion, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the
         Initial Purchaser, of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent Carrere &
         Denegre, L.L.P., counsel for the Company, substantially to the effect
         as set forth in Exhibit A subject to customary assumptions and
         qualifications. On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
         also received an opinion, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to
         the Initial Purchaser, of counsel for the Company in each of the States
         of Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South
         Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, substantially to the
         effect as set forth in Exhibit B to the extent the opinions set forth
         in Exhibit B relate to matters of each such state's laws, subject, in
         each case, to customary assumptions and qualifications.

                  (b) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
         received the opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchaser, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial
         Purchaser, of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Initial
         Purchaser, with respect to certain legal matters relating to this
         Agreement and such other related matters as the Initial Purchaser may
         require. In rendering such opinion, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. shall have
         received and may rely upon such certificates and other documents and
         information as it may reasonably request to pass upon such matters.

                  (c) The Initial Purchaser shall have received from the Ernst &
         Young LLP a comfort letter dated as of the Closing Date, in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser.

                  (d) The representations and warranties of the Company
         contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
         respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date
         as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except for the
         representations and warranties which were true and correct as of a
         certain specified date which shall continue to be true and correct as
         of such date); the statements of the Company's officers made pursuant
         to any certificate delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof
         shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
         date made and on and as of the Closing Date; the Company shall have
         complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all
         conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or
         prior to the Closing Date; and, except as described in the Final
         Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the
         date hereof), subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
         statements in such Final Memorandum, there shall have been no
         development that, singly or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to
         have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (e) Neither the sale of the Fixed Rate Units nor the sale of
         the Term B Units hereunder shall be enjoined (temporarily or
         permanently) on the Closing Date.

                  (f) Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
         statements in the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or
         supplement thereto after the date hereof), other than as described in
         such Final Memorandum or contemplated hereby, the

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

         Company shall not have incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct
         or contingent (other than in the ordinary course of business), that are
         material to the Company or entered into any transactions not in the
         ordinary course of business that are material to the business,
         condition (financial or other) or results of operations or prospects of
         the Company, and there shall not have been any adverse change in the
         capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company that is material
         to the business, condition (financial or other) or results of
         operations or prospects of the Company.

                  (g) Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
         statements in the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or
         supplement thereto after the date hereof), the conduct of the business
         and operations of the Company shall not have been interfered with by
         strike, fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity (whether or
         not insured) or by any court or governmental action, order or decree,
         and, except as otherwise stated therein, the properties of the Company
         shall not have sustained any loss or damage (whether or not insured) as
         a result of any such occurrence, except any such interference, loss or
         damage which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

                  (h) The Initial Purchaser shall have received a certificate of
         the Company dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of the Company by
         its Chairman of the Board, President or any Senior Vice President and
         the Chief Financial Officer, to the effect that:

                           (i) the representations and warranties of the Company
                  contained in this Agreement are true and correct in all
                  material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing
                  Date (except for the representations and warranties which were
                  true and correct as of a certain specified date which shall
                  continue to be true and correct as of such date), and the
                  Company has performed all covenants and agreements and
                  satisfied hereunder all conditions on its part to be performed
                  or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date;

                           (ii) at the Closing Date, since the date hereof or
                  since the date of the most recent financial statements in the
                  Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement
                  thereto after the date hereof), no event or events have
                  occurred, no information has become known nor does any
                  condition exist that, individually or in the aggregate, would
                  have a Material Adverse Effect;

                           (iii) since the date hereof or since the date of the
                  most recent financial statements in the Final Memorandum
                  (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto after the
                  date hereof), other than as described in the Final Memorandum
                  or contemplated hereby, the Company has not incurred any
                  liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (other than
                  in the ordinary course of business), that are material to the
                  Company or entered into any transactions not in the ordinary
                  course of business that are material to the business,
                  condition (financial or other) or results of operations or
                  prospects of the Company and there has not been any change in
                  the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company
                  that is material to the business, condition (financial or
                  other) or results of operations or prospects of the Company;
                  and

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

                           (iv) neither the sale of the Fixed Rate Units nor the
                  sale of the Term B Units hereunder has been enjoined
                  (temporarily or permanently).

                  (i) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
         received a counterpart, conformed as executed, of the Indenture, which
         shall have been entered into by the Company and the Trustee.

                  (j) On the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall have
         received the Registration Rights Agreement and the Warrant Agreement
         duly executed by the Company.

                  (k) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received a copy, certified by a responsible officer of the
         Company, as true and correct, of each Security Document executed prior
         to the Closing Date.

                  (l) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received the Security Document Amendments, in each case, executed
         in a sufficient number of counterparts to permit the filing or
         recordation thereof in each jurisdiction necessary to perfect the lien
         and security interest intended to be created thereby, in each case in
         form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchaser.

                  (m) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received the Intercreditor Agreement and the Pledge and Securities
         Account Agreement (as defined in the Indenture) executed by the parties
         thereto in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Initial
         Purchaser.

                  (n) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received evidence that the Company is prepared to close the New
         Credit Facility, with all conditions precedent thereunder having been
         satisfied or waived.

                  (o) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received lien searches for the assets of the Company and are
         satisfied with the status thereof.

                  (p) On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser shall
         have received evidence that the Company is prepared to close the Term
         Loan Credit Facility, with all conditions precedent thereunder having
         been satisfied or waived.

         On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchaser and counsel for
the Initial Purchaser shall have received such further documents, opinions,
certificates, letters and schedules or instruments relating to the business,
corporate, legal and financial affairs of the Company as they shall have
heretofore reasonably requested from the Company.

         All such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules or
instruments delivered pursuant to this Agreement will comply with the provisions
hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the
Initial Purchaser. The Company shall furnish to the Initial Purchaser such
conformed copies of such documents, opinions, certificates, letters, schedules
and instruments in such quantities as the Initial Purchaser shall reasonably
request.

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

         8. Offerings of Units; Restrictions on Transfer. The Initial Purchaser
has advised the Company that it proposes to offer the Units for sale upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Final Memorandum.
The Initial Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
Company that the Initial Purchaser (i) is purchasing the Units pursuant to a
private sale exempt from registration under the Act, (ii) has not solicited and
will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Units by means of any form of
general solicitation or general advertising or in any manner involving a public
offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Act, and (iii) will solicit
offers for the Units only from, and will offer, sell or deliver the Units as
part of their initial offering only to, (A) persons whom the Initial Purchaser
reasonably believes to be qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A
promulgated under the Act ("QIBs"), or if any such person is buying for one or
more institutional accounts for which such person is acting as fiduciary or
agent, only when such person has represented to the Initial Purchaser that each
such account is a QIB, to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery
is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case, in transactions under Rule
144A or (B) to a limited number of institutional "accredited investors" as
defined in Rule 501(a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) promulgated under the Act that make
the representations to and agreements with the Company specified in Annex A to
the Final Memorandum in private sales exempt from registration under the Act.

         9. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser, its affiliates and each
person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which the Initial Purchaser, its affiliates or such
controlling person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

                  (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
         material fact contained in any Memorandum or any amendment or
         supplement thereto or any application or other document, or any
         amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the Company or based upon
         written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in
         any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the
         securities or "Blue Sky" laws thereof or filed with any securities
         association or securities exchange (each an "Application"); or

                  (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state, in any
         Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Application, a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading,

and will reimburse, as incurred, the Initial Purchaser, each such affiliate and
each such controlling person for any reasonable legal or other reasonable
expenses incurred by the Initial Purchaser, such affiliate or such controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending against or appearing as a
third-party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of
or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue

                                       19
<PAGE>   20

statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Memorandum or any
amendment or supplement thereto or any Application in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information concerning the Initial Purchaser furnished
to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for use therein. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may
otherwise have to the indemnified parties. The Company shall not be liable under
this Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its
prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         The Initial Purchaser shall not, without the prior written consent of
the Company, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which the Company is or could have been a party, or
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by the Company, unless such
settlement (A) included an unconditional written release of the Company, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, from all liability on
claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include
any statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or
on behalf of the Company.

         (b) The Initial Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
Application, or (ii) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated in any Memorandum or any amendment or
supplement thereto or any Application, or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning the
Initial Purchaser, furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser
specifically for use therein; and subject to the limitation set forth
immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any reasonable
legal or other expenses incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending against or
appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchaser may otherwise have to
the indemnified parties. The Initial Purchaser shall not be liable under this
Section 9 for any settlement of any claim or action effected without its
consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Initial
Purchaser, effect any settlement or compromise of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which the Initial Purchaser is or could have been a
party, or indemnity could have been sought hereunder by the Initial Purchaser,
unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional written release of the
Initial Purchaser, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial
Purchaser, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding and (B) does not include any

                                       20
<PAGE>   21

statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on
behalf of the Initial Purchaser.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9
of notice of the commencement of any action for which such indemnified party is
entitled to indemnification under this Section 9, such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof in
writing; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not
relieve the indemnifying party from any liability under paragraph (a) or (b)
above unless and to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraphs (a) and
(b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified
party; provided, however, that if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest, (ii) the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable
time after receipt by the indemnifying party of notice of the institution of
such action, then, in each such case, the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party
or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select
separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of
its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified
party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party will
not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or
other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof,
unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence (it being
understood, however, that in connection with such action the indemnifying party
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in
addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate but substantially
similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, designated by the Initial Purchaser in the case of
paragraph (a) of this Section 9 or the Company in the case of paragraph (b) of
this Section 9, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) or
paragraph (b), as the case may be, who are parties to such action or actions) or
(ii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel
for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. After such
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying
party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such
action effected by such indemnified party without the prior written consent of
the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
unless such indemnified party waived in writing its rights

                                       21
<PAGE>   22

under this Section 9, in which case the indemnified party may effect such a
settlement without such consent.

         (d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in
the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 is unavailable to, or insufficient to
hold harmless, an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order
to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the
offering of the Units or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause
(i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the
indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or
alleged statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand and the Initial Purchaser on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts
and commissions received by the Initial Purchaser. The relative fault of the
parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
on the one hand, or the Initial Purchaser on the other, the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the
Initial Purchaser agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), the Initial Purchaser
shall not be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate
exceed the total discounts, commissions and other compensation received by the
Initial Purchaser under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages
that the Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the
untrue or alleged untrue statements or the omissions or alleged omissions to
state a material fact, and no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each affiliate of the
Initial Purchaser, and each person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchaser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchaser, and each
director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company.

         10. Survival Clause. The respective representations, warranties,
agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, its
officers and the Initial Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or made by or on
behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect,
regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on

                                       22
<PAGE>   23

behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Initial Purchaser,
its affiliates or any controlling person referred to in Section 9 hereof and
(ii) delivery of and payment for the Units. The respective agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 6, 9 and 15
hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.

         11. Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated in the sole
discretion of the Initial Purchaser by notice to the Company given prior to the
Closing Date in the event that the Company shall have failed, refused or been
unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or, if at or prior to the
Closing Date:

                  (i) the Company shall have sustained any loss or interference
         with respect to its businesses or properties from fire, flood,
         hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by
         insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute, slow down or work
         stoppage or any legal or governmental proceeding, which loss or
         interference, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchaser, has had or
         has a Material Adverse Effect, or there shall have been, in the sole
         judgment of the Initial Purchaser, any event or development that,
         individually or in the aggregate, has or could be reasonably likely to
         have a Material Adverse Effect (including without limitation a change
         in control of the Company), except in each case as described in the
         Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto);

                  (ii) trading in securities of the Company or in securities
         generally on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or
         the NASDAQ National Market shall have been suspended or minimum or
         maximum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or
         market;

                  (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New
         York or United States authorities;

                  (iv) there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of
         hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, or (B) an
         outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict
         involving the United States or any other national or international
         calamity or emergency, or (C) any material change in the financial
         markets of the United States which, in the case of (A), (B) or (C)
         above and in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchaser, makes it
         impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the
         delivery of the Units as contemplated by the Final Memorandum; or

                  (v) the Fixed Rate Notes or the Term B Notes shall have been
         downgraded such that the Fixed Rate Notes or the Term B Notes are rated
         below "B2" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or "B+" by Standard &
         Poor's Ratings Services or placed on any "watch list" for possible
         downgrading by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
         Ratings Services.

                                       23
<PAGE>   24

         (b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be
without liability of either party to the other party except as provided in
Section 10 hereof.

         12. Information Supplied by the Initial Purchaser. The statements set
forth in the last sentence of the last paragraph on the front cover page, the
first and second sentence of the third paragraph, the fourth paragraph, the
fifth paragraph, the fifth and sixth sentence of the sixth paragraph and the
seventh paragraph under the heading "Plan of Distribution" in the Memorandum (to
the extent such statements relate to the Initial Purchaser) constitute the only
information furnished by the Initial Purchaser to the Company for the purposes
of Sections 2(a) and 9 hereof and the Initial Purchaser confirms that such
statements are correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date.

         13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if
sent to the Initial Purchaser, shall be mailed or delivered to: Jefferies &
Company, Inc., 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, Attention: Jerry
M. Gluck, with a copy to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin, Suite 2300,
Houston, Texas 77002-6760, Attention: T. Mark Kelly; or if sent to the Company,
shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at 3232 Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton
Rouge, Louisiana 70816, Attention: Mark L. Mestayer, with a copy to Jones,
Walker, Waetcher, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P., 201 St. Charles Avenue,
Suite 5100, New Orleans, Louisiana 70170, Attention: Curtis Hearn.

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after
being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and one business day
after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier.

         14. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Initial Purchaser, the Company and their respective successors
and nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained; this
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and
being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of
no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company contained in
Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any affiliates of
the Initial Purchaser and any person or persons who control the Initial
Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Initial Purchaser contained in
Section 9 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of
the Company, its officers and any person or persons who control the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.
No purchaser of Securities from the Initial Purchaser will be deemed a successor
because of such purchase.

         15. APPLICABLE LAW. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT,
AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                                       24
<PAGE>   25

         16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       25
<PAGE>   26

         If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter, which has been executed on December 12, 2000 and amended
and restated on December 19, 2000, to be effective as of December 12, 2000,
shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Initial
Purchaser.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    PICCADILLY CAFETERIAS, INC.

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

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted on December 12, 2000,
as amended and restated on December 19, 2000, to be effective as of December 12,
2000.

JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.

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

                              Amended and Restated
                               Purchase Agreement

                                Signature Page 1

<PAGE>   27

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                 OPINION OF JONES, WALKER, WAECHTER, POITEVENT,
                            CARRERE & DENEGRE, L.L.P.

CAPITALIZED TERMS USED BUT NOT DEFINED IN THIS OPINION SHALL HAVE THE MEANING
SET FORTH IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS ARE SET FORTH IN
ANNEX I HERETO.

         (i) The Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Final Memorandum. The Company is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction where
the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (ii) None of the authorized but unissued shares of capital stock of the
Company are subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

         (iii) The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and reserved for
issuance by the Company, and when issued, sold and delivered by the Company
pursuant to the Warrant Agreement against payment therefor, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation
of or subject to any preemptive rights and will conform to the description of
the Common Stock contained in the Final Memorandum.

         (iv) To our knowledge, no holder of securities of the Company is
entitled to have such securities registered under a registration statement
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement other than as expressly permitted thereby.

         (v) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement and
each of the other Operative Documents to which it is a party and to consummate
the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, the
corporate power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Units as
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

         (vi) The Purchase Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.

         (vii) The Indenture and each Security Document and Security Document
Amendment have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company to the extent it is a party thereto and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will be the valid and legally
binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against each of it in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter
in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

                                      A - 1
<PAGE>   28

The Indenture meets the requirements for qualification under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA").

         (viii) The Senior Notes have been duly and validly authorized for
issuance and sale to the Initial Purchaser by the Company pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement and have been duly and validly executed and, when
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered
against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be the valid
and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture,
except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law), and the holders of the Senior Notes will be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

         (ix) The Exchange Notes have been duly and validly authorized for
issuance by the Company and, when issued and authenticated in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Exchange
Offer, will be the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or
hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and
to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         (x) The Fixed Rate Notes issuable in exchange for the Term B Notes have
been duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued
and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will be the
valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereinafter
in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

         (xi) The Warrants have been duly and validly authorized by the Company
and, when executed by the Company and countersigned by the Warrant Agent in
accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and when delivered to
and paid for by the Initial Purchaser in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, will have been duly executed, issued and delivered and will
constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the
benefits of the Warrant Agreement and enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or
hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and
to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)

         (xii) The Warrant Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and, upon execution and delivery by the
Warrant Agent thereunder, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by

                                      A - 2
<PAGE>   29

bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

         (xiii) The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Initial Purchaser) is the
valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or
hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and
to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and, as to rights of
indemnification and contribution, by principles of public policy or federal or
state securities or "Blue Sky" laws relating thereto.

         (xiv) The New Credit Facility, the Indenture, the Fixed Rate Notes, the
Term B Notes, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement, the Fixed Rate Units, the
Term B Units, the Security Documents, the Security Document Amendments, the
Intercreditor Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement conform in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Final Memorandum.

         (xv) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
Purchase Agreement and each of the other Operative Documents, the compliance by
it with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance
and sale of the Units to the Initial Purchaser, the issuance of the Exchange
Notes in the Exchange Offer, the issuance of Fixed Rate Notes in exchange for
the Term B Notes and the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the
Warrants), do not conflict with or constitute or result in a breach or a default
under (or an event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute
a default under) or violation of or cause an acceleration of any obligation
under, or result in the imposition or creation of (or the obligation to create
or impose) a lien (other than those created pursuant to the Security Documents
and Security Document Amendments) on any properties or assets of the Company
with respect to (i) the terms or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, permit, certificate, contract or
other agreement known to us to which the Company is a party, (ii) the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or (iii) (assuming
compliance with all applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws and assuming
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchaser in
Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule
or regulation known to us to be applicable to the Company or any of its
properties or assets.

         (xvi) No consent, waiver, approval, authorization or order of or
filing, registration, qualification, license or permit of or with any court or
governmental agency or body, or, to our knowledge, any third party is required
for the issuance and sale by the Company of the Units to the Initial Purchaser
or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by any
of the Operative Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the
Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, the issuance of Fixed Rate Notes in
exchange for Term B Notes and the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of the Warrants), except (i) such as may be required under state
securities or "Blue Sky" laws, as to which we express no

                                      A - 3

<PAGE>   30

opinion,(ii) those which have previously been obtained, (iii) the receipt by the
Company of orders declaring the Warrant Registration Statement, the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement and/ or the Shelf Registration Statement effective
from the Commission and (iv) the timely and proper filing of the Security
Documents Amendments.

         (xvii) To our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
involving or affecting the Company or any of its properties or assets which
would be required to be described in a prospectus pursuant to the Act that are
not so described in the Final Memorandum, nor are there any material contracts
or other documents which would be required to be described in a prospectus
pursuant to the Act that are not so described in the Final Memorandum.

         (xviii) The Company is not, nor immediately after the sale of the Units
to be sold under the Purchase Agreement and the application of the proceeds from
such sales (as described in the Final Memorandum under the caption "Use of
Proceeds") will it be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         (xix) No registration under the Act of any of the Units is required in
connection with the sale of the Units to the Initial Purchaser as contemplated
by the Purchase Agreement and the Final Memorandum or in connection with the
initial resale of the Units by the Initial Purchaser, and prior to the
commencement of the Exchange Offer, the Indenture is not required to be
qualified under the TIA, in each case assuming (i) that the purchasers who buy
such Units in the initial resale thereof are qualified institutional buyers as
defined in Rule 144A promulgated under the Act or institutional "accredited
investors" within the meaning of Rule 501 (a) (1), (2), (3), or (7) of the
Securities Act, (ii) the accuracy of the Initial Purchaser's representations in
Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement and those of the Company contained in the
Purchase Agreement regarding the absence of a general solicitation in connection
with the sale of such Units to the Initial Purchaser and the initial resale
thereof and (iii) the due performance by the Initial Purchaser of the agreements
set forth in Section 8 of the Purchase Agreement.

         (xx) Neither the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Purchase Agreement nor the sale, issuance, execution or delivery of the Units
will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.

         (xxi) The form of the Security Documents, the Security Document
Amendments and the Financing Statements, including the form of acknowledgments
thereto, comply with all applicable recording, filing and registration laws and
regulations of the State of Louisiana and are adequate and legally sufficient
for the purposes intended to be accomplished thereby.

         (xxii) So far as the law of the State of Louisiana is concerned, each
of the Security Documents, as amended by the Security Document Amendments,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms except as limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general
application relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

         (xxiii) Upon the recordings and filings as provided in following
paragraph, the Mortgages and the Mortgage Amendments are effective to create in
favor of the Collateral Agent

                                      A - 4
<PAGE>   31

for the benefit of the Noteholders and the other creditors identified therein,
as security for the payment of the Indebtedness (as defined in the Mortgages),
up to the maximum amount stated therein, a valid mortgage lien on all of, to the
extent adequately described therein, the Company's right, title and interest in
and to the portion of the Premises (as defined in the Mortgages) constituting
real or immovable property and fixtures described in the Mortgages as being
mortgaged thereby and a perfected security interest in all of, to the extent
adequately described therein, the Company's right, title and interest in and to
the portion of the Premises constituting property, other than real or immovable
property and fixtures, in which a security interest can be created, and
perfected by the filings contemplated by the following paragraph, under Article
9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Louisiana.

         (xxiv) Fully executed counterparts of the Mortgage Amendments should be
filed for record in each parish in the State of Louisiana where any portion of
the Premises is located. Fully executed counterparts of the Financing Statements
should be filed for record with the Clerk of Court of any Parish of the State of
Louisiana (other than the Parish of Orleans) or the Recorder of Mortgages of the
Parish of Orleans. Other than the foregoing, no authorization, consent,
approval, license or exemption of, or filing or registration with, any
governmental authority of the State of Louisiana is necessary for either the due
execution and delivery by the Company of the Security Documents or the Security
Document Amendments or with the holding and enforcement by the Collateral Agent
of the Security Documents, as amended by the Security Document Amendments, or
the obligations secured thereby, except for such authorizations, consents,
approvals, licenses or exemptions of, or filings or registrations with any
governmental authority that are required to be obtained or maintained, as the
case may be, by the Trustee in order for the Trustee to be or remain qualified
to act in the capacity of trustee.

         (xxv) For so long as the Senior Notes and the Exchange Notes are
outstanding and not matured, after the recordings and filings specified in the
previous paragraph have occurred, no instruments need be recorded, registered or
filed or re-recorded, re-registered or re-filed in any public office in the
State of Louisiana in connection with the execution and delivery of the Security
Documents and the Security Document Amendments in order to maintain the
perfection of the liens and security interests created thereby after the date of
recordation, other than (A) that in the case of proceeds constituting a portion
of the collateral, continuation of perfection of the Trustee's security interest
therein is limited to the extent set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect in the State of Louisiana, (ii) that in the case of property which
becomes Premises after the date hereof, Section 552 of the Federal Bankruptcy
Code limits the extent to which property acquired by a debtor after the
commencement of a case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code may be subject to a
security interest arising from a security agreement entered into by the debtor
before the commencement of such case, and (iii) continuation statements as
required by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Louisiana.
The effect of recordation of each Mortgage Amendment will cease unless each such
Mortgage Amendment is reinscribed by the filing of a signed, written notice of
reinscription that meets the requirements of Louisiana Civil Code article 3333
within ten years after the date of the applicable Mortgage. Each reinscription
that is filed before the effect of recordation ceases will continue the effect
of recordation for ten years from the day notice of reinscription is filed.

         (xxvi) No state or local recording tax, stamp tax or other similar fee,
tax or governmental charge (other than statutory filing and recording fees to be
paid upon the filing of the Security

                                      A - 5
<PAGE>   32

Documents Amendments) is required to be paid in connection with the filing and
recording of any of the Security Documents, as amended by the Security Document
Amendments.

         (xxvii) The execution, delivery and performance of by the Company of
its obligations under the Security Documents and the Security Document
Amendments will not result in a violation of any laws, rules and regulations of
the State of Louisiana which, in our experience, exercising customary
professional diligence, are normally applicable to transactions of the type
provided for in the Security Documents.

         (xxviii) Certain of the Operative Documents specify a choice of New
York law to govern such documents. Louisiana Civil Code Article 3540 (1992)
provides that a Louisiana court should give effect to the choice of law
stipulations in such Operative Documents unless a Louisiana court finds that (i)
there are public policy considerations justifying the refusal to honor the
agreement's choice of law stipulation as written or (ii) the chosen
jurisdiction's own conflict of law principles dictate the application of another
body of law.

         (xxix) Upon (i) execution and delivery of the Security Agreement by the
Company and (ii) filing of a financing statement with the Clerk of Court of any
Parish of the State of Louisiana (other than the Parish of Orleans) or the
Recorder of Mortgages of the Parish of Orleans, the Security Agreement will
create and constitute a valid, enforceable and perfected security interest in
such collateral described therein.

         (xxx) The Pledge and Securities Account Agreement is effective to
create a valid lien upon the securities accounts identified therein. The Pledge
and Collateral Account Agreement is effective to grant "control" over such
securities accounts to the Collateral Agent, resulting in the perfection of such
lien in favor of the Collateral Agent.

         (xxxi) Except as otherwise provided herein, no other filings are
necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and priority of
the liens and security interests created by the Security Documents, as amended
by the Security Document Amendments, other the filing of period UCC continuation
statements.

         (xxxii) Subject to the assumptions, reliances and disclaimers listed
therein, the discussion of United States federal tax matters contained in
"Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations" in the Final Memorandum is accurate in
all material respects.

         We have participated in conferences with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public
accountants for the Company, representatives of the Initial Purchaser and
counsel for the Initial Purchaser, at which conferences the contents of the
Final Memorandum and related matters were discussed, and, although we have not
independently verified and are not passing upon and assume no responsibility for
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Final
Memorandum (except to the extent specified in paragraph (xiv) of this opinion
letter), no facts have come to our attention which cause us to believe that the
Final Memorandum, on the date thereof or at the Closing Date, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the

                                      A - 6
<PAGE>   33

circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood
that we make no comment with respect to the financial statements and related
notes thereto and the other financial, numerical and accounting data included in
the Final Memorandum).

         In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have relied, to the extent we
deemed proper, upon the representations and certifications of officers of the
Company or of public officials. As used in this letter, the phrase "to our
knowledge" means the actual knowledge, without independent verification, of the
lawyers in this firm who have been involved in the transactions contemplated by
the Purchase Agreement.

References to the Final Memorandum in this opinion letter shall include any
amendment or supplement thereto prepared at the Closing Date in accordance with
the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

                                      A - 7
<PAGE>   34

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                            OPINION OF LOCAL COUNSEL

CAPITALIZED TERMS USED BUT NOT DEFINED IN THIS OPINION SHALL HAVE THE MEANING
SET FORTH IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS ARE SET FORTH IN
ANNEX I HERETO.

                  i. The form of the Security Documents, the Security Document
         Amendments and the Financing Statements, including the form of
         acknowledgments thereto, comply with all applicable recording, filing
         and registration laws and regulations of the States of [Texas, Alabama,
         Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky,
         Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas] and are adequate and legally sufficient
         for the purposes intended to be accomplished thereby.

                  ii. So far as the law of the States of [Texas, Alabama,
         Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky,
         Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas] are concerned, each of the Security
         Documents, as amended by the Security Document Amendments, constitutes
         a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
         against it in accordance with its terms except as limited by
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
         laws of general application relating to or affecting creditors' rights
         generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
         such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                  iii. Upon the recordings and filings as provided in following
         paragraph, the Mortgages and the Mortgage Amendments are effective to
         continue in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders, as
         security for the payment of the Indebtedness (as defined in the
         Mortgages) a valid mortgage lien on all of, to the extent adequately
         described therein, the Company's right, title and interest in and to
         the portion of the Premises (as defined in the Mortgages) constituting
         real or immovable property and fixtures described in the Mortgages as
         being mortgaged thereby and a perfected security interest in all of, to
         the extent adequately described therein, the Company's right, title and
         interest in and to the portion of the Premises constituting property,
         other than real or immovable property and fixtures, in which a security
         interest can be created, and perfected by the filings contemplated by
         the following paragraph, under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code
         as in effect in the States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
         Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and
         Kansas].

                  iv. Fully executed counterparts of the Mortgage Amendments
         should be filed for record in each county in the States of [Texas,
         Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,
         Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas] where any portion of the
         Premises is located. Fully executed counterparts of the Financing
         Statements should be filed for record with the Secretary of State of
         the States [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia,
         South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma

                                      B - 1
<PAGE>   35

         and Kansas]. Other than the foregoing, no authorization, consent,
         approval, license or exemption of, or filing or registration with, any
         governmental authority of the States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida,
         Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri,
         Oklahoma or Kansas] is necessary for either the due execution and
         delivery by the Company of the Security Documents or the Security
         Document Amendments or with the holding and enforcement by the
         Collateral Agent (or the Trustee) of the Security Documents, as amended
         by the Security Document Amendments, or the obligations secured
         thereby, except for such authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses
         or exemptions of, or filings or registrations with any governmental
         authority that are required to be obtained or maintained, as the case
         may be, by the Trustee in order for the Trustee to be or remain
         qualified to act in the capacity of trustee.

                  v. For so long as the Senior Notes and the Exchange Notes are
         outstanding and not matured, after the recordings and filings specified
         in the previous paragraph have occurred, no instruments need be
         recorded, registered or filed or re-recorded, re-registered or re-filed
         in any public office in the States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida,
         Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri,
         Oklahoma or Kansas] in connection with the execution and delivery of
         the Security Documents and the Security Document Amendments in order to
         maintain the perfection of the liens and security interests created
         thereby after the date of recordation, other than (A) that in the case
         of proceeds constituting a portion of the Premises, continuation of
         perfection of the Trustee's security interest therein is limited to the
         extent set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
         States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South
         Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas], (ii) that in the
         case of property which becomes Premises after the date hereof, Section
         552 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code limits the extent to which property
         acquired by a debtor after the commencement of a case under the Federal
         Bankruptcy Code may be subject to a security interest arising from a
         security agreement entered into by the debtor before the commencement
         of such case, and (iii) continuation statements as required by the
         Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the States of [Texas, Alabama,
         Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky,
         Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas] . We also call to the Initial Purchaser's
         attention that after the maturity of the Senior Notes, action must be
         taken to avoid application of relevant statutes of limitations to the
         Senior Notes and the liens securing same, including without limitation,
         the liens created by the Mortgages.

                  vi. No state or local recording tax, stamp tax or other
         similar fee, tax or governmental charge (other than statutory filing
         and recording fees to be paid upon the filing of the Security Documents
         Amendments) is required to be paid in connection with the filing and
         recording of any of the Security Documents, as amended by the Security
         Document Amendments [, except specify for Tennessee, Florida, Alabama
         and Georgia].

                  vii. The execution, delivery and performance of by the Company
         of its obligations under the Security Documents and the Security
         Document Amendments will not result in a violation of any laws, rules
         and regulations of the States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
         Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and
         Kansas] which, in our experience, exercising customary professional

                                      B - 2
<PAGE>   36

         diligence, are normally applicable to transactions of the type provided
         for in the Security Documents.

                  viii. A [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,
         Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas] state
         court of competent jurisdiction or a federal court sitting in the
         States of [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South
         Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas] of competent
         jurisdiction and applying conflicts of laws principles of the State of
         [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,
         Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma or Kansas], as the case may be, if
         properly presented with a choice of law issue, will honor the choice of
         New York law to govern the Security Documents and the Security Document
         Amendments that state such documents shall be governed by the laws of
         the State of New York, except to the extent the laws of other
         jurisdictions may be mandatorily applicable to perfection, the effect
         of perfection on non-perfection and the availability of remedies under
         the Security Documents.

                  ix. Upon (i) execution and delivery of the Security Agreement
         by the Company and (ii) filing of a financing statement with the office
         of the Secretary of State of each of [Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
         Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and
         Kansas] and the Parish Clerk of any Parish of the State of Louisiana
         (other than the Parish of Orleans) or the Recorder of Mortgages of the
         Parish of Orleans, the Security Agreement will create and constitute a
         valid, enforceable and perfected security interest in such collateral
         described therein.

                  x. The execution and delivery of the Security Document
         Amendments will not affect or impair the priority of the liens and
         security interests created by the Security Documents and existing prior
         to the execution of the Security Document Amendments. No other filings
         are necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and
         priority of the liens and security interests created by the Security
         Documents, as amended by the Security Document Amendments, other the
         filing of period UCC continuation statements.

         In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have relied, to the extent we
deemed proper, upon the representations and certifications of officers of the
Company or of public officials.

                                      B - 3

<PAGE>   37

                                     ANNEX I

         "Financing Statements" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements, the terminations of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements,
the partial releases to Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and the
amendments to Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, each as set forth in
Schedule A hereto.

         "Mortgages" mean each agreements listed on Schedule B hereto.

         "Mortgage Amendments" shall mean the amendments to the Mortgages set
forth on Schedule C hereto.

         "Security Agreement" shall mean the Security Agreement, dated as of
December 17, 1999 by the Company, as grantor, in favor of Hibernia National
Bank, as Collateral Agent, as amended by First Amendment to Security Agreement
dated as of the Closing Date.

         "Security Documents" shall mean the Mortgages, the Security Agreement
and the Pledge and Securities Account Agreement.

         "Security Document Amendments" shall mean the Mortgage Amendments and
the First Amendment to the Security Agreement.

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