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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.27

                                POWERSPRING, INC.

                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                             ADOPTED MARCH 13, 2000

      SECTION 1. PURPOSES. The purposes of the PowerSpring, Inc. 2000 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan") are to promote the long-term interests of
PowerSpring, Inc. and its Subsidiaries by (i) attracting, retaining and
rewarding high-quality executives and other key employees and directors of, and
advisors and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) motivating
such persons by enabling them to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in
the Company in order to align the interests of such persons with the Company's
stockholders, and (iii) providing such persons with incentives to pursue and
participate in the long-term growth, profitability and financial success of the
Company.

      SECTION 2.  DEFINITIONS.   In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in
the Plan, the following terms as used in the Plan shall have the meanings set
forth below:

      (a) "Award" means any Option, SAR (including Limited SAR), Restricted
Stock, Deferred Stock, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other
Stock-Based Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a
Participant under the Plan.

      (b) "Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract or other
instrument or document evidencing any Award which may, but need not, be executed
or acknowledged by a Participant.

      (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

      (d) "Change in Control" has the meaning given to such term in Section
9(b)(i) of the Plan.

      (e) "Change in Control Price" has the meaning given to such term in
Section 9(b)(ii) of the Plan.

      (f) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated
thereunder, and any successor provisions, rules, regulations and
interpretations.

      (g) "Committee" means a committee of directors designated by the Board, in
its discretion, to administer the Plan; provided, however, that, unless
otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist of two or more
directors, each of whom shall be (i) a "non-employee director" within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan
by "non-employee directors" is not then required in order for exemptions under
Rule 16b-3 to apply to transactions under the Plan, and (ii) an "outside
director" as defined under Section 162(m) of the Code, unless administration of
the Plan by "outside directors" is not then required in order to qualify for tax
deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.

      (h) "Company" means PowerSpring, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together
with any successor thereto.

      (i) "Covered Employee" means any individual who is or, in the
determination of the Board, is likely to be a "covered employee" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

      (j) "Deferred Stock" means a right, granted to a Participant under Section
6(e) hereof, to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in
value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other
periodic payments.

      (k) "Director" means any individual who is a member of the Board.

      (l) "Dividend Equivalent" means a right granted to a Participant under
Section 6(g) hereof to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property
equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specific number of Shares, or
other periodic payments.

      (m) "Effective Date" means March 13, 2000.
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      (n) "Eligible Person" means an officer, employee or director of, or an
advisor or consultant to, the Company or a Subsidiary.

      (o) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations
promulgated thereunder, and any successor provisions, rules, regulations and
interpretations.

      (p) "Family Member" means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or
sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the
Participant's household (other than a tenant or employee), or any other person
from time to time included within the definition of "family member" within the
meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act.

      (q) "Fair Market Value" means the fair market value of the property or
other item being valued, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion or by
procedures established by the Board; provided, however, that the fair market
value of Shares as of any date means the closing sale price of the Shares on
such date or, if there are no sales on such date, then the closing sale price of
the Shares on the most recent date prior to such date on which there was a sale
of Shares, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on any other quotation system
approved by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or on any
national securities exchange on which Shares are then listed or quoted, which
constitutes the primary trading market for the Shares.

      (r) "Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means an Option that is intended to
meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
thereto and is expressly designated as an Incentive Stock Option.

      (s) "IPO" means an initial public offering of the Company's Shares
registered under the Securities Act.

      (t) "Limited SAR" means a right granted to a Participant under Section
6(c) hereof.

      (u) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" or "NQSO" means an Option that is not
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

      (v) "Option" means a right granted under Section 6(b) hereof to purchase
Shares or other Awards at a specific price during a specific time.

      (w) "Other Stock-Based Awards" means Awards granted to a Participant under
Section 6(h) hereof.

      (x) "Participant" means any Eligible Person who has been granted an Award
under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an
Eligible Person.

      (y) "Performance Award" means a right granted under Section 8 hereof to
receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Board.

      (z) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

      (aa)  "Plan" means the PowerSpring, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as
amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

      (bb) "Restricted Stock" means any Shares granted under Section 6(d)
hereof.

      (cc) "Related Party" has the meaning given to such term in Section
9(b)(iii) hereof.

      (dd) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 as from time to time in effect and
applicable to the Plan and the Participants, as promulgated and interpreted by
the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, including any successor rule
thereto.

      (ee) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
thereto and shall include the staff thereof.

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      (ff) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from
time to time, together with the rules, regulations and interpretations
promulgated thereunder, and any successor provisions, rules, regulations and
interpretations.

      (gg) "Shares" means shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the
Board from time to time.

      (hh) "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means a right granted to a
Participant under Section 6(c) hereof, to be paid an amount measured by the
appreciation in the Fair Market Value of shares from the date of grant to the
date of exercise.

      (ii) "Subsidiary" means any corporation (whether now or hereafter
existing) which, on the date of determination, qualifies as a subsidiary
corporation of the Company under Section 425(f) of the Code, and any successor
thereto.

      (jj) "Voting Securities" has the meaning given to such term in Section
9(b)(iv) hereof.

      SECTION 3.  ADMINISTRATION.

            (a) Authority of the Board. The Plan shall be administered by the
Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to
other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Board by the Plan, the
Board shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii)
determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person; (iii)
determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of Shares or amount of
cash or other property to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions
of any Award (including, but not limited to, any exercise price, grant price or
purchase price, any exercise or vesting periods, any limitation or restriction,
any schedule for lapse of limitations, forfeiture restrictions or restrictions
on exercisability or transferability, and any accelerations or waivers thereof,
based in each case on such considerations as the Board shall determine), and all
other matters to be determined in connection with an Award; (iv) determine
whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or
exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or
Awards may be accumulated, vested, exchanged, surrendered, canceled, forfeited
or suspended; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances
cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts
payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at
the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vi) interpret and
administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made
under, the Plan; (vii) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need
not be identical for each Participant; (viii) adopt, amend, suspend, waive or
rescind such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem
necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan; (ix) correct any
defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency, and to construe
and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations, any Award Agreement or other
instrument entered into or Award made under the Plan; and (x) make any other
determinations and decisions and take any other action that the Board deems
necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

            (b) Exercise of Authority. Unless otherwise expressly provided in
the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions
under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole
discretion of the Board, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive
and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, Eligible
Persons, Participants, holders or beneficiaries of Awards, and stockholders. The
express grant of any specific power to the Board, and the taking of any action
by the Board, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the
Board. The Board may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any
Subsidiary, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the
Board shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative
functions, as the Board may determine, to the extent that such delegation will
not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3 for Awards granted to
Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company
and will not cause Awards intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code of the Code to fail to so
qualify. The Board may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

            (c) Delegation to a Committee. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Board may at any time, or from time to time,
appoint a Committee and delegate to such Committee the authority of the Board to
administer the Plan, including to the extend provided by the Board, the power to
further delegate such authority. Upon such appointment and delegation, any such
Committee shall have all the powers, privileges and duties of the Board in the
administration of the Plan to the extent provided in such delegation, except for
the power to appoint members of the Committee and to terminate, modify or amend
the Plan. The Board may from time to time appoint members of any such Committee
in substitution for or in addition to members previously appointed, may fill
vacancies in such Committee and

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may discharge such Committee. Any such Committee shall hold its meetings at such
times and places as it shall deem advisable. A majority of members shall
constitute a quorum and all determinations shall be made by a majority of such
quorum. Any determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members
shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a
meeting duly called and held.

            (d) Limitation of Liability. The Board, the Committee, if any, and
each member of each shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any
report or other information furnished to him or her by any executive officer,
other officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Company's
independent auditors, legal counsel, other consultants or any other agents
assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Board and of the
Committee, if any, and any officer or employee of the Company or a Subsidiary
acting at the direction or on behalf of the Board and of the Committee, if any,
shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in
good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law,
be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such
action or determination.

      SECTION 4.  SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS.

            (a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
4(b) hereof, the total number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be
granted under the Plan shall be 6,000,000. If any Shares covered by an Award
granted under the Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited, or if
an Award otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, or
if payment is made to the Participant in the form of cash or other property
other than Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award
relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number
of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such
settlement, forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be, or shall
become, Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent
permissible under Rule 16b-3. In the event that any Option or other Award
granted hereunder is exercised through the delivery of Shares, the number of
Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be increased by the number of
Shares surrendered, to the extent permissible under Rule 16b-3. For purposes of
this Section 4(a), the number of Shares to which an Award relates shall be
counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan at
the time of grant of the Award, unless such number of Shares cannot be
determined at that time, in which case the number of Shares actually distributed
pursuant to the Award shall be counted against the number of Shares reserved and
available under the Plan at the time of distribution; provided, however, that
Awards related to or retroactively added to, or granted in tandem with,
substituted for or converted into, other Awards shall be counted or not counted
against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan in accordance
with procedures adopted by the Committee so as to ensure appropriate counting
but avoid double counting; and provided, further, that the number of Shares
deemed to be issued under the Plan upon exercise of an Option or an Other
Stock-Based Award in the nature of a stock purchase right shall be reduced by
the number of Shares surrendered by the Participant in payment of the exercise
or purchase price of the Award.

            (b) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other
property), recapitalization, forward or reverse stock split, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, liquidation,
dissolution, exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other
similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an
adjustment is necessary or determined by the Board to be appropriate in order to
prevent dilution or enlargement of the Participants' rights under the Plan, then
the Board shall proportionately adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of
Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other
securities or property) which may thereafter be issued in connection with
Awards; (ii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities of the Company
(or number and kind of other securities or property) issued or issuable with
respect to outstanding Awards; and (iii) the grant, exercise or purchase price
with respect to any Award; provided, in each case, that with respect to Awards
of Incentive Stock Options, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent
that such authority would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the
Code, as from time to time amended.

            (c) Sources of Shares. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury
Shares, including Shares repurchased by the Company for purposes of the Plan.

            (d) Annual Limits on Awards. Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 4(b) hereof the maximum number of Shares subject to Awards in any
combination that may be granted during any one fiscal year of the Company to any
one Participant shall be limited to 1,000,000.

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      SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY. Awards may be granted under the Plan only to
Eligible Persons, except that only Eligible Persons who are employees of the
Company or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of Incentive Stock
Options.

      SECTION 6.  SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS.

            (a) General. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement, Awards may be granted as set forth in this Section
6. In addition, the Board may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at
the date of grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10 hereof),
such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as the Board shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of
Awards in the event of termination of employment by the Participant and terms
permitting a Participant to make elections pertaining to his Award. Subject to
the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the right to accelerate the
vesting or exercising of any Award granted under the Plan. Except as provided in
Section 7(a) hereof, or as required by applicable law, Awards shall be granted
for no consideration other than prior and future services.

            (b)   Options.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board is
authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons on the following terms and
conditions:

                  (i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option
      shall be determined by the Board; provided, however, that, except as
      provided in Section 7(a), such exercise price shall not be less than the
      Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

                  (ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined
      by the Board.

                  (iii) Methods of Exercise. The Board shall determine the time
      or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be
      exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of
      performance goals and/or service requirements), the methods by which such
      exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, and the form of such
      payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other outstanding
      Awards or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations
      of Participants to make payment on a deferred bases, to the extent
      permitted by law) or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value
      equal to the exercise price.

                  (iv) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock
      Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all material respects with
      the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
      thereto. Incentive Stock Options may only be issued to employees of the
      Company or a Subsidiary. Anything in the Plan to the contrary
      notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR
      in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall
      any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to
      disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422, unless the
      Participant has first requested the change that will result in such
      disqualification.

            (c) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Board is authorized to grant
Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons on the following terms and
conditions:

                  (i) Right to Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer
      on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise
      thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of
      exercise (or, in the case of a Limited SAR, the Fair Market Value
      determined by reference to the Change in Control Price), or, if the Board
      shall so determine in the case of any such right other than one related to
      any Incentive Stock Option, at any time during a specified period before
      or after the date of exercise, over (B) the grant price of the Stock
      Appreciation Right as determined by the Board as of the date of grant of
      the Stock Appreciation Right, which, except as provided in Section 7(a)
      hereof, shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
      date of grant.

                  (ii) Other Terms. The term, methods of exercise, methods of
      settlement and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation
      Right shall be determined by the Board. Limited SARs that may only be
      exercised in connection with a Change in Control or other event as
      specified by the Board may be granted on such terms, not inconsistent with
      this Section 6(c), as the Board may determine. SARs and Limited SARs may
      be awarded either on a free-standing basis or in tandem with other Awards.

            (d) Restricted Stock. The Board is authorized to grant Restricted
Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

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                  (i) Grant and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject
      to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other
      restrictions as the Board may impose (including, without limitation,
      limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive
      dividends thereon), which restrictions may lapse separately or in
      combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on
      the achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements),
      in such installments, or otherwise, as the Board shall determine at the
      time of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the
      terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to the Restricted
      Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights
      of a stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the
      right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment
      or other requirement imposed by the Board). During the restricted period
      applicable to the Restricted Stock, subject to Section 11 hereof, the
      Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated,
      margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

                  (ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the
      Committee at the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of
      employment or service on the Board (as determined under criteria
      established by the Board) during the applicable restriction period,
      Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be
      forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that
      restrictions on Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in
      the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the
      Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions on or
      the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

                  (iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under
      the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Board shall determine,
      including, without limitation, issuance of certificates representing
      Shares. Certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall be
      registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate
      legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
      such Restricted Stock, and the Board may require that the Company retain
      physical possession of the Certificates, and that the Participant deliver
      a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the
      Restricted Stock.

                  (iv) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an
      Award of Restricted Stock, the Board may require that any cash dividends
      paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in
      additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of
      additional Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the
      Board, Shares distributed in connection with a stock split or stock
      dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject
      to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the
      Restricted Stock with respect to which such Shares or other property has
      been distributed.

            (e) Deferred Stock. The Board is authorized to grant Deferred Stock
to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

                  (i) Issuance and Limitations. Delivery of Shares shall occur
      upon expiration of the deferral period specified for the Award of Deferred
      Stock by the Board. In addition, an Award of Deferred Stock shall be
      subject to such limitations (including a risk of forfeiture) as the
      Committee may impose (if any), which limitations may lapse at the
      expiration of the deferral period or at other specified times (including
      based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service
      requirements, separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise,
      as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter. A
      Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no voting rights and shall
      have no rights to receive dividends in respect of Deferred Stock, unless
      and only to the extent that the Committee shall award Dividend Equivalents
      in respect of such Deferred Stock.

                  (ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Board
      upon termination of employment with or service to the Company (as
      determined under criteria established by the Board) during the applicable
      deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply,
      Deferred Stock that is at that time subject to deferral (other than a
      deferral at the election of the Participant) shall be forfeited; provided,
      however, that the Board may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award
      Agreement or may determine in any individual case, that restriction or
      forfeiture conditions relating to Deferred Stock shall be waived in whole
      or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes,
      and the Board may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture
      of Deferred Stock.

            (f) Bonus Shares and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Board is
authorized to grant Shares or other Awards as a bonus to Eligible Persons or in
lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or
under other plans or compensatory arrangements (including salary requirements),
provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Board to the

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extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other Awards are
exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Shares or Awards
granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by
the Board.

            (g) Dividend Equivalents. The Board is authorized to grant Dividend
Equivalents to a Participant. Dividend Equivalents shall confer upon the
Participant rights to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash, Shares,
other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to
a specified number of Shares, or otherwise, as determined by the Board. The
Board may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when
accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or
Awards or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions or
transferability and risk of forfeiture, as the Board may specify. Dividend
Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or with another Award.

            (h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Board is authorized, subject to
limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards
that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to,
or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Board to be
consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation,
purchase rights for Shares, Shares awarded which are not subject to any
restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities or other
rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, Awards with value and payment
contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by
the Board, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Shares or the
value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries as the Board
determines. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of such awards.
Except as provided in Section 7(a) hereof, Shares or securities delivered
pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this
Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times,
by such methods and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares,
other outstanding Awards or other property or any combination thereof, as the
Committee shall determine. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any
other Award under the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h).

            (i) Exchange Provisions. The Board may at any time offer to exchange
or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Shares, another
Award or other property, based on such terms and conditions as the Board shall
determine and communicate to the Participant at the time that such offer is
made.

      SECTION 7.  GENERAL TERMS OF AWARDS.

            (a) Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards
granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either
alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution or exchange for, any
other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of
the Company or any Subsidiary (subject to the terms of Section 10 hereof), or
any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any
Subsidiary. Such additional, tandem, substitute or exchange Awards may be
granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for
another Award or award, the Board shall require the surrender of such other
Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. The exercise
price of any Option, the grant price of any Stock Appreciation Right or the
purchase price of any other Award conferring a right to purchase Share
retroactively granted in tandem with an outstanding Award or award shall be
either not less than the Fair Market Value of Shares at the date of grant of the
later Award or equal to the Fair Market Value of Shares at the date of grant of
the earlier Award or award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exercise price of
any Option, grant price of any Stock Appreciation Right or purchase price of any
other Award conferring a right to purchase Shares which is granted in exchange
or substitution for an option, stock appreciation right or other award granted
by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section
9(a) hereof) shall not be less than the exercise price, grant price or purchase
price of the exchanged or substituted Option, Stock Appreciation Right or other
Award, and outstanding Awards shall not be amended (other than in connection
with a transaction described in Section 4(b) hereof to reduce the exercise
price, grant price or purchase price of any such Award.

            (b) Decisions Required to be Made by the Board. Other provisions of
the Plan and any Award Agreement notwithstanding, if any decision regarding an
Award or the exercise of any right by a Participant, at any time such
Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or is a Covered
Employee under Section 162(m) of the Code, is required to be made or approved by
the Board in order that a grant to or transaction by such Participant will be
exempt under Rule 16b-3 or qualify as "qualified performance-based compensation"
for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code then the Board shall retain full and
exclusive power and authority to make such decision or to approve or disapprove
any such decision by the Participant.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
            (c) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period
as may be determined by the Board; provided, however, that in no event shall the
term of any Incentive Stock Option, or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in
tandem therewith, exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.

            (d) Form and Timing of Payment of Awards. Subject to the terms of
the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments or substitutions to be
made by the Company or a Subsidiary upon the grant, exercise or settlement of an
Award may be made in such forms as the Board shall determine at the time of
grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10 hereof), including,
without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property or any
combination thereof, and may be made in a single payment or substitution, in
installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and
procedures established by the Board. Such rules and procedures may include,
without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable
interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of
Dividend Equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments. The
settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Shares in
connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Board or upon
occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).

            (e) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the
Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant
who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt under Rule
16b-3 (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such
Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement
does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any
such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the
extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that
such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).

            (f) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares delivered under
the terms of the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under federal or state
securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of any national
securities exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other automated quotation
system on which Shares are listed or quoted. The Board may cause a legend or
legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to
such restrictions or any other restrictions or limitations that may be
applicable to Shares. In addition, during any period in which Awards or Shares
are subject to restrictions or limitations under the terms of the Plan or any
Award Agreement, or during any period during which delivery or receipt of an
Award or Shares has been deferred by the Board or a Participant, the Board may
require any Participant to enter into an agreement providing that certificates
representing Shares issuable or issued pursuant to an Award shall remain in the
physical custody of the Company or such other Person as the Committee may
designate.

      SECTION 8.  PERFORMANCE AWARDS.

            (a) Performance Conditions. The right of a Participant to exercise
or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be
subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Board. The
Board may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may
deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise
its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Award subject
to performance conditions, except as limited under Section 8(b) hereof in the
case of a Performance Award intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the
Code.

            (b) Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If
the Board determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible
Person who is designated by the Board as likely to be a Covered Employee should
qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Section 162(m) of
the Code, the Board shall comply with the pre-established performance goals and
other terms set forth in this Section 8(b).

                  (i) Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for
such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a
targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria,
as specified by the Board consistent with this Section 8(b). Performance goals
shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m)
of the Code, including the requirement that the level or levels of performance
targeted by the Board result in the achievement of performance goals being
"substantially uncertain." The Board may determine that such achievement of
performance be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one
performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved
as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards.
Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to anyone
Participant or to different Participants.

                  (ii) Business Criteria. One or more of the following business
criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified
Subsidiaries or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total
stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Board
in establishing performance goals for such

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) revenues; (3) cash flow; (4)
return on investment; (5) return on net assets, assets, capital or equity; (6)
economic value added; (7) operating margin; (8) net income; (9) pretax earnings;
(10) pretax earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization; (11) pretax
operating earnings after interest expense and before extraordinary or special
items; (12) operating earnings; (13) total stockholder return; (14) price of the
shares (and changes thereof); and (15) any of the above goals as compared to the
performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Board
including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index or a group
of comparable companies.

                  (iii) Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance
Goals. Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards
shall be measured over a performance period of up to 10 years, a specified by
the Board. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after
the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards or
at such other date as may be required or permitted for "performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

                  (iv) Performance Award Pool. The Board may establish a
Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool for purposes of
measuring performance of the Company in connection with Performance Awards. The
amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a
performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set
forth in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as
specified by the Board in accordance with Section 8(b)(iii) hereof. The Board
may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any such
business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as
another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such
business criteria.

                  (v) Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement
of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other
property, in the discretion of the Board. The Board may, in its discretion,
reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such
Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount
payable to a Covered Employee in respect of a Performance Award subject to this
Section 8(b). The Board shall specify the circumstances in which such
Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of
employment by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or
settlement of Performance Awards.

            (c) Written Determinations. All determinations by the Board as to
the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool
or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of
performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section 8(b) hereof shall
be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Section
162(m) of the Code. The Board may not delegate any responsibility relating to
such Performance Awards.

            (d) Status of Section 8(b) Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code.
It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards under Section 8(b)
granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered
Employees within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder shall, if so designated by the Board, constitute "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code of the Code and
the regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Board
cannot determine with certainty whether a given participant will be a Covered
Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term
Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the
Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive
Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If
any provision of the Plan as in effect on the date of adoption or any agreements
relating to performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are designated as
intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code does not comply or is
inconsistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision
shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
requirements.

      SECTION 9.  CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            (a) Acceleration of Exercisability and Lapse of Restrictions and
Cash-Out of Awards upon "Change in Control". In the event of a Change in
Control, subject only to the applicable restrictions set forth in Section 11(a)
hereof, the following provisions shall apply unless otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement, and:

                  (i) All outstanding Awards, pursuant to which the Participant
may have a right to exercise which was not previously exercisable and vested,
shall become fully exercisable and vested as of the time of the Change in
Control and shall remain exercisable and vested for the balance of the stated
term of such Award without regard to any termination of employment or services
by the Participant.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
                  (ii) Unless the right to lapse of restrictions or limitations
is waived or deferred by a Participant prior to such lapse, all restrictions
(including risks of forfeiture and deferrals) on outstanding Awards subject to
restrictions or limitations under the Plan shall lapse and such Awards shall be
deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control.

                  (iii) All performance criteria, goals and other conditions to
payment of Awards under which payments of cash, Shares or other property are
subject to conditions shall be deemed to be achieved or fulfilled as of the time
of the Change in Control.

                  (iv) For a period of 60 days following a Change in Control,
each Participant may elect to surrender any outstanding Award and to receive, in
full satisfaction therefor, a cash payment equal to the value of such Award
calculated on the basis of the Change in Control Price of any Shares or the Fair
Market Value of any property other than Shares relating to such Award; provided,
however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, or a Stock Appreciation
Right granted in tandem therewith, the payment shall be based upon the Fair
Market Value of Shares on the date which the Change in Control occurred;
provided further, however, that in the case of a Change in Control described in
Section 9(b)(i)(C) or (D) hereof, the payment described in this sentence shall
not necessarily be made in cash but instead shall be made in the same form
(i.e., cash, Shares, other securities or combination thereof) as holders of
Shares receive in exchange for their Shares in the transaction that results in
the Change in Control. In the event that an Award is granted in tandem with
another Award such that the Participant's right to payment for such Award is an
alternative to payment of another Award, the Participant electing to surrender
any such tandem Award shall surrender all alternative Awards related thereto and
receive payment for the Award which produces the highest payment to the
Participant.

            (b) Definition of Certain Terms. For purposes of this Section 9, the
following definitions, in addition to those set forth in Section 2, shall apply:

                  (i)   "Change in Control" means and shall be deemed to have
occurred if:

                        (A) any Person, other than the Company or a Related
Party, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
all Shares that such Person has the right to acquire pursuant to any agreement
or arrangement or upon exercise, conversation rights, warrants, options or
otherwise, without regard to the 60 day period referred to in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Voting Securities representing 25%
or more of the total voting power of all the then outstanding Voting Securities,
except that there shall be excluded from the number of Voting Securities deemed
to be beneficially owned by a Person a number of Voting Securities representing
not more than 10 percent of the then outstanding voting power if such Person is
(1) eligible to file a Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13-1(b)(1) under the
Exchange Act with respect to Voting Securities or (2) an underwriter who becomes
the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the then outstanding Voting Securities
pursuant to a firm commitment underwriting agreement with the Company; or

                        (B)   the individuals who, as of the effective date of
the Plan, constitute the members of the Board together with those directors who
are first elected subsequent to such date and whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the members of the Board then still in office who were
either directors as of the effective date of the Plan or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved (the "Continuing Directors"),
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the
Board; or

                        (C)   the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company, reverse spilt of any class of
Voting Securities, or in an acquisition of securities or assets by the Company,
other than (1) any such transaction which would result in at least 75% of the
total voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by at
least 75% of the holders of outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to
the transaction, with the voting power of each such continuing holder relative
to other such continuing holders not substantially altered in the transaction,
or (2) any such transaction which would result in a Related Party beneficially
owning more than 50% of the voting securities of the surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such transaction; or

                        (D)   the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets other than
(1) any such transaction which would result in a Related Party owning or
acquiring more than 50 percent of the assets owned by the Company immediately
prior to the transaction, or (2) a sale or disposition immediately after which
such assets will be owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common
stock of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition; or

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
                        (E)   any other event occurs which the Board determines,
in its discretion, would materially alter the structure of the Company or its
ownership;

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall
not be deemed to occur if the events set forth in clauses (A) or (B) occur in
connection with one more private placements of securities of the Company for the
principal purpose of raising capital prior to the Company's IPO.

                  (ii) "Change in Control Price" means, with respect to a Share,
the higher of (A) the highest Fair Market Value of the Shares at any time during
the 60 calendar days preceding and the 60 days following the Change in Control;
or (B) the highest price paid per Share in a transaction which either (1)
results in a Change in Control or (2) would be consummated but for another
transaction which results in a Change in Control and, if it were consummated,
would result in a Change in Control. With respect to clause (B) in the preceding
sentence, the "price paid" will be equal to the sum of (1) the face amount of
any portion of the consideration consisting of cash or cash equivalents and (2)
the Fair Market Value of any portion of the consideration consisting or real or
personal property other than cash or cash equivalents, as established by an
independent appraiser selected by the Board.

                   (iii) "Related Party" means (A) a Subsidiary of the Company;
or (B) an employee or group of employees of the Company or any majority-owned
Subsidiary of the Company; or (C) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any majority-owned
Subsidiary of the Company; or (D) an entity owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership of Voting Securities.

                  (iv) "Voting Securities or Security" means any securities of
the Company which carry the right to vote generally in the election of
directors.

      SECTION 10. AMENDMENTS TO AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS. The
Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan or the
Committee's authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of
stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuation or termination shall be subject to approval of the Company's
stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action
if stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or
the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market or on any national securities exchange,
stock market or automated quotation system on which the Shares are then listed,
traded or quoted, or if the Board in its discretion determines that obtaining
such stockholder approval is for any reason advisable; provided, however, that,
without the consent of the Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuation or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect
the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him. The
Board may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or amend,
alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate, any Award theretofore granted,
prospectively or retrospectively; provided, however, that, without the consent
of the Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or
termination of any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of such
Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him.

      SECTION 11.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

            (a) Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated to offer or
sell any Shares unless such Shares are at that time effectively registered or
exempt from registration under the Securities Act and the offer and sale of such
Shares are otherwise in compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange or similar agency on
which the Company's securities may then be listed or quoted. The Company may, to
the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, postpone the issuance or
delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion
of such registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action
under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required
action with respect to the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities
exchange, automated quotation system or any other stock exchange or stock market
upon which the Shares or other securities of the Company are listed or quoted,
or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Board may
consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such
representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such
other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance
or delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable
laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations. The
foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company
shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to
arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any
postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under
any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery
or payment, to the extent that such postponement of other condition would
represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day
preceding the Change in Control.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
            (b) Transferability. No Award granted under the Plan, nor any other
rights acquired by a Participant under the Plan, shall be assignable or
transferable by a Participant, other than by a will or the laws of descent and
distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order ("QDRO") as
defined under the Code or Title I of the Board of Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, and each such Award or right shall be exercisable during the
Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or, if admissible under
applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative or a
transferee receiving such Award pursuant to a QDRO; provided, however, that the
Board may, in its sole discretion, authorize all or a portion of an Award (other
than an Incentive Stock Option) to be transferable by the Participant, but only
to (i) any Family Members of the Participant, (ii) any trust in which a
Participant and such Participant's Family Members have more than 50% of the
beneficial interests, or (iii) any other entity in which the Participant and
such Participant's Family Members own more than 50% of the voting interests,
provided that (A) there may be no consideration for any such transfer, other
than an interest in a transferee's partnership, limited liability company or
other similar entity, (B) the Award Agreement related to the Award must
expressly provide for such transferability in a manner consistent with this
Section 11(b), (C) the Board, in granting an Award, may impose additional
restrictions on transfer or prohibit such transfer entirely, (D) following any
transfer, any such Award shall continue to be subject to the same terms and
conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that for
purposes of the Plan, any reference to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to
the transferee, (E) in the event of a transferee's death, an Award may be
exercised by the personal representative of the transferee's estate or, if no
personal representative has been appointed, by the successor or successors in
interest determined under the transferee's will or under the applicable laws of
descent and distribution. Following any such transfer, any transferee shall
continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable
immediately prior to transfer, provided for purposes of Section 11(b) hereof,
the term "Participant" shall be deemed to refer to the transferee, and any event
of termination of employment of the Participant as set forth in the Award
Agreement or in this Plan shall continue to be applied with respect to the
original Participant, following which the Award shall be exercisable by the
transferee only to the extent, and for the period specified by, the Award
Agreements.

            (c) No Rights to Awards; No Stockholder Rights. Nothing in the Plan
shall be construed as giving any Participant, Eligible Person or other Person
any right to claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, or to be treated
uniformly with other Participants and Eligible Persons. No Award shall confer on
any Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and
until Shares are in fact issued to such Participant in connection with the terms
of such Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of
Restricted Stock hereunder, the applicable Award shall specify if and to what
extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a stockholder in
respect of such Restricted Stock.

            (d) Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary is authorized to
withhold from any Award granted or any payment due under the Plan, including
from a distribution of Shares, amounts of withholding and other taxes due with
respect to an Award, its exercise or any payment thereunder, and to take such
other action as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to enable the
Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding
taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Awards. This authority shall
include authority to withhold or receive Shares, Awards or other property and to
make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of such tax obligations.

            (e) No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or any
Award Agreement shall confer, and no grant of an Award shall be construed as,
(i) conferring, upon any Participant or any Eligible Person, any right to
continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii)
interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to (A)
terminate any Participant's or Eligible Person's employment or service at any
time or (B) increase or decrease the compensation of any Participant or Eligible
Person from the rate in existence at the time of granting of an Award, except as
may be expressly provided in any Award Agreement or other compensation
arrangement.

            (f) Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is
intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to Participant pursuant
to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such
Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured
creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Board may authorize the
creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations
under the Plan to deliver cash, Shares or other property pursuant to any Award,
which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the "unfunded"
status of the Plan unless the Board otherwise determines.

            (g) No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements Nothing contained in
the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or continuing
in effect other or additional compensation arrangements (which may include,
without limitation, employment agreements with executives and arrangements which
relate to Awards under the Plan), and such arrangements may be either generally
applicable only in specific cases.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
            (h) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Board shall determine whether
cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of
fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall
be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

            (i) Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard
to provisions governing conflicts of laws) and applicable federal law.

            (j) Severability.

                  (i) If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or
is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to
any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law
deemed amended to conform to applicable laws or, if it cannot be construed or
deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering
the intent of the Plan, it shall be deleted and the remainder of the Plan shall
remain in full force and effect; provided, however, that, unless otherwise
determined by the Board, the provision shall not be construed or deemed amended
or deleted with respect to any Participant whose rights and obligations under
the Plan are not subject to the law of such jurisdiction or the law deemed
applicable by the Board.

                  (ii) If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan conflict
with the requirements of applicable law or applicable rules and regulations
thereunder, including the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, Rule 16b-3
and/or Section 422A of the Code, then such terms or provisions shall be deemed
inoperative to the extent necessary to avoid the conflict with applicable law,
or applicable rules and regulations, without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof. With respect to ISOs, if the Plan does not contain any
provision required to be included herein under Section 422A of the Code, such
provisions shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and
effect as if such provision had been set out at length herein; provided,
further, that to the extent any Option which is intended to qualify as an ISO
cannot so qualify, such Option, to that extent, shall be deemed to be a
Nonqualified Stock Option for all purposes of the Plan.

            (k) Rule 16b-3 Compliance. With respect to persons subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to
comply with all applicable terms and conditions of Rule 16b-3 and any successor
provisions. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Board
fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by
law and deemed advisable by the Board.

            (l) Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of
the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall
not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or
interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

            (m) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify
the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto. Such
terms may include, but are not limited to, the effect on such Award of the
death, retirement or other termination of employment of a Participant and the
effect, if any, of a change in control of the Company.

            (n) Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member
of the Committee, if any, or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless
by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be
imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from
any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he may be made a party or in
which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under
the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement
thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any
judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him, provided he shall
give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the
same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive and shall be
independent of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be
entitled under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, by
contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise.

            (o) Construction. For purposes of the Plan, the following rules of
construction shall apply: (i) the word "or" is disjunctive but not necessarily
exclusive; (ii) words in the singular include the plural; words in the plural
include the singular; and words in the neuter gender include the masculine and
feminine genders; and (iii) words in the masculine or feminine gender include
the other and neuter genders.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
      SECTION 12.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION.

            (a) The Plan shall become effective as of March 13, 2000, the date
the Plan was adopted and approved by the Board of Directors and the stockholder
of the Company.

            (b) Awards may not be granted under the Plan after March 13, 2010.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award
Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board to
amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to
waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after March
13, 2010.

                                       14<PAGE>   1

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

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF OCTOBER 16, 2000

                                      AMONG

                             ROADWAY EXPRESS, INC.,

                                  THE LENDERS,

                                       AND

                                  BANK ONE, NA,

                                    AS AGENT

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

                         BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

                      AS LEAD ARRANGER AND SOLE BOOK RUNNER

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

                                 SIDLEY & AUSTIN

                    BANK ONE PLAZA, 10 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET

                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603

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

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS............................................................................................1

ARTICLE II  THE CREDITS..........................................................................................13
         2.1      Commitment.....................................................................................13
         2.2      Required Payments; Termination.................................................................14
         2.3      Ratable Loans..................................................................................14
         2.4      Types of Advances..............................................................................14
         2.5      Facility Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment...............................................14
         2.6      Minimum Amount of Each Advance.................................................................14
         2.7      Optional Principal Payments....................................................................14
         2.8      Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods or Money Market Interest Periods for
                  New Advances ..................................................................................15
         2.9      Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances............................................15
         2.10     Changes in Interest Rate, etc..................................................................16
         2.11     Rates Applicable After Default.................................................................16
         2.12     Method of Payment..............................................................................16
         2.13     Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness...................................................17
         2.14     Telephonic Notices.............................................................................17
         2.15     Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis.................................................17
         2.16     Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions................18
         2.17     Lending Installations..........................................................................18
         2.18     Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent..............................................................18
         2.19     Extension of Facility Termination Date.........................................................18
         2.20     Replacement of Lender..........................................................................19

ARTICLE III  YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES.............................................................................19
         3.1      Yield Protection...............................................................................19
         3.2      Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations........................................................20
         3.3      Availability of Types of Advances..............................................................21
         3.4      Funding Indemnification........................................................................21
         3.5      Taxes..........................................................................................21
         3.6      Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity.......................................................23

ARTICLE IV  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.................................................................................23
         4.1      Initial Advance................................................................................23
         4.2      Each Advance...................................................................................24

ARTICLE V  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................................24
         5.1      Existence and Standing.........................................................................24
         5.2      Authorization and Validity.....................................................................25
         5.3      No Conflict; Government Consent................................................................25
         5.4      Financial Statements...........................................................................25
         5.5      Material Adverse Change........................................................................25
         5.6      Taxes..........................................................................................25
         5.7      Litigation and Contingent Obligations..........................................................26
         5.8      Subsidiaries...................................................................................26
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         5.9      ERISA..........................................................................................26
         5.10     Accuracy of Information........................................................................26
         5.11     Regulation U...................................................................................26
         5.12     Material Agreements............................................................................26
         5.13     Compliance With Laws...........................................................................27
         5.14     Ownership of Properties........................................................................27
         5.15     Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions...........................................................27
         5.16     Environmental Matters..........................................................................27
         5.17     Investment Company Act.........................................................................27
         5.18     Public Utility Holding Company Act.............................................................27
         5.19     Post-Retirement Benefits.......................................................................27
         5.20     Insurance......................................................................................28
         5.21     Solvency.......................................................................................28

ARTICLE VI  COVENANTS............................................................................................28
         6.1      Financial Reporting............................................................................28
         6.2      Use of Proceeds................................................................................30
         6.3      Notice of Default..............................................................................30
         6.4      Conduct of Business............................................................................30
         6.5      Taxes..........................................................................................30
         6.6      Insurance......................................................................................30
         6.7      Compliance with Laws...........................................................................30
         6.8      Maintenance of Properties......................................................................30
         6.9      Inspection.....................................................................................31
         6.10     Indebtedness...................................................................................31
         6.11     Merger.........................................................................................31
         6.12     Sale of Assets.................................................................................31
         6.13     Investments and Acquisitions...................................................................32
         6.14     Liens..........................................................................................33
         6.15     Affiliates.....................................................................................33
         6.16     Sale of Accounts...............................................................................34
         6.17     Contingent Obligations.........................................................................34
         6.18     Financial Contracts............................................................................34
         6.19     Financial Covenants............................................................................34
                  6.19.1  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio............................................................34
                  6.19.2  Leverage Ratio.........................................................................34
                  6.19.3  Minimum Tangible Net Worth.............................................................34
         6.20     Subsidiary Guaranty............................................................................34

ARTICLE VII  DEFAULTS............................................................................................35
         7.1      Breach of Representations and Warranties.......................................................35
         7.2      Payment Default................................................................................35
         7.3      Certain Covenant Defaults......................................................................35
         7.4      Other Covenant Defaults........................................................................35
         7.5      Cross Default to Material Indebtedness.........................................................35
         7.6      Insolvency Related Defaults....................................................................35
         7.7      Involuntary Proceedings........................................................................36
         7.8      Takings........................................................................................36
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         7.9      Judgment Defaults..............................................................................36
         7.10     Unfunded Liabilities...........................................................................36
         7.11     Withdrawal Liabilities.........................................................................36
         7.12     Multiemployer Plan Reorganization..............................................................36
         7.13     Environmental Defaults.........................................................................37
         7.14     Change of Control..............................................................................37
         7.15     Breach Under Other Loan Documents..............................................................37
         7.16     Rate Management Contract Violation.............................................................37
         7.17     Plan Asset Default.............................................................................37
         7.18     Default under other Material Contracts.........................................................37
         7.19     Guaranty Invalidity, Unenforceability; Guarantor Failure.......................................37

ARTICLE VIII  ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES.....................................................37
         8.1      Acceleration...................................................................................37
         8.2      Amendments.....................................................................................38
         8.3      Preservation of Rights.........................................................................38

ARTICLE IX  GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................................................38
         9.1      Survival of Representations....................................................................38
         9.2      Governmental Regulation........................................................................39
         9.3      Headings.......................................................................................39
         9.4      Entire Agreement...............................................................................39
         9.5      Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement................................................39
         9.6      Expenses; Indemnification......................................................................39
         9.7      Numbers of Documents...........................................................................40
         9.8      Accounting.....................................................................................40
         9.9      Severability of Provisions.....................................................................40
         9.10     Nonliability of Lenders........................................................................40
         9.11     Confidentiality................................................................................41
         9.12     Nonreliance....................................................................................41
         9.13     Disclosure.....................................................................................41
         9.14     Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.....................................................41

ARTICLE X  THE AGENT.............................................................................................42
         10.1     Appointment; Nature of Relationship............................................................42
         10.2     Powers.........................................................................................42
         10.3     General Immunity...............................................................................42
         10.4     No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc.....................................................43
         10.5     Action on Instructions of Lenders..............................................................43
         10.6     Employment of Agents and Counsel...............................................................43
         10.7     Reliance on Documents; Counsel.................................................................43
         10.8     Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification......................................................44
         10.9     Notice of Default..............................................................................44
         10.10    Rights as a Lender.............................................................................44
         10.11    Lender Credit Decision.........................................................................44
         10.12    Successor Agent................................................................................45
         10.13    Delegation to Affiliates.......................................................................45
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ARTICLE XI  SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS.............................................................................45
         11.1     Setoff.........................................................................................45
         11.2     Ratable Payments...............................................................................46

ARTICLE XII  BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS...................................................46
         12.1     Successors and Assigns.........................................................................46
         12.2     Participations.................................................................................46
                  12.2.1  Permitted Participants; Effect.........................................................46
                  12.2.2  Voting Rights..........................................................................47
                  12.2.3  Benefit of Setoff......................................................................47
         12.3     Assignments....................................................................................47
                  12.3.1  Permitted Assignments..................................................................47
                  12.3.2  Effect; Effective Date.................................................................48
         12.4     Dissemination of Information...................................................................48
         12.5     Tax Treatment..................................................................................48

ARTICLE XIII  NOTICES............................................................................................49
         13.1     Notices........................................................................................49
         13.2     Change of Address..............................................................................49

ARTICLE XIV  COUNTERPARTS........................................................................................49

ARTICLE XV  CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION;
      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.......................................................................................49
         15.1     CHOICE OF LAW..................................................................................49
         15.2     CONSENT TO JURISDICTION........................................................................49
         15.3     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...........................................................................50
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                                       iv

<PAGE>   6

                       SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS (NOT FILED)
Schedules
---------

SCHEDULE 1      --       Existing Contingent Obligations
SCHEDULE 2      --       Subsidiaries and Investments
SCHEDULE 3      --       Indebtedness and Liens
SCHEDULE 4      --       Payment Dates

Exhibits
--------

EXHIBIT A       --       Form of Opinions
EXHIBIT B       --       Form of Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT C       --       Form of Assignment Agreement
EXHIBIT D       --       Loan/Credit Related Money Transfer Instructions
EXHIBIT E       --       Form of Promissory Note
EXHIBIT F       --       Form of Guaranty
EXHIBIT G       --       Cash Equivalent Investments

                                       v
<PAGE>   7

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This Credit Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2000, is among Roadway
Express, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware,
the Lenders and Bank One, NA, a national banking association having its
principal office in Chicago, Illinois, as Agent. The parties hereto agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

         As used in this Agreement:

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

         "ACCOUNTING CHANGES" is defined in Section 9.8.

         "ADVANCE" means a borrowing hereunder, (i) made by the Lenders on the
same Borrowing Date, or (ii) converted or continued by the Lenders on the same
date of conversion or continuation, consisting, in either case, of the aggregate
amount of the several Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar
Loans or Money Market Loans, for the same Interest Period or Money Market
Interest Period, as applicable.

         "AFFILIATE" of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person
shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or
more of any class of voting securities (or other ownership interests) of the
controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person,
whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.

         "AGENT" means Bank One in its capacity as contractual representative of
the Lenders pursuant to Article X, and not in its individual capacity as a
Lender, and any successor Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

         "AGGREGATE COMMITMENT" means the aggregate of the Commitments of all
the Lenders, as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

         "AGREEMENT" means this Credit Agreement, as it may be amended,
modified, supplemented or restated and in effect from time to time.

                                       1
<PAGE>   8

         "AGREEMENT ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES" means generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with
that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4,
provided, however, except as provided in Section 9.8, with respect to the
calculation of financial ratios and other financial tests required by this
Agreement, "Agreement Accounting Principles" means generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect in the United States as of the date of this Agreement,
applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the financial
statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 5.4 hereof.

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

         "ARRANGER" means Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its successors, in its capacity as Lead Arranger and Sole Book
Runner.

         "ARTICLE" means an article of this Agreement unless another document is
specifically referenced.

         "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" means any of the following officers of the
Borrower, acting singly: Arthur Zullo, Manager - Financial Services, Mary
Kavanshansky, Financial Specialist, Dawson Cunningham, Chief Financial Officer,
Greg Greenfelder, Director - Financial Services, and Mitch Westfall - Financial
Analyst (Senior).

         "BANK ONE" means Bank One, NA, a national banking association having
its principal office in Chicago, Illinois, in its individual capacity, and its
successors.

         "BORROWER" means Roadway Express, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors and assigns.

         "BORROWING DATE" means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.

         "BORROWING NOTICE" is defined in Section 2.8.

         "BUSINESS DAY" means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate
selection of Eurodollar Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on
which banks generally are open in Chicago and New York for the conduct of
substantially all of their commercial lending activities, interbank wire
transfers can be made on the Fedwire system and dealings in United States
dollars are carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all other
purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are
open in Chicago for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending
activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.

         "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means, without duplication, any expenditures for
any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a
fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

                                       2
<PAGE>   9

         "CAPITALIZED LEASE" of a Person means any lease of Property by such
Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS" of a Person means the amount of the
obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a
liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with
Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "CASH EQUIVALENT INVESTMENTS" means those investments vehicles
permitted (without any additional specific approvals) pursuant to the Borrower's
cash investment policy in existence on the date hereof and attached hereto as
EXHIBIT G.

         "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means:

         (i) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, except that a person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all
securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or
indirectly, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Borrower's capital stock ordinarily having the right to vote at an election of
directors or;

         (ii) during any period of twelve consecutive calendar months,
individuals (a) who were directors of the Borrower on the first day of such
period, or (b) whose election or nomination for election to the board of
directors of the Borrower was recommended or approved by at least a majority of
the directors then still in office who were directors of the Borrower on the
first day of such period, or whose election or nomination for election was so
approved, shall cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the
Borrower.

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

         "COMMITMENT" means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to
make Loans not exceeding the amount set forth opposite its signature below, as
it may be modified as a result of any assignment that has become effective
pursuant to Section 12.3.2, or as otherwise modified from time to time pursuant
to the terms hereof.

         "CONSOLIDATED EBITDAR" means Consolidated Net Income plus, to the
extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i)
Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid or accrued, (iii)
depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) extraordinary losses incurred other than in
the ordinary course of business and (vi) Consolidated Rentals, minus, to the
extent included in Consolidated Net Income, extraordinary gains realized other
than in the ordinary course of business, all calculated for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

         "CONSOLIDATED FUNDED INDEBTEDNESS" means at any time the aggregate
dollar amount of Consolidated Indebtedness which has actually been funded and is
outstanding at such time, whether or not such amount is due or payable at such
time.

                                       3
<PAGE>   10

         "CONSOLIDATED INDEBTEDNESS" means at any time the Indebtedness of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such
time.

         "CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" means, with reference to any period,
the interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis for such period.

         "CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with reference to any period, the net
income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis for such period.

         "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" means at any time the consolidated
stockholders' equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a
consolidated basis as of such time, excluding the aggregate value of all
patents, licenses, trade names, trademarks, copyrights, goodwill, deferred
charges (including, but not limited to, unamortized debt discount and expenses,
organizational expenses and experimental and developmental expenses, but
excluding prepaid expenses) and all other items properly classified as
intangibles in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

         "CONSOLIDATED RENTALS" means, with reference to any period, the Rentals
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such
period.

         "CONSOLIDATED TOTAL CAPITALIZATION" means at any time the sum of
Consolidated Indebtedness and Consolidated Net Worth, each calculated at such
time.

         "CONTINGENT OBLIGATION" of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or
arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently
agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or
is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, or
agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition
of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person
against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating
agreement, take-or-pay contract or the obligations of any such Person as general
partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of the partnership.

         "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION NOTICE" is defined in Section 2.9.

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

         "CUSTOMARY PERMITTED LIENS" means:

         (i) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor of
the IRS or the PBGC) with respect to the payment of taxes, assessments or
governmental charges in all cases which are not yet due or (if foreclosure,
distraint, sale or other similar proceedings shall not have been commenced or
any such proceeding after being commenced is stayed) which are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings properly instituted and diligently
conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate
provisions are being maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles;

                                       4
<PAGE>   11

         (ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of suppliers,
mechanics, carriers, materialmen, warehousemen, service providers or workmen and
other similar Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business
for amounts not more than 60 days past due or which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings properly instituted and diligently conducted
and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are
being maintained in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles;

         (iii) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and Liens in favor of
the IRS or the PBGC) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of
business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or
other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of bids,
tenders, sales, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money),
surety, appeal and performance bonds; provided that (A) all such Liens do not in
the aggregate materially detract from the value of the Borrower's and its
Subsidiaries' assets or property taken as a whole or materially impair the use
thereof in the operation of the businesses taken as a whole, and (B) all Liens
securing bonds to stay judgments or in connection with appeals do not secure at
any time an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;

         (iv) Liens arising with respect to zoning restrictions, easements,
encroachments, licenses, reservations, covenants, rights-of-way, utility
easements, building restrictions and other similar charges, restrictions or
encumbrances on the use of real property which do not in any case materially
detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

         (v) Liens of attachment or judgment with respect to judgments,
writs or warrants of attachment, or similar process against the Borrowers or any
of its Subsidiaries which do not constitute a Default under Section 7.9 hereof;
and

         (vi) any interest or title of the lessor in the property subject to
any operating lease entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
the ordinary course of business.

         "DEFAULT" means an event described in Article VII.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to
(i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on
human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants,
contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or
land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous
substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

         "ENVIRONMENTAL LIEN" means a lien in favor of any Governmental
Authority for (a) any liability under Environmental Laws, or (b) damages arising
from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in response to, a release
or threatened release of a Contaminant into the environment.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended from time to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.

                                       5
<PAGE>   12

         "EURODOLLAR ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.

         "EURODOLLAR BASE RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for
the relevant Interest Period, the applicable British Bankers' Association
Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars appearing on Reuters
Screen FRBD as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first
day of such Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest
Period, provided that, (i) if Reuters Screen FRBD is not available to the Agent
for any reason, the applicable Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest
Period shall instead be the applicable British Bankers' Association Interest
Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars as reported by any other generally
recognized financial information service as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two
Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, and having a
maturity equal to such Interest Period, and (ii) if no such British Bankers'
Association Interest Settlement Rate is available to the Agent, the applicable
Eurodollar Base Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate
determined by the Agent to be the rate at which Bank One or one of its Affiliate
banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the
London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount
of Bank One's relevant Eurodollar Loan and having a maturity equal to such
Interest Period.

         "EURODOLLAR LOAN" means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.11, bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.

         "EURODOLLAR RATE" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for the
relevant Interest Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Base
Rate applicable to such Interest Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve
Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such Interest Period, plus
(ii) 0.35% per annum.

         "EXCLUDED TAXES" means, in the case of each Lender or applicable
Lending Installation and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and
franchise taxes imposed on it, by (i) the jurisdiction under the laws of which
such Lender or the Agent is incorporated or organized or (ii) the jurisdiction
in which the Agent's or such Lender's principal executive office or such
Lender's applicable Lending Installation is located.

         "EXHIBIT" refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another
document is specifically referenced.

         "EXTENSION REQUEST" is defined in Section 2.19.

         "FACILITY TERMINATION DATE" means October 15, 2001 or any later date as
may be specified as the Facility Termination Date in accordance with Section
2.19 or any earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or
otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

         "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" means, for any day, an interest rate per
annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the

                                       6
<PAGE>   13

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations at approximately
10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on such day on such transactions received by the Agent
from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Agent in
its sole discretion.

         "FINANCIAL CONTRACT" of a Person means (i) any exchange-traded or
over-the-counter futures, forward, swap or option contract or other financial
instrument with similar characteristics or (ii) any Rate Management Transaction.

         "FIXED RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest by reference to either the Eurodollar
Rate or the Money Market Interest Rate.

         "FIXED RATE LOAN" means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.11, bears interest by reference to either the Eurodollar Rate or the
Money Market Interest Rate.

         "FLOATING RATE" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the
Alternate Base Rate for such day, in each case changing when and as the
Alternate Base Rate changes.

         "FLOATING RATE ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest at the Floating Rate.

         "FLOATING RATE LOAN" means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided
in Section 2.11, bears interest at the Floating Rate.

         "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any federal,
state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative authority or
functions of or pertaining to government, including any authority or other
quasi-governmental entity established to perform any of such functions.

         "GUARANTORS" shall mean those Subsidiaries of the Borrower that have
become guarantors of the Obligations hereunder by executing the Guaranty (or any
supplement thereto) and that, together with all other Guarantors, comprise (i)
not less than 70% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and (ii) not less than 70% of Consolidated EBITDAR.

         "GUARANTY" means that certain Guaranty (and any and all supplements
thereto) executed from time to time by each Guarantor in favor of the Agent for
the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT F
attached hereto.

         "INDEBTEDNESS" of a Person means such Person's (i) obligations for
borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of
Property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course
of such Person's business payable on terms customary in the trade), (iii)
obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the
proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such
Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances, or other
instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other
Property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or
substantially similar securities or Property, (vi) Capitalized Lease
Obligations,

                                       7
<PAGE>   14

(vii) Operating Lease Obligations, (viii) Off Balance Sheet Liabilities and
(vii) any other obligation for borrowed money or other financial accommodation
which in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles would be shown as a
liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

         "INSOLVENCY EVENT" is defined in Section 9.14.

         "INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS" is defined in Section 9.14.

         "INTEREST PERIOD" means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance, a period
of one, two, three or six months commencing on a Business Day selected by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end on the day
which corresponds numerically to such date one, two, three or six months
thereafter, provided, however, that if there is no such numerically
corresponding day in such next, second, third or sixth succeeding month, such
Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such next, second, third
or sixth succeeding month. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that if said next succeeding
Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on
the immediately preceding Business Day.

         "INVESTMENT" of a Person means any loan, advance (other than
commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the
ordinary course of business), extension of credit (other than accounts
receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the
trade) or contribution of capital by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds,
partnership interests, notes, debentures or other securities owned by such
Person; any deposit accounts and certificate of deposit owned by such Person;
and structured notes, derivative financial instruments and other similar
instruments or contracts owned by such Person.

         "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service and any Person succeeding to
the functions thereof.

         "LENDERS" means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages
of this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.

         "LENDING INSTALLATION" means, with respect to a Lender or the Agent,
the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Agent listed
on the signature pages hereof or on a Schedule or otherwise selected by such
Lender or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.16.

         "LETTER OF CREDIT" of a Person means a letter of credit or similar
instrument which is issued upon the application of such Person or upon which
such Person is an account party or for which such Person is in any way liable.

         "LEVERAGE RATIO" means, as of any date of calculation, the ratio of (i)
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness outstanding on such date to (ii) Consolidated
EBITDAR for the Borrower's then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters.

         "LIEN" means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference,
priority or other security agreement or

                                       8
<PAGE>   15

preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without
limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale,
Capitalized Lease or other title retention agreement).

         "LOAN" means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender's loan made
pursuant to Article II (or any conversion or continuation thereof).

         "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Guaranty and any Notes
issued pursuant to Section 2.13 and any other documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith.

         "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse effect on (i) the
business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or
(iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights
or remedies of the Agent or the Lenders thereunder.

         "MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS" is defined in Section 7.5.

         "MONEY MARKET ADVANCE" means an Advance which, except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11, bears interest at the applicable Money Market Interest
Rate.

         "MONEY MARKET INTEREST PERIOD" means with respect to any Money Market
Advance, the period commencing on the date the Money Market Loans are made, and
ending, as the Borrower may select, pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof on a date no
longer than twenty-nine (29) days thereafter or otherwise as determined by the
Agent; PROVIDED, that the foregoing provisions are subject to the following:

                  (a)      No Money Market Interest Period may extend beyond the
                           Facility Termination Date; and

                  (b)      If a Money Market Interest Period would otherwise end
                           on a day which is not a Business Day, such Money
                           Market Interest Period shall end on the next
                           succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that if
                           said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new
                           calendar month, such Money Market Interest Period
                           shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.

         "MONEY MARKET INTEREST RATE" shall be such rate as determined by the
Agent from time to time in its sole discretion.

         "MONEY MARKET LOAN" means any Loan that bears interest at a Money
Market Interest Rate.

         "MONEY MARKET PORTION" means any of the Loans when and to the extent
that the interest rate therefor is determined by reference to the Money Market
Interest Rate, which Advance shall be for not less than $500,000 (and increments
of $100,000 in excess thereof) for the Money Market Interest Period selected by
the Borrower.

                                       9
<PAGE>   16

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

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

         "NON-U.S. LENDER" is defined in Section 3.5(iv).

         "NOTE" is defined in Section 2.13.

         "NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT" is defined in Section 12.3.2.

         "OBLIGATIONS" means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid
interest on the Loans, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses,
reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders
or to any Lender, the Agent or any indemnified party arising under the Loan
Documents.

         "OFF-BALANCE SHEET LIABILITIES" of a Person means, without duplication,
(a) any Receivables Facility Attributed Indebtedness and repurchase obligation
or liability of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to accounts
receivable or notes receivable sold by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
(calculated to include the unrecovered investment of purchasers or transferees
of accounts receivable or notes receivable or any other obligation of the
Borrower or such transferor to purchasers/transferees of interests in accounts
receivable or notes receivables or the agent for such purchasers/transferees),
(b) any liability under any Sale and Leaseback Transactions which do not create
a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, (c) any liability
under any financing lease or so-called "synthetic lease" or "tax ownership
operating lease" transaction, or (d) any obligations arising with respect to any
other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of
borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the consolidated balance
sheets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, but excluding from this clause (d)
Operating Lease Obligations.

         "OPERATING LEASE" of a Person means any lease of Property (other than a
Capitalized Lease) by such Person as lessee which has an original term
(including any required renewals and any renewals effective at the option of the
lessor) of one year or more.

         "OPERATING LEASE OBLIGATIONS" means, as at any date of determination,
the amount obtained by aggregating the present values, determined in the case of
each particular Operating Lease by applying a discount rate equal to 10% from
the date on which each fixed lease payment is due under such Operating Lease to
such date of determination, of all fixed lease payments due under all Operating
Leases of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         "OTHER TAXES" is defined in Section 3.5(ii).

         "PARTICIPANTS" is defined in Section 12.2.1.

         "PAYMENT DATE" means each date set forth on Schedule 4 hereto.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereto.

                                       10
<PAGE>   17

         "PERMITTED ACQUISITION" is defined in Section 6.13.

         "PERMITTED EXISTING CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS" means the contingent
obligations outstanding on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 1 hereto.

         "PERSON" means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture,
partnership, limited liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other
entity or organization, or any government or political subdivision or any
agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

         "PLAN" means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title
IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the
Code as to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group may have any
liability.

         "PRIME RATE" means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest
announced from time to time by Bank One or its parent (which is not necessarily
the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as said prime rate
changes.

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

         "PURCHASERS" is defined in Section 12.3.1.

         "RATE MANAGEMENT TRANSACTION" means any transaction (including an
agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into between
the Borrower and any Lender or Affiliate thereof which is a rate swap, basis
swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or
equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate
option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar
transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate
swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including
any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination
thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies,
commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

         "RATE MANAGEMENT OBLIGATIONS" of a Person means any and all obligations
of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever
created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and
modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all Rate
Management Transactions, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs,
reversals, terminations or assignments of any Rate Management Transactions.

         "RECEIVABLES FACILITY ATTRIBUTED INDEBTEDNESS" means the amount of
obligations outstanding under an accounts receivable or notes receivable
purchase facility on any date of determination that would be characterized as
principal if such facility were structured as a secured lending transaction
rather than as a purchase.

         "REGULATION D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto
or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors
relating to reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal
Reserve System.

                                       11
<PAGE>   18

         "REGULATION U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other
regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the
extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin
stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

         "RENTALS" of a Person means the aggregate fixed amounts payable by such
Person under any Operating Lease.

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

         "REQUIRED LENDERS" means Lenders in the aggregate having greater than
50% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been
terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding greater than 50% of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the outstanding Advances.

         "RESERVE REQUIREMENT" means, with respect to an Interest Period, the
maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental,
marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency
liabilities.

         "RESPONSE DATE" is defined in Section 2.19.

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

         "SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTION" means any sale or other transfer of
Property by any Person with the intent to lease such Property as lessee.

         "SCHEDULE" refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless
another document is specifically referenced.

         "SECTION" means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another
document is specifically referenced.

         "SINGLE EMPLOYER PLAN" means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of
the Controlled Group.

         "SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time
be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more
of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or
(ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or
similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having

                                       12
<PAGE>   19

ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a "Subsidiary"
shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

         "SUBSTANTIAL PORTION" means, with respect to the Property of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property which (i) represents more than 10% of
the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown
in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as
at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month in which such
determination is made, or (ii) is responsible for more than 10% of the
consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in clause (i)
above.

         "TAXES" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with
respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

         "TRANSFEREE" is defined in Section 12.4.

         "TYPE" means, with respect to any Advance, its nature as a Floating
Rate Advance or a Fixed Rate Advance.

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

         "UNMATURED DEFAULT" means an event which but for the lapse of time or
the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Default.

         "WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY" of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of
the outstanding voting securities of which shall at the time be owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture or similar business organization 100% of the
ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be
so owned or controlled.

         The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS
                                   -----------

2.1 COMMITMENT. From and including the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Facility Termination Date, each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make Loans to the Borrower from time
to time in amounts not to exceed in the aggregate at any one time outstanding
the amount of its Commitment. Subject to the terms of

                                       13
<PAGE>   20

this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow at any time prior to
the Facility Termination Date. The Commitments to lend hereunder shall expire on
the Facility Termination Date.

         2.2 REQUIRED PAYMENTS; TERMINATION. Any outstanding Advances and all
other unpaid Obligations shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Facility
Termination Date.

         2.3 RATABLE LOANS. Each Advance hereunder shall consist of Loans made
from the several Lenders ratably in proportion to the ratio that their
respective Commitments bear to the Aggregate Commitment.

         2.4 TYPES OF ADVANCES. The Advances may be Floating Rate Advances
(which are Advances that bear interest, except as otherwise provided in Section
2.11, at the applicable Floating Rate) or Fixed Rate Advances (which are
Advances that bear interest, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11, at
the applicable Eurodollar Rate or the applicable Money Market Interest Rate), or
a combination thereof, selected by the Borrower in accordance with Sections 2.8
and 2.9; provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if
at any time there are Lenders under this Agreement other than Bank One, then the
Money Market Interest Rate shall be available for any Advance only with the
consent of each of the Lenders. The Borrower must provide notice to the Agent as
to the Type of Advance it wishes to select pursuant to Sections 2.8 and 2.9.

         2.5 FACILITY FEE; REDUCTIONS IN AGGREGATE COMMITMENT. The Borrower
agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee of
0.18% per annum on the Aggregate Commitment (without regard to usage) from the
date hereof to and including the Facility Termination Date, payable on each
Payment Date hereafter and on the Facility Termination Date. The Borrower may
permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in part ratably among
the Lenders in integral multiples of $5,000,000, upon at least five Business
Days' written notice to the Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any
such reduction, provided, however, that the amount of the Aggregate Commitment
may not be reduced below the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Advances. All accrued facility fees shall be payable on the effective date of
any termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

         2.6 MINIMUM AMOUNT OF EACH ADVANCE. Each Fixed Rate Advance shall be in
the minimum amount of $500,000 (and in multiples of $100,000 if in excess
thereof), and each Floating Rate Advance shall be in the minimum amount of
$100,000 (and in multiples of $100,000 if in excess thereof), provided, however,
that any Floating Rate Advance may be in the amount of the unused Aggregate
Commitment.

         2.7 OPTIONAL PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS. The Borrower may from time to time
pay, without penalty or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate Advances, or, in
a minimum aggregate amount of $100,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in
excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Floating Rate Advances upon two
Business Days' prior notice to the Agent. The Borrower may from time to time
pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by
Section 3.4 but without penalty or premium, all outstanding Fixed Rate Advances,
or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $500,000 or any integral multiple of
$100,000

                                       14
<PAGE>   21

in excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Eurodollar Advances upon three
Business Days' prior notice to the Agent.

         2.8 METHOD OF SELECTING TYPES AND INTEREST PERIODS OR MONEY MARKET
INTEREST PERIODS FOR NEW ADVANCES. The Borrower shall select the Type of Advance
and, in the case of each Fixed Rate Advance, whether such Advance is a
Eurodollar Advance or Money Market Advance and the Interest Period or Money
Market Interest Period applicable thereto from time to time. The Borrower shall
give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "BORROWING NOTICE") not later than (a)
12:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on the Borrowing Date of each Money Market Advance,
(b) 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) at least one Business Day before the Borrowing
Date of each Floating Rate Advance and (c) three Business Days before the
Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar Advance, specifying:

         (i)      the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
                  Advance,

         (ii)     the aggregate amount of such Advance,

         (iii)    the Type of Advance selected, and

         (iv)     in the case of each Fixed Rate Advance, the Interest Period or
                  Money Market Interest Period applicable thereto.

Not later than noon (Chicago time) on each Borrowing Date, each Lender shall
make available its Loan or Loans in funds immediately available in Chicago to
the Agent at its address specified pursuant to Article XIII. The Agent will make
the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrower at the Agent's
aforesaid address.

         2.9 CONVERSION AND CONTINUATION OF OUTSTANDING ADVANCES. Floating Rate
Advances shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless and until such Floating
Rate Advances are converted into Fixed Rate Advances pursuant to this Section
2.9 or are repaid in accordance with Section 2.7. Each Fixed Rate Advance shall
continue as a Fixed Rate Advance of the same Type until the end of the then
applicable Interest Period or Money Market Interest Period therefor, at which
time such Fixed Rate Advance shall be automatically converted into a Floating
Rate Advance unless (x) such Fixed Rate Advance is or was repaid in accordance
with Section 2.7 or (y) the Borrower shall have given the Agent a
Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of
such Interest Period, such Fixed Rate Advance continue as a Fixed Rate Advance
for the same or another Interest Period or Money Market Interest Period. Subject
to the terms of Section 2.6, the Borrower may elect from time to time to convert
all or any part of a Floating Rate Advance into a Fixed Rate Advance. The
Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice (a "CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
NOTICE") of each conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Fixed Rate Advance
or continuation of a Fixed Rate Advance not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time)
at least three Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or
continuation, specifying:

         (i) the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such
conversion or continuation,

                                       15
<PAGE>   22

         (ii) the aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be
converted or continued, and

         (iii) the amount of such Advance which is to be converted into or
continued as a Fixed Rate Advance and the duration of the Interest Period or
Money Market Interest Period applicable thereto.

         2.10 CHANGES IN INTEREST RATE, ETC. Each Floating Rate Advance shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and
including the date such Advance is made or is automatically converted from a
Fixed Rate Advance into a Floating Rate Advance pursuant to Section 2.9, to but
excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a Fixed Rate Advance pursuant
to Section 2.9 hereof, at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate for such
day. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance maintained
as a Floating Rate Advance will take effect simultaneously with each change in
the Alternate Base Rate. Each Fixed Rate shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof from and including the first day of the Interest Period
or Money Market Interest Period applicable thereto to (but not including) the
last day of such Interest Period or Money Market Interest Period at the interest
rate determined by the Agent as applicable to such Fixed Rate Advance based upon
the Borrower's selections under Sections 2.8 and 2.9 and otherwise in accordance
with the terms hereof. No Interest Period or Money Market Interest Period may
end after the Facility Termination Date.

         2.11 RATES APPLICABLE AFTER DEFAULT. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.8 or 2.9, during the continuance of a Default or
Unmatured Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the
Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders
notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the
Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that no Advance may be made as,
converted into or continued as a Fixed Rate Advance. During the continuance of a
Default, the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower
(which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders
notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the
Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that (i) each Fixed Rate Advance
shall bear interest for the remainder of the applicable Interest Period or Money
Market Interest Period at the rate otherwise applicable to such Interest Period
or Money Market Interest Period plus 2% per annum and (ii) each Floating Rate
Advance shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate in
effect from time to time plus 2% per annum, provided that, during the
continuance of a Default under Section 7.6 or 7.7, the interest rates set forth
in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be applicable to all Advances without any
election or action on the part of the Agent or any Lender.

         2.12 METHOD OF PAYMENT. All payments of the Obligations hereunder shall
be made, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, in immediately available
funds to the Agent at the Agent's address specified pursuant to Article XIII, or
at any other Lending Installation of the Agent specified in writing by the Agent
to the Borrower, by noon (local time) on the date when due and shall be applied
ratably by the Agent among the Lenders. Each payment delivered to the Agent for
the account of any Lender shall be delivered promptly by the Agent to such
Lender in the same type of funds that the Agent received at its address
specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation specified in a
notice received by the Agent from such Lender. The

                                       16
<PAGE>   23

Agent is hereby authorized to charge the account of the Borrower maintained with
Bank One for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due
hereunder.

         2.13 NOTELESS AGREEMENT; EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS.

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

         (ii) The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (a)
the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period
or Money Market Interest Period with respect thereto, (b) the amount of any
principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the
Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (c) the amount of any sum received by the
Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.

         (iii) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to
paragraphs (i) and (ii) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the Obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure
of the Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall
not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Obligations
in accordance with their terms.

         (iv) Any Lender may request that its Loans be evidenced by a promissory
note in substantially the form of Exhibit E (a "NOTE"). In such event, the
Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender such a Note payable
to the order of such Lender. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Note and
interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to
Section 12.3) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the
payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 12.3, except to the
extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such Note for
cancellation and requests that such Loans once again be evidenced as described
in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.

         2.14 TELEPHONIC NOTICES. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Lenders and
the Agent to extend, convert or continue Advances, effect selections of Types of
Advances and to transfer funds based on telephonic notices made by any person or
persons the Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting on behalf of
the Borrower, it being understood that the foregoing authorization is
specifically intended to allow Borrowing Notices and Conversion/Continuation
Notices to be given telephonically. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to
the Agent a written confirmation, if such confirmation is requested by the Agent
or any Lender, of each telephonic notice signed by an Authorized Officer. If the
written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action taken by
the Agent and the Lenders, the records of the Agent and the Lenders shall govern
absent manifest error.

         2.15 INTEREST PAYMENT DATES; INTEREST AND FEE BASIS. Interest accrued
on each Floating Rate Advance shall be payable on each Payment Date, commencing
with the first such date to occur after the date hereof, on any date on which
the Floating Rate Advance is prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise,
and at maturity. Interest accrued on that portion of the outstanding principal
amount of any Floating Rate Advance converted into a Fixed Rate Advance on a day
other than a Payment Date shall be payable on the date of conversion. Interest

                                       17
<PAGE>   24

accrued on each Fixed Rate Advance shall be payable on the last day of its
applicable Interest Period or Money Market Interest Period, on any date on which
the Fixed Rate Advance is prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at
maturity. Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance having an Interest Period
longer than three months shall also be payable on the last day of each
three-month interval during such Interest Period. Interest and facility fees
shall be calculated for actual days elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year.
Interest shall be payable for the day an Advance is made but not for the day of
any payment on the amount paid if payment is received prior to noon (local time)
at the place of payment. If any payment of principal of or interest on an
Advance shall become due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment
shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case of a
principal payment, such extension of time shall be included in computing
interest in connection with such payment.

         2.16 NOTIFICATION OF ADVANCES, INTEREST RATES, PREPAYMENTS AND
COMMITMENT REDUCTIONS. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent will notify
each Lender of the contents of each Aggregate Commitment reduction notice,
Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice, and repayment notice received
by it hereunder. The Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate
applicable to each Fixed Rate Advance promptly upon determination of such
interest rate and will give each Lender prompt notice of each change in the
Alternate Base Rate.

         2.17 LENDING INSTALLATIONS. Each Lender may book its Loans at any
Lending Installation selected by such Lender and may change its Lending
Installation from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any
such Lending Installation and the Loans and any Notes issued hereunder shall be
deemed held by each Lender for the benefit of any such Lending Installation.
Each Lender may, by written notice to the Agent and the Borrower in accordance
with Article XIII, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations
through which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are
to be made.

         2.18 NON-RECEIPT OF FUNDS BY THE AGENT. Unless the Borrower or a
Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Agent prior to the date on which it is
scheduled to make payment to the Agent of (i) in the case of a Lender, the
proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, a payment of principal,
interest or fees to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does not
intend to make such payment, the Agent may assume that such payment has been
made. The Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount of such
payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If
such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, has not in fact made such
payment to the Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by the
Agent, repay to the Agent the amount so made available together with interest
thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such
amount was so made available by the Agent until the date the Agent recovers such
amount at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of payment by a Lender, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day for the first three days and,
thereafter, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan or (y) in the case
of payment by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.

         2.19 EXTENSION OF FACILITY TERMINATION DATE. The Borrower may request
an extension of the Facility Termination Date by submitting a request for an
extension to the Agent (an "EXTENSION REQUEST") no more than 60 days prior to
the Facility Termination Date. The Extension Request must (i) specify the new
Facility Termination Date requested by the Borrower

                                       18
<PAGE>   25

and the date (which must be at least 30 days after the Extension Request is
delivered to the Agent) as of which the Lenders must respond to the Extension
Request (the "RESPONSE DATE"), and (ii) attach a revised Schedule 4 that
includes Payment Dates for the period from the Response Date through the new
Facility Termination Date, which, upon approval of the Extension Request by the
Lenders in accordance with the remainder of this Section 2.19, shall be deemed
an amendment to and substitution for the then existing Schedule 4. The new
Facility Termination Date shall be no more than 364 days after the Response
Date, including the Response Date as one of the days in the calculation of the
days elapsed. Promptly upon receipt of an Extension Request, the Agent shall
notify each Lender of the contents thereof and shall request each Lender to
approve the Extension Request. Each Lender approving the Extension Request shall
deliver its written consent no later than the Response Date. If the consent of
each of the Lenders is received by the Agent, the Facility Termination Date
specified in the Extension Request and the new Schedule 4 attached thereto shall
become effective on the existing Facility Termination Date and the Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender of the new Facility Termination
Date and provide the same with a copy of the new Schedule 4.

         2.20 REPLACEMENT OF LENDER. If the Borrower is required pursuant to
Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5 to make any additional payment to any Lender or if any
Lender's obligation to make or continue, or to convert Floating Rate Advances
into, Fixed Rate Advances shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.3 (any Lender
so affected an "AFFECTED LENDER"), the Borrower may elect, if such amounts
continue to be charged or such suspension is still effective, to replace such
Affected Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that no Default or
Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
replacement, and provided further that, concurrently with such replacement, (i)
another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower
and the Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Advances
and other Obligations due to the Affected Lender pursuant to an assignment
substantially in the form of Exhibit C and to become a Lender for all purposes
under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Affected Lender to be
terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of Section 12.3
applicable to assignments, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Affected
Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (A) all interest, fees
and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Affected Lender by the
Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without
limitation payments due to such Affected Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5,
and (B) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to
such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 3.4 had the Loans of
such Affected Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the
replacement Lender.

                                  ARTICLE III

                             YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES
                             -----------------------

         3.1 YIELD PROTECTION. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the
adoption of any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,
policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law), or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental or
quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or

                                       19
<PAGE>   26

applicable Lending Installation with any request or directive (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency:

         (i)      subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation to
                  any Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other
                  than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender in respect
                  of its Fixed Rate Loans, or

         (ii)     imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve,
                  assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar
                  requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
                  account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any
                  applicable Lending Installation (other than reserves and
                  assessments taken into account in determining the interest
                  rate applicable to Fixed Rate Advances), or

         (iii)    imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase
                  the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation
                  of making, funding or maintaining its Fixed Rate Loans or
                  reduces any amount receivable by any Lender or any applicable
                  Lending Installation in connection with its Fixed Rate Loans,
                  or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation
                  to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of
                  Fixed Rate Loans held or interest received by it, by an amount
                  deemed material by such Lender,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or
applicable Lending Installation of making or maintaining its Fixed Rate Loans or
Commitment or to reduce the return received by such Lender or applicable Lending
Installation in connection with such Fixed Rate Loans or Commitment, then,
within 15 days of demand by such Lender, the Borrower shall pay such Lender such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased
cost or reduction in amount received.

         3.2 CHANGES IN CAPITAL ADEQUACY REGULATIONS. If a Lender determines the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender, any
Lending Installation of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender
is increased as a result of a Change, then, within 15 days of demand by such
Lender, the Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount necessary to compensate
for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such increased capital
which such Lender determines is attributable to this Agreement, its Loans or its
Commitment to make Loans hereunder (after taking into account such Lender's
policies as to capital adequacy). "CHANGE" means (i) any change after the date
of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of
or change in any other law, governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation,
policy, guideline, interpretation, or directive (whether or not having the force
of law) after the date of this Agreement which affects the amount of capital
required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any Lending Installation
or any corporation controlling any Lender. "RISK-BASED CAPITAL GUIDELINES" means
(i) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date
of this Agreement, including transition rules, and (ii) the corresponding
capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities outside the United
States implementing the July 1988 report of the Basle Committee on Banking
Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled "International Convergence of
Capital Measurements and Capital Standards," including transition rules, and any
amendments to such regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.

                                       20
<PAGE>   27

         3.3 AVAILABILITY OF TYPES OF ADVANCES. If any Lender determines that
maintenance of its Fixed Rate Loans at a suitable Lending Installation would
violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, or directive, whether or not
having the force of law, or if the Required Lenders determine that (i) deposits
of a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Fixed Rate Advances are not
available or (ii) the interest rate applicable to Fixed Rate Advances does not
accurately reflect the cost of making or maintaining Fixed Rate Advances, then
the Agent shall suspend the availability of Fixed Rate Advances and require any
affected Fixed Rate Advances to be repaid or converted to Floating Rate
Advances, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required
by Section 3.4.

         3.4 FUNDING INDEMNIFICATION. If any payment of a Fixed Rate Advance
occurs on a date which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period or
Money Market Interest Period, whether because of acceleration, prepayment or
otherwise, or a Fixed Rate Advance is not made on the date specified by the
Borrower for any reason other than default by the Lenders, the Borrower will
indemnify each Lender for any loss or cost incurred by it resulting therefrom,
including, without limitation, any loss or cost in liquidating or employing
deposits acquired to fund or maintain such Fixed Rate Advance.

         3.5 TAXES.

         (i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or
the Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be made free and clear of and
without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required by
law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any
Lender or the Agent, (a) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to
additional sums payable under this Section 3.5) such Lender or the Agent (as the
case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no
such deductions been made, (b) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (c) the
Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in
accordance with applicable law and (d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent
the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after
such payment is made.

         (ii) In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or
future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes,
charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under
any Note or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to,
this Agreement or any Note ("OTHER TAXES").

         (iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Lender
for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5) paid by
the Agent or such Lender and any liability (including penalties, interest and
expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Payments due under this
indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the Agent or such
Lender makes demand therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.

         (iv) Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or a state thereof (each a "NON-U.S. LENDER") agrees that it
will, not less than more Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (i)
deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent two duly completed copies of
United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-

                                       21
<PAGE>   28

8ECI, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive payments
under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States
federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent a
United States Internal Revenue Form W-8 or W-9, as the case may be, and certify
that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax.
Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to deliver to each of the Borrower and
the Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any successor form)
on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after
the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms so
delivered by it, such additional forms or amendments thereto as may be
reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent. All forms or amendments
described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is entitled
to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any
United States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without
limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the
date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all
such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing
and delivering any such form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender
advises the Borrower and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments
without any deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax.

         (v) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide
the Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above (unless
such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any change in
the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority,
occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be
provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under
this Section 3.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided
that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a
reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure
to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the Borrower shall take
such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request to assist such
Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.

         (vi) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of
withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note
pursuant to the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to
the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or times prescribed by
applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by
applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at
a reduced rate.

         (vii) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental
authority of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision
thereof asserts a claim that the Agent did not properly withhold tax from
amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form
was not delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify
the Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its exemption from
withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify
the Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as
tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and
including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the Agent
under this subsection, together with all costs and expenses related thereto
(including attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which
attorneys may be

                                       22
<PAGE>   29

employees of the Agent). The obligations of the Lenders under this Section
3.5(vii) shall survive the payment of the Obligations and termination of this
Agreement.

3.6 LENDER STATEMENTS; SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITY. To the extent reasonably possible,
each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending Installation with respect to
its Fixed Rate Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrower to such Lender
under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5 or to avoid the unavailability of Fixed Rate
Advances under Section 3.3, so long as such designation is not, in the judgment
of such Lender, disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a
written statement of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) as
to the amount due, if any, under Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5. Such written
statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculations upon which such
Lender determined such amount and shall be final, conclusive and binding on the
Borrower in the absence of manifest error. Determination of amounts payable
under such Sections in connection with a Fixed Rate Loan shall be calculated as
though each Lender funded its Fixed Rate Loan through the purchase of a deposit
of the type and maturity corresponding to the deposit used as a reference in
determining the interest rate applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is
the case or not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the
written statement of any Lender shall be payable on demand after receipt by the
Borrower of such written statement. The obligations of the Borrower under
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 shall survive payment of the Obligations and
termination of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         4.1 INITIAL ADVANCE. The Lenders shall not be required to make the
initial Advance hereunder unless the Borrower has furnished to the Agent with
sufficient copies for the Lenders:

         (i)      Copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the
                  Borrower, together with all amendments, and a certificate of
                  good standing, each certified by the appropriate governmental
                  officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation.

         (ii)     Copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of
                  the Borrower, of its by-laws and of its Board of Directors'
                  resolutions and of resolutions or actions of any other body
                  authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents to which the
                  Borrower is a party.

         (iii)    An incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or
                  Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, which shall identify by
                  name and title and bear the signatures of the Authorized
                  Officers and any other officers of the Borrower authorized to
                  sign the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party, upon
                  which certificate the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled
                  to rely until informed of any change in writing by the
                  Borrower.

         (iv)     A certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the
                  Borrower, stating that on the initial Borrowing Date no
                  Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing.

                                       23
<PAGE>   30

         (v)      A written opinion of the Borrower's and Guarantors' counsel,
                  addressed to the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit
                  A.

         (vi)     Any Notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.13
                  payable to the order of each such requesting Lender.

         (vii)    Written money transfer instructions, in substantially the form
                  of Exhibit D, addressed to the Agent and signed by an
                  Authorized Officer, together with such other related money
                  transfer authorizations as the Agent may have reasonably
                  requested.

         (viii)   The insurance certificate described in Section 5.20.

         (ix)     Evidence of termination of the Amended and Restated Credit
                  Agreement dated as of July 30, 1999 between the Borrower and
                  Bank One (formerly known as The First National Bank of
                  Chicago) and repayment of all obligations and liabilities
                  payable in connection therewith.

         (x)      Such other documents as any Lender or its counsel may have
                  reasonably requested.

         4.2      EACH ADVANCE. The Lenders shall not be required to make any
Advance unless on the applicable Borrowing Date:

         (i)      There exists no Default or Unmatured Default.

         (ii)     The representations and warranties contained in Article V are
                  true and correct as of such Borrowing Date except to the
                  extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate
                  solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation
                  or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such
                  earlier date.

         (iii)    All legal matters incident to the making of such Advance shall
                  be satisfactory to the Lenders and their counsel.

         Each Borrowing Notice with respect to each such Advance shall
constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions
contained in Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied. Any Lender may
require a duly completed compliance certificate in substantially the form of
Exhibit B as a condition to making an Advance.

                                   ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                         ------------------------------

         The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

         5.1 EXISTENCE AND STANDING. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
is a corporation, partnership (in the case of Subsidiaries only) or limited
liability company duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may
be, validly existing and (to the extent such

                                       24
<PAGE>   31

concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to
conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

         5.2 AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY. The Borrower has the power and
authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents and to
perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Borrower
of the Loan Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder have
been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings, and the Loan Documents to
which the Borrower is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

         5.3 NO CONFLICT; GOVERNMENT CONSENT. Neither the execution and delivery
by the Borrower of the Loan Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions
therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate
(i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or
award binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Borrower's
or any Subsidiary's articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership
agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or certificate of organization,
by-laws, or operating or other management agreement, as the case may be, or
(iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or
its Property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or
result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the
Property of the Borrower or a Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such
indenture, instrument or agreement. No order, consent, adjudication, approval,
license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration
with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public
body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under this Agreement, the payment
and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations or the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.

         5.4 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The December 31, 1999 audited and the June
17, 2000 unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries heretofore delivered to the Lenders were prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date such
statements were prepared and fairly present the consolidated financial condition
and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such dates and the
consolidated results of their operations for the periods then ended.

         5.5 MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since December 31, 1999 there has been no
change in the business, Property, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise)
or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.6 TAXES. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United
States federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be
filed and have paid all taxes due

                                       25
<PAGE>   32

pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries, except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in
good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance
with Agreement Accounting Principles and as to which no Lien exists. The United
States income tax returns of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been audited
by the Internal Revenue Service through the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993.
No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to
any such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are
adequate.

         5.7 LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS. There is no litigation,
arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to
the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened against or affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of
any Loans. Other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or
proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect, the Borrower has no material contingent obligations not provided for or
disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4.

         5.8 SUBSIDIARIES. Schedule 2 contains an accurate list of all
Subsidiaries of the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth
their respective jurisdictions of organization and the percentage of their
respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned by the Borrower or
other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or
other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such
concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized
and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

         5.9 ERISA. The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans do not
in the aggregate exceed $10,000,000. Neither the Borrower nor any other member
of the Controlled Group has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur, any
withdrawal liability to Multiemployer Plans in excess of $10,000,000 in the
aggregate. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred with
respect to any Plan, neither the Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled
Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have
been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.

         5.10 ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. No information, exhibit or report
furnished by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or to any
Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan
Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a
material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.

         5.11 REGULATION U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U)
constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other
restriction hereunder.

         5.12 MATERIAL AGREEMENTS. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a
party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other
corporate restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any

                                       26
<PAGE>   33

Subsidiary is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of
the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in (i) any agreement to which
it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing
Indebtedness.

         5.13 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have
complied with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and
restrictions of any domestic or foreign government or any instrumentality or
agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective
businesses or the ownership of their respective Property except for any failure
to comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.14 OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTIES. Except as set forth on Schedule 3, on the
date of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will have good title,
free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.14, to all of the
Property and assets reflected in the Borrower's most recent consolidated
financial statements provided to the Agent as owned by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.

         5.15 PLAN ASSETS; PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS. The Borrower is not an
entity deemed to hold "plan assets" within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. ss.
2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA)
which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor the making of
Loans hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

         5.16 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. In the ordinary course of its business, the
officers of the Borrower consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which they
identify and evaluate potential risks and liabilities accruing to the Borrower
due to Environmental Laws. On the basis of this consideration, the Borrower has
concluded that Environmental Laws cannot reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received
any notice to the effect that its operations are not in material compliance with
any of the requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of
any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is
needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into
the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.17 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is
an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company",
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         5.18 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is a "holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding
company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company"
of a "holding company", within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.

         5.19 POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS. The present value of the expected cost
of post-retirement medical and insurance benefits payable by the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries to

                                       27
<PAGE>   34

its employees and former employees, as estimated by the Borrower in accordance
with procedures and assumptions deemed reasonable by the Required Lenders, does
not exceed $60,000,000.

         5.20 INSURANCE. The certificate signed by the President or Chief
Financial Officer of the Borrower, that attests to the existence and adequacy
of, and summarizes, the property and casualty insurance program carried by the
Borrower with respect to itself and its Subsidiaries and that has been furnished
by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders, is complete and accurate. This
summary includes the insurer's or insurers' name(s), policy number(s),
expiration date(s), amount(s) of coverage, type(s) of coverage, exclusion(s),
and deductibles. This summary also includes similar information, and describes
any reserves, relating to any self-insurance program that is in effect.

         5.21 SOLVENCY.

         (i) Immediately after the consummation of the transactions to occur on
the date hereof and immediately following the making of each Loan, if any, made
on the date hereof and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of
such Loans, (a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts
and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the
Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be
greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and
other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and
liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital
with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such
businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date
hereof.

         (ii) The Borrower does not intend to, or to permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will,
incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into
account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such
Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect
of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS
                                    ---------

         During the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall
otherwise consent in writing:

         6.1 FINANCIAL REPORTING. The Borrower will maintain, for itself and
each Subsidiary, a system of accounting established and administered in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and furnish to the
Lenders:

                                       28
<PAGE>   35

         (i)      Within 120 days after the close of each of its fiscal years,
                  an unqualified audit report certified by independent certified
                  public accountants acceptable to the Lenders, prepared in
                  accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles on a
                  consolidated and consolidating basis (consolidating statements
                  need not be certified by such accountants) for itself and its
                  Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such
                  period, related profit and loss and reconciliation of surplus
                  statements, and a statement of cash flows, accompanied by a
                  certificate of said accountants that, in the course of their
                  examination necessary for their certification of the
                  foregoing, they have obtained no knowledge of any Default or
                  Unmatured Default, or if, in the opinion of such accountants,
                  any Default or Unmatured Default shall exist, stating the
                  nature and status thereof.

         (ii)     Within 60 days after the close of the first three quarterly
                  periods of each of its fiscal years, for itself and its
                  Subsidiaries, consolidated and consolidating unaudited balance
                  sheets as at the close of each such period and consolidated
                  and consolidating profit and loss and reconciliation of
                  surplus statements and a statement of cash flows for the
                  period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of
                  such quarter, all certified by its chief financial officer.

         (iii)    Together with the financial statements required under Sections
                  6.1(i) and (ii), a compliance certificate in substantially the
                  form of Exhibit B signed by its chief financial officer
                  showing the calculations necessary to determine compliance
                  with this Agreement and stating that no Default or Unmatured
                  Default exists, or if any Default or Unmatured Default exists,
                  stating the nature and status thereof.

         (iv)     Within 270 days after the close of each fiscal year, a
                  statement of the Unfunded Liabilities of each Single Employer
                  Plan, certified as correct by an actuary enrolled under ERISA.

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

         (vi)     As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after
                  receipt by the Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to
                  the effect that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or
                  may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the
                  Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any
                  toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment,
                  and (b) any notice alleging any violation of any federal,
                  state or local environmental, health or safety law or
                  regulation by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which,
                  in either case, could reasonably be expected to have a
                  Material Adverse Effect.

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

                                       29
<PAGE>   36

        (viii)    Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration
                  statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular
                  reports which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files
                  with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

         6.2 USE OF PROCEEDS. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary
to, use the proceeds of the Advances for general corporate purposes. The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds
of the Advances to purchase or carry any "margin stock" (as defined in
Regulation U).

         6.3 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, give prompt notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of
any Default or Unmatured Default and of any other development, financial or
otherwise, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.4 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same
manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently
conducted and do all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized,
validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good
standing as a domestic corporation, partnership or limited liability company in
its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and
maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in
which its business is conducted.

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

         6.6 INSURANCE. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on
all their Property in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with
sound business practice, and the Borrower will furnish to any Lender upon
request full information as to the insurance carried.

         6.7 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs,
judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject including,
without limitation, all Environmental Laws.

         6.8 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. The Borrower will, and will cause each
Subsidiary to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep
its Property in good repair, working order and condition, and make all necessary
and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

                                       30
<PAGE>   37

         6.9 INSPECTION. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
permit the Agent and the Lenders, by their respective representatives and
agents, to inspect any of the Property, books and financial records of the
Borrower and each Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of
accounts and other financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, and to
discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary
with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such
reasonable times and intervals as the Agent or any Lender may designate.

         6.10 INDEBTEDNESS. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

         (i)      The Loans.

         (ii)     Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and described in
                  Schedule 3.

         (iii)    Indebtedness arising under Rate Management Transactions not
                  prohibited by Section 6.18.

         (iv)     Indebtedness arising in connection with transactions permitted
                  by Section 6.12(iii).

         (v)      secured or unsecured purchase money Indebtedness (including
                  Capitalized Leases) incurred by the Borrower or any of its
                  Subsidiaries after the Closing Date to finance the acquisition
                  of fixed assets, if: (1) at the time of such incurrence, no
                  Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing or
                  would result from such incurrence, (2) such Indebtedness has a
                  scheduled maturity and is not due on demand, (3) such
                  Indebtedness does not exceed the lower of the fair market
                  value or the cost of the applicable fixed assets on the date
                  acquired, (4) such Indebtedness does not exceed $150,000,000
                  in the aggregate outstanding at any time, and (5) any Lien
                  securing such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 6.14
                  (such Indebtedness being referred to herein as "PERMITTED
                  PURCHASE MONEY INDEBTEDNESS").

         (vi)     Indebtedness in respect of obligations secured by Customary
                  Permitted Liens.

         6.11 MERGER. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
enter into any merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve (or
suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey, lease, sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or series of transactions, all or
substantially all of the Borrower's or any such Subsidiary's business or
property, whether now or hereafter acquired, except (i) transactions permitted
under Sections 6.12 or 6.13 and after which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
remain in compliance with Section 6.4, and (ii) a Subsidiary of the Borrower may
be merged into, liquidated into or consolidated with the Borrower (in which case
the Borrower shall be the surviving corporation) or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
of the Borrower.

         6.12 SALE OF ASSETS. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property to any other
Person, except:

                                       31
<PAGE>   38

         (i)      Sales of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of
                  business.

         (ii)     Leases, sales or other dispositions of its Property that,
                  together with all other Property of the Borrower and its
                  Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other
                  than inventory in the ordinary course of business) as
                  permitted by this Section during the twelve-month period
                  ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or other
                  disposition occurs, do not constitute a Substantial Portion of
                  the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

         (iii)    Any transfer of an interest in accounts receivable or notes
                  receivable on a limited recourse basis, provided that such
                  transfer qualifies as a sale under Agreement Accounting
                  Principles and that Receivables Facility Attributed
                  Indebtedness in connection with such financing does not exceed
                  $300,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

         6.13 INVESTMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS. Except as provided below, the
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist
any Investments (including without limitation, loans and advances to, and other
Investments in, Subsidiaries), or commitments therefor, or to create any
Subsidiary or to become or remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture,
or to make any Acquisition of any Person, except:

         (i)      Cash Equivalent Investments.

         (ii)     Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments in
                  existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 2.

         The Borrower may create, acquire in a Permitted Acquisition or
capitalize any Subsidiary (a "NEW SUBSIDIARY") after the date hereof if (i) no
Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
result therefrom; and (ii) after such creation, acquisition or capitalization,
all of the representations and warranties contained herein shall be true and
correct.

         Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the Borrower shall not and
shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to make any Acquisitions, other than
Acquisitions meeting the following requirements or otherwise approved by the
Required Lenders (each such Acquisition constituting a "PERMITTED ACQUISITION"):

         (a)      no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be
                  continuing or would result from such Acquisition or the
                  incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection therewith, and
                  all of the representations and warranties contained herein
                  shall be true and correct on and as of the date such
                  Acquisition with the same effect as though made on and as of
                  such date;

         (b)      the purchase is consummated pursuant to a negotiated
                  acquisition agreement on a non-hostile basis pursuant to an
                  acquisition agreement approved by the board of directors or
                  other applicable governing body of the seller prior to the
                  commencement thereof;

                                       32
<PAGE>   39

         (c)      after consummation of the proposed Acquisition, the Borrower
                  and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 6.4;
                  and

         (d)      prior to each such Acquisition, the Borrower shall determine
                  that after giving effect to such Acquisition and the
                  incurrence of any Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.10 in
                  connection therewith, on a pro forma basis using historical
                  audited and reviewed unaudited financial statements obtained
                  from the seller, broken down by fiscal quarter in the
                  Borrower's reasonable judgment, as if the Acquisition and such
                  incurrence of Indebtedness had occurred on the first day of
                  the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the
                  Borrower's most recently completed fiscal quarter, the
                  Borrower would have been in compliance with the financial
                  covenants in Section 6.19 and not otherwise in Default.

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

         (i)      Customary Permitted Liens;

         (ii)     Liens existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule 3;

         (iii)    Liens incurred in connection with any transfer of an interest
                  in accounts receivable or notes receivable which is permitted
                  pursuant to Section 6.12(iii); and

         (iv)     purchase money Liens (including the interest of a lessor under
                  a Capitalized Lease and Liens to which any property is subject
                  at the time of the Borrower's acquisition thereof) securing
                  Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness; provided, that such
                  Liens shall not apply to any property of the Borrower or any
                  of its Subsidiaries other than that purchased or subject to
                  such Capitalized Lease.

         In addition, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall
become party to any agreement, note, indenture or other instrument, or take any
action, which would prohibit the creation of a Lien on any of its properties or
other assets in favor of the Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
collateral for the Obligations; provided, that, any agreement, note, indenture
or other instrument in connection with Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness
(including Capitalized Leases) may prohibit the creation of a Lien in favor of
the Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders on the items of property
obtained with the proceeds of such Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness.

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

                                       33
<PAGE>   40

         6.16 SALE OF ACCOUNTS. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, sell or otherwise dispose of any notes receivable or accounts
receivable, with or without recourse except to the extent permitted by Section
6.12(iii).

         6.17 CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly create or become or be liable with
respect to any Contingent Obligation, except: (i) recourse obligations resulting
from endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course
of business; (ii) Permitted Existing Contingent Obligations; (iii) obligations,
warranties, guaranties and indemnities, not relating to Indebtedness of any
Person, which have been or are undertaken or made in the ordinary course of
business and not for the benefit of or in favor of an Affiliate of the Borrower
or such Subsidiary; and (iv) Contingent Obligations with respect to surety,
appeal and performance bonds obtained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business.

         6.18 FINANCIAL CONTRACTS. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, enter into or remain liable upon any Financial Contract, except
Rate Management Transactions entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries
pursuant to which the Borrower or such Subsidiary has hedged its or its
Subsidiaries reasonably estimated interest rate exposure and which are of a
non-speculative nature.

         6.19 FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

                  6.19.1 FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not
         permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal
         quarters for the then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters, of (i)
         Consolidated EBITDAR to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, plus
         Consolidated Rentals, plus current maturities of principal
         Indebtedness, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
         consolidated basis, to be less than 2.50 to 1.0.

                  6.19.2 LEVERAGE RATIO. The Borrower will not permit the ratio,
         determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters, of (i)
         Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDAR for the
         then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters to be greater than 2.50
         to 1.0.

                  6.19.3 MINIMUM TANGIBLE NET WORTH. The Borrower will at all
         times maintain Consolidated Tangible Net Worth of not less than the sum
         of (i) $220,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of Consolidated Net Income earned in
         each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31,
         2000 (without deduction for losses).

         6.20 SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY. The Borrower shall not permit, as of any date
of determination, (a) the total assets of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors
to exceed 30% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or
(b) the EBITDAR of Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors to exceed 30% of
Consolidated EBITDAR.

                                       34
<PAGE>   41

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS
                                    --------

         The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall
constitute a Default:

         7.1 BREACH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Any representation or
warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Agent under or in connection with this
Agreement, any Loan, or any certificate or information delivered in connection
with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the
date as of which made.

         7.2 PAYMENT DEFAULT. Nonpayment of principal of any Loan when due, or
nonpayment of interest upon any Loan or of any facility fee or other obligations
under any of the Loan Documents within five days after the same becomes due.

         7.3 CERTAIN COVENANT DEFAULTS. The breach by the Borrower of any of the
terms or provisions of Article VI Section 6.2, 6.10, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13,
6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, 6.18, 6.19 (Financial Covenants) or 6.20.

         7.4 OTHER COVENANT DEFAULTS. The breach by the Borrower (other than a
breach which constitutes a Default under another Section of this Article VII) of
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within
fifteen (15) days after written notice from the Agent or any Lender or the
Borrower knew or should have known of the existence of such breach.

         7.5 CROSS DEFAULT TO MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS. Failure of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries to pay when due any Indebtedness aggregating in excess
of $10,000,000 ("MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS"); or the default by the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries in the performance (beyond the applicable grace period with
respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any
agreement under which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed,
or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default
or event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material
Indebtedness to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its
stated maturity; or any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid
or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated
maturity thereof; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall not pay, or
admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due.

         7.6 INSOLVENCY RELATED DEFAULTS. The Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall (i) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under
the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an
assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent to, or
acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner,
liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial Portion of its
Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under the
Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate
it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts under
any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of
debtors or fail to file an answer or other

                                       35
<PAGE>   42

pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against
it, (v) take any corporate or partnership action to authorize or effect any of
the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6 or (vi) fail to contest in
good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.7.

         7.7 INVOLUNTARY PROCEEDINGS. Without the application, approval or
consent of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, a receiver, trustee,
examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a
proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv) shall be instituted against the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries and such appointment continues undischarged or such
proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive
days.

         7.8 TAKINGS. Any court, government or governmental agency shall
condemn, seize or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or
any portion of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which, when
taken together with all other Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries so
condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the
twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such action occurs,
constitutes a Substantial Portion.

         7.9 JUDGMENT DEFAULTS. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
fail within 30 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge one or more (i)
judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $10,000,000 (or the
equivalent thereof in currencies other than U.S. Dollars) in the aggregate, or
(ii) nonmonetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which
judgment(s), in any such case, is/are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being
appropriately contested in good faith.

         7.10 UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single
Employer Plans shall exceed in the aggregate $10,000,000 or any REPORTABLE EVENT
SHALL OCCUR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PLAN.

         7.11 WITHDRAWAL LIABILITIES. The Borrower or any other member of the
Controlled Group shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan
that it has incurred withdrawal liability to such Multiemployer Plan in an
amount which, when aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to
Multiemployer Plans by the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group
as withdrawal liability (determined as of the date of such notification) could
be reasonably to have a Material Adverse Effect

         7.12 MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN REORGANIZATION. The Borrower or any other
member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is being
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, if as a result of such
reorganization or termination the aggregate annual contributions of the Borrower
and the other members of the Controlled Group (taken as a whole) to all
Multiemployer Plans which are then in reorganization or being terminated have
been or will be increased over the amounts contributed to such Multiemployer
Plans for the respective plan years of each such Multiemployer Plan immediately
preceding the plan year in which the reorganization or termination occurs by an
amount which could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                       36
<PAGE>   43

         7.13 ENVIRONMENTAL DEFAULTS. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
shall (i) be the subject of any proceeding or investigation pertaining to the
release by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person of any
toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, or (ii) violate any
Environmental Law, which, in the case of an event described in clause (i) or
clause (ii), could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.14 CHANGE OF CONTROL. Any Change in Control shall occur.

         7.15 BREACH UNDER OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. The occurrence of any
"default", as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the
breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this
Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace
therein provided.

         7.16 RATE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT VIOLATION. Nonpayment by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of any Rate Management Obligation when due or the breach by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of any term, provision or condition contained in any
Rate Management Transaction.

         7.17 PLAN ASSET DEFAULT. The representations and warranties set forth
in Section 5.15 ("Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions") shall at any time not
be true and correct.

         7.18 DEFAULT UNDER OTHER MATERIAL CONTRACTS. The Borrower or any
Subsidiary shall fail to pay when due any Operating Lease Obligation,
reimbursement obligation with respect to a Letter of Credit, obligation under a
Sale and Leaseback Transaction or Contingent Obligation aggregating in excess of
$10,000,000.

         7.19 GUARANTY INVALIDITY, UNENFORCEABILITY; GUARANTOR FAILURE. The
Guaranty shall fail to remain in full force and effect with respect to each
Guarantor or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the
invalidity or unenforceability of the Guaranty, or any Guarantor shall fail to
comply with any of the terms and provisions of the Guaranty, or any Guarantor
shall deny that it has any further liability under the Guaranty, or shall give
notice to such effect.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
                 ----------------------------------------------

         8.1 ACCELERATION. If any Default described in Section 7.6 or 7.7 occurs
with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder shall automatically terminate and the Obligations shall immediately
become due and payable without any election or action on the part of the Agent
or any Lender. If any other Default occurs, the Required Lenders (or the Agent
with the consent of the Required Lenders) may terminate or suspend the
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, or declare the Obligations
to be due and payable, or both, whereupon the Obligations shall become
immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of
any kind, all of which the Borrower hereby expressly waives.

                  If, within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the
Obligations or termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans
hereunder as a result of any Default (other than any Default as described in
Section 7.6 or 7.7 with respect to the Borrower) and

                                       37
<PAGE>   44

before any judgment or decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have
been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall
so direct, the Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such
acceleration and/or termination.

         8.2 AMENDMENTS. Subject to the provisions of this Article VIII, the
Required Lenders (or the Agent with the consent in writing of the Required
Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or changing
in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or waiving any
Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall,
without the consent of all of the Lenders:

         (i)      Extend the final maturity of any Loan or forgive all or any
                  portion of the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
                  extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon.

         (ii)     Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required
                  Lenders.

         (iii)    Extend the Facility Termination Date, or reduce the amount or
                  extend the payment date for, the mandatory payments required
                  under Section 2.2, or increase the amount of the Commitment of
                  any Lender hereunder, or permit the Borrower to assign its
                  rights under this Agreement.

         (iv)     Amend this Section 8.2.

         No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent
shall be effective without the written consent of the Agent. The Agent may waive
payment of the fee required under Section 12.3.2 without obtaining the consent
of any other party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
Schedule 4 attached hereto may be amended in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.19.

         8.3 PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS. No delay or omission of the Lenders or the
Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or
be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and the
making of a Loan notwithstanding the existence of a Default or the inability of
the Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Loan shall not
constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any
such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.2, and then only
to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in
the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be
available to the Agent and the Lenders until the Obligations have been paid in
full.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS
                               ------------------

         9.1 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS. All representations and warranties of
the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the making of the Loans
herein contemplated.

                                       38
<PAGE>   45

         9.2 GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION. Anything contained in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to
the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any
applicable statute or regulation.

         9.3 HEADINGS. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of
the provisions of the Loan Documents.

         9.4 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement
and understanding among the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders and supersede
all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Agent and the
Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.

         9.5 SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS; BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. The respective
obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender
shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which the
Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any Lender to perform any of
its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any
right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and
their respective successors and assigns, provided, however, that the parties
hereto expressly agree that the Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the
provisions of Sections 9.6, 9.10 and 10.11 to the extent specifically set forth
therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf
and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.

         9.6 EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION.

         (i) The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent and the Arranger for any
costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees
and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of
the Agent) paid or incurred by the Agent or the Arranger in connection with the
preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, distribution
(including, without limitation, via the internet), review, amendment,
modification, and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower also agrees
to reimburse the Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders for any costs, internal
charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees and time charges
of attorneys for the Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, which attorneys may be
employees of the Agent, the Arranger or the Lenders) paid or incurred by the
Agent, the Arranger or any Lender in connection with the collection and
enforcement of the Loan Documents.

         (ii) The Borrower hereby further agrees to indemnify the Agent, the
Arranger, each Lender, their respective affiliates, and each of their directors,
officers and employees against all losses, claims, damages, penalties,
judgments, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, all expenses
of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Agent, the Arranger,
any Lender or any affiliate is a party thereto) which any of them may pay or
incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents,
the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application or
proposed application of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder except to the extent
that they are determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or

                                       39
<PAGE>   46

willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification. The obligations of the
Borrower under this Section 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

         9.7 NUMBERS OF DOCUMENTS. All statements, notices, closing documents,
and requests hereunder shall be furnished to the Agent with sufficient
counterparts so that the Agent may furnish one to each of the Lenders.

         9.8 ACCOUNTING. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all
accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting
determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles. If any changes in generally accepted accounting principles are
hereafter required or permitted and are adopted by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries with the agreement of its independent certified public accountants
and such changes result in a change in the method of calculation of any of the
financial covenants, tests, restrictions or standards herein or in the related
definitions or terms used therein ("ACCOUNTING CHANGES"), the parties hereto
agree, at the Borrower's request, to enter into negotiations, in good faith, in
order to amend such provisions in a credit neutral manner so as to reflect
equitably such changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating
the Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' financial condition shall be the same after
such changes as if such changes had not been made; provided, however, until such
provisions are amended in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and the Required Lenders, no Accounting Change shall be given effect in
such calculations and all financial statements and reports required to be
delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting
Principles without taking into account such Accounting Changes. In the event
such amendment is entered into, all references in this Agreement to Agreement
Accounting Principles shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as of
the date of such amendment.

         9.9 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Any provision in any Loan Document that
is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall,
as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without
affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation,
enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to
this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.

         9.10 NONLIABILITY OF LENDERS. The relationship between the Borrower on
the one hand and the Lenders and the Agent on the other hand shall be solely
that of borrower and lender. Neither the Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender
shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. Neither the Agent,
the Arranger nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to
review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of the
Borrower's business or operations. The Borrower agrees that neither the Agent,
the Arranger nor any Lender shall have liability to the Borrower (whether
sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by the Borrower in
connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the transactions
contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act,
omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in
a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such
losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party
from which recovery is sought. Neither the Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender
shall have any liability with respect to, and the Borrower hereby waives,
releases and agrees not to sue for, any special, indirect, consequential or
punitive

                                       40
<PAGE>   47

damages suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or
in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated
thereby.

         9.11 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Lender agrees to hold any confidential
information which it may receive from the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement in
confidence, except for disclosure (i) to its Affiliates and to other Lenders and
their respective Affiliates, (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other
professional advisors to such Lender or to a Transferee, (iii) to regulatory
officials, (iv) to any Person as requested pursuant to or as required by law,
regulation, or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal
proceeding to which such Lender is a party, (vi) to such Lender's direct or
indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements or to legal counsel,
accountants and other professional advisors to such counterparties, and (vii)
permitted by Section 12.4.

         9.12 NONRELIANCE. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying
on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System) for the repayment of the Loans provided
for herein.

         9.13 DISCLOSURE. The Borrower and each Lender hereby acknowledge and
agree that Bank One and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments
in, make other loans to or have other relationships with the Borrower and its
Affiliates.

         9.14 SUBORDINATION OF INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS. The Borrower agrees
that any and all claims against any of its Subsidiaries that is a Guarantor with
respect to any "Intercompany Indebtedness" (as hereinafter defined), any
endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Obligations,
or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and subject in right of
payment to the prior payment, in full and in cash, of all Obligations.
Notwithstanding any right of the Borrower to ask, demand, sue for, take or
receive any payment from any Guarantor, all rights, liens and security interests
of the Borrower, whether now or hereafter arising and howsoever existing, in any
assets of any Guarantor (whether constituting part of collateral given to any
Lender or the Agent to secure payment of all or any part of the Obligations or
otherwise) shall be and are subordinated to the rights of the Lender and the
Agent in those assets. The Borrower shall not have any right to possession of
any such asset or to foreclose upon any such asset, whether by judicial action
or otherwise, unless and until all of the Obligations (other than contingent
indemnity obligations) shall have been fully paid and satisfied (in cash) and
all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among the Borrower and
the Lenders have been terminated. If all or any part of the assets of any
Guarantor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or
application to the creditors of such Guarantor, whether partial or complete,
voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy,
arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other
action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Guarantor is dissolved or
if substantially all of the assets of any such Guarantor are sold, then, and in
any such event (such events being herein referred to as an "INSOLVENCY EVENT"),
any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities
or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to
any indebtedness of any Guarantor to the Borrower ("INTERCOMPANY INDEBTEDNESS")
shall be paid or delivered directly to the Agent for application on any of the
Obligations, due or to become due, until such Obligations (other than contingent
indemnity obligations) shall have first been fully paid and satisfied (in cash).
Should any payment, distribution, security or

                                       41
<PAGE>   48

instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the Borrower upon or with respect
to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the
satisfaction of all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnity
obligations) and the termination of all financing arrangements pursuant to any
Loan Document among the Borrower and the Lenders, the Borrower shall receive and
hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Lenders and shall
forthwith deliver the same to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in
precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the
Borrower where necessary), for application to any of the Obligations, due or not
due, and, until so delivered, the same shall be held in trust by the Borrower as
the property of the Lenders. If the Borrower fails to make any such endorsement
or assignment to the Agent, the Agent or any of its officers or employees is
irrevocably authorized to make the same. The Borrower agrees that until the
Obligations (other than the contingent indemnity obligations) have been paid in
full (in cash) and satisfied and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan
Document among the Borrower and the Lenders have been terminated, the Borrower
will not assign or transfer to any Person (other than the Agent) any claim the
Borrower has or may have against any Guarantor.

                                   ARTICLE X

                                    THE AGENT
                                    ---------

         10.1 APPOINTMENT; NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP. Bank One, NA is hereby
appointed by each of the Lenders as its contractual representative (herein
referred to as the "AGENT") hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and
each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Agent to act as the contractual
representative of such Lender with the rights and duties expressly set forth
herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Agent agrees to act as such
contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article
X. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term "Agent," it is expressly
understood and agreed that the Agent shall not have any fiduciary
responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and that the Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative
of the Lenders with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders'
contractual representative, the Agent (i) does not hereby assume any fiduciary
duties to any of the Lenders, (ii) is a "representative" of the Lenders within
the meaning of Section 9-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code and (iii) is acting
as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to
those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each
of the Lenders hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Agent on any agency
theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of
which claims each Lender hereby waives.

         10.2 POWERS. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under
the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of
each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The Agent shall have no implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the
Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by
the Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.

         10.3 GENERAL IMMUNITY. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors,
officers, agents or employees shall be liable to the Borrower, the Lenders or
any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder
or under any other Loan Document or in connection

                                       42
<PAGE>   49

herewith or therewith except to the extent such action or inaction is determined
in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have
arisen from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.

         10.4 NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOANS, RECITALS, ETC. Neither the Agent nor
any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or
have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (a) any statement, warranty
or representation made in connection with any Loan Document or any borrowing
hereunder; (b) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or
agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document, including, without
limitation, any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to each
Lender; (c) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article IV, except
receipt of items required to be delivered solely to the Agent; (d) the existence
or possible existence of any Default or Unmatured Default; (e) the validity,
enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or genuineness of any Loan Document
or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection therewith; (f) the
value, sufficiency, creation, perfection or priority of any Lien in any
collateral security; or (g) the financial condition of the Borrower or any
guarantor of any of the Obligations or of any of the Borrower's or any such
guarantor's respective Subsidiaries. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose to
the Lenders information that is not required to be furnished by the Borrower to
the Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by the Borrower to the
Agent (either in its capacity as Agent or in its individual capacity).

         10.5 ACTION ON INSTRUCTIONS OF LENDERS. The Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any
other Loan Document in accordance with written instructions signed by the
Required Lenders, and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act
pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders. The Lenders hereby
acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no duty to take any discretionary
action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by
the Required Lenders. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action hereunder and under any other Loan Document unless it shall
first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders pro rata against any and
all liability, cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or
continuing to take any such action.

         10.6 EMPLOYMENT OF AGENTS AND COUNSEL. The Agent may execute any of its
duties as Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through
employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the
Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized
agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall be entitled to advice of
counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Lenders
and all matters pertaining to the Agent's duties hereunder and under any other
Loan Document.

         10.7 RELIANCE ON DOCUMENTS; COUNSEL. The Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to
legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel
may be employees of the Agent.

                                       43
<PAGE>   50

         10.8 AGENT'S REIMBURSEMENT AND INDEMNIFICATION. The Lenders agree to
reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their
Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (i) for any amounts not
reimbursed by the Borrower for which the Agent is entitled to reimbursement by
the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by
the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation,
execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of the Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, for any expenses incurred by the Agent in
connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or
more of the Lenders) and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan
Documents or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the
transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, for any such
amounts incurred by or asserted against the Agent in connection with any dispute
between the Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders), or the
enforcement of any of the terms of the Loan Documents or of any such other
documents, provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing
to the extent any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable judgment
by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of the Agent and (ii) any indemnification required
pursuant to Section 3.5(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 10.8, be paid by the relevant Lender in accordance with the provisions
thereof. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.8 shall survive
payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

         10.9 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge
or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default hereunder unless
the Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to
this Agreement describing such Default or Unmatured Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Agent receives such
a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders.

         10.10 RIGHTS AS A LENDER. In the event the Agent is a Lender, the Agent
shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan
Document with respect to its Commitment and its Loans as any Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the term "Lender" or
"Lenders" shall, at any time when the Agent is a Lender, unless the context
otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and
its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in
any kind of trust, debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those
contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, with the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is not
restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person. The Agent, in its
individual capacity, is not obligated to remain a Lender.

         10.11 LENDER CREDIT DECISION. Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other
Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrower and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on such
documents

                                       44
<PAGE>   51

and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents.

         10.12 SUCCESSOR AGENT. The Agent may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, such resignation to be
effective upon the appointment of a successor Agent or, if no successor Agent
has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its
intention to resign. The Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause
by written notice received by the Agent from the Required Lenders, such removal
to be effective on the date specified by the Required Lenders. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint, on
behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Agent. If no successor Agent
shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders within thirty days after
the resigning Agent's giving notice of its intention to resign, then the
resigning Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a
successor Agent. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Agent may at any
time without the consent of the Borrower or any Lender, appoint any of its
Affiliates which is a commercial bank as a successor Agent hereunder. If the
Agent has resigned or been removed and no successor Agent has been appointed,
the Lenders may perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder and the Borrower
shall make all payments in respect of the Obligations to the applicable Lender
and for all other purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders. No successor
Agent shall be deemed to be appointed hereunder until such successor Agent has
accepted the appointment. Any such successor Agent shall be a commercial bank
having capital and retained earnings of at least $100,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such
successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the
rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed Agent. Upon
the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of the Agent, the resigning or
removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and
under the Loan Documents. After the effectiveness of the resignation or removal
of an Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for the
benefit of such Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents. In the event that there is a successor to the Agent by merger, or the
Agent assigns its duties and obligations to an Affiliate pursuant to this
Section 10.12, then the term "Prime Rate" as used in this Agreement shall mean
the prime rate, base rate or other analogous rate of the new Agent.

         10.13 DELEGATION TO AFFILIATES. The Borrower and the Lenders agree that
the Agent may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its
Affiliates. Any such Affiliate (and such Affiliate's directors, officers, agents
and employees) which performs duties in connection with this Agreement shall be
entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification, waiver and other
protective provisions to which the Agent is entitled under Articles IX and X.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
                            ------------------------

11.1 SETOFF. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the
Lenders under applicable law, if the Borrower becomes insolvent, however
evidenced, or any Default occurs, any and all deposits (including all account
balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or
available) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender

                                       45
<PAGE>   52

or any Affiliate of any Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower
may be offset and applied toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such
Lender, whether or not the Obligations, or any part thereof, shall then be due.

         11.2 RATABLE PAYMENTS. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise,
has payment made to it upon its Loans (other than payments received pursuant to
Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5) in a greater proportion than that received by any
other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of
the Loans held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will
hold its ratable proportion of Loans. If any Lender, whether in connection with
setoff or amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives
collateral or other protection for its Obligations or such amounts which may be
subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such action
necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such collateral ratably
in proportion to their Loans. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal
process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
                -------------------------------------------------

         12.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the
Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, except that (i) the
Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the
Loan Documents and (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance
with Section 12.3. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that clause (ii) of
this Section 12.1 relates only to absolute assignments and does not prohibit
assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation, (x) any
pledge or assignment by any Lender of all or any portion of its rights under
this Agreement and any Note to a Federal Reserve Bank or (y) in the case of a
Lender which is a fund, any pledge or assignment of all or any portion of its
rights under this Agreement and any Note to its trustee in support of its
obligations to its trustee; provided, however, that no such pledge or assignment
creating a security interest shall release the transferor Lender from its
obligations hereunder unless and until the parties thereto have complied with
the provisions of Section 12.3. The Agent may treat the Person which made any
Loan or which holds any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless
and until such Person complies with Section 12.3; provided, however, that the
Agent may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) follow instructions
from the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note to direct payments
relating to such Loan or Note to another Person. Any assignee of the rights to
any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such assignment to be bound by all
the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents. Any request, authority or
consent of any Person, who at the time of making such request or giving such
authority or consent is the owner of the rights to any Loan (whether or not a
Note has been issued in evidence thereof), shall be conclusive and binding on
any subsequent holder or assignee of the rights to such Loan.

         12.2 PARTICIPATIONS.

                  12.2.1 PERMITTED PARTICIPANTS; EFFECT. Any Lender may, in the
         ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law,
         at any time sell to one or more banks

                                       46
<PAGE>   53

         or other entities ("PARTICIPANTS") participating interests in any Loan
         owing to such Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of
         such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under the Loan
         Documents. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating
         interests to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under the Loan
         Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely
         responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
         obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner of its Loans and the
         holder of any Note issued to it in evidence thereof for all purposes
         under the Loan Documents, all amounts payable by the Borrower under
         this Agreement shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such
         participating interests, and the Borrower and the Agent shall continue
         to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
         Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.

                  12.2.2 VOTING RIGHTS. Each Lender shall retain the sole right
         to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment,
         modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other
         than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Loan or
         Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which would
         require consent of all Lenders pursuant to the terms of Section 8.2 or
         of any other Loan Document.

                  12.2.3 BENEFIT OF SETOFF. The Borrower agrees that each
         Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided in
         Section 11.1 in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing
         under the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its
         participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under the
         Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the right of
         setoff provided in Section 11.1 with respect to the amount of
         participating interests sold to each Participant. The Lenders agree to
         share with each Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the
         right of setoff provided in Section 11.1, agrees to share with each
         Lender, any amount received pursuant to the exercise of its right of
         setoff, such amounts to be shared in accordance with Section 11.2 as if
         each Participant were a Lender.

         12.3 ASSIGNMENTS.

                  12.3.1 PERMITTED ASSIGNMENTS. Any Lender may, in the ordinary
         course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any
         time assign to one or more banks or other entities ("PURCHASERS") all
         or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.
         Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or in
         such other form as may be agreed to by the parties thereto. The consent
         of the Borrower and the Agent shall be required prior to an assignment
         becoming effective with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or
         an Affiliate thereof. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
         or delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is
         not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof shall (unless each of the Borrower
         and the Agent otherwise consents) be in an amount not less than the
         lesser of (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) the remaining amount of the assigning
         Lender's Commitment (calculated as at the date of such assignment) or
         outstanding Loans (if the applicable Commitment has been terminated).
         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no consent of the

                                       47
<PAGE>   54

         Borrower shall be required in connection with any assignment which
         occurs after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default.

                  12.3.2 EFFECT; EFFECTIVE DATE. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent
         of an assignment, together with any consents required by Section
         12.3.1, and (ii) payment of a $4,000 fee to the Agent for processing
         such assignment (unless such fee is waived by the Agent), such
         assignment shall become effective on the effective date specified in
         such assignment. The assignment shall contain a representation by the
         Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration used to make the
         purchase of the Commitment and Loans under the applicable assignment
         agreement constitutes "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that the
         rights and interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents
         will not be "plan assets" under ERISA. On and after the effective date
         of such assignment, such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Lender
         party to this Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by or on
         behalf of the Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of
         a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as if it were an
         original party hereto, and no further consent or action by the
         Borrower, the Lenders or the Agent shall be required to release the
         transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the Aggregate
         Commitment and Loans assigned to such Purchaser. Upon the consummation
         of any assignment to a Purchaser pursuant to this Section 12.3.2, the
         transferor Lender, the Agent and the Borrower shall, if the transferor
         Lender or the Purchaser desires that its Loans be evidenced by Notes,
         make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes or, as appropriate,
         replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new Notes
         or, as appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser, in
         each case in principal amounts reflecting their respective Commitments,
         as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

         12.4 DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. The Borrower authorizes each Lender
to disclose to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an
interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any
prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender's possession
concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including
without limitation any information contained in any Reports; provided that each
Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound by Section 9.11 of this
Agreement.

         12.5 TAX TREATMENT. If any interest in any Loan Document is transferred
to any Transferee which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other
than the United States or any State thereof, the transferor Lender shall cause
such Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer, to comply
with the provisions of Section 3.5(iv).

                                       48
<PAGE>   55

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                     NOTICES
                                     -------

         13.1 NOTICES. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2.14 with
respect to borrowing notices, all notices, requests and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission or
similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x) in the case of the
Borrower or the Agent, at its address or facsimile number set forth on the
signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any Lender, at its address or
facsimile number set forth below its signature hereto or (z) in the case of any
party, at such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter
specify for the purpose by notice to the Agent and the Borrower in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 13.1. Each such notice, request or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile transmission, when
transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section and confirmation
of receipt is received, (ii) if given by mail, 72 hours after such communication
is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as
aforesaid, or (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address
specified in this Section; provided that notices to the Agent under Article II
shall not be effective until received. Notices, requests or other communications
delivered by or to any party hereunder by electronic transmission or e-mail
shall be for informational purposes only and shall not constitute effective
deliveries hereunder.

         13.2 CHANGE OF ADDRESS. The Borrower, the Agent and any Lender may each
change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the
other parties hereto.

                                  ARTICLE XIV

                                  COUNTERPARTS
                                  ------------

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties
hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This
Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the Borrower, the
Agent and the Lenders and each party has notified the Agent by facsimile
transmission or telephone that it has taken such action.

                                   ARTICLE XV

          CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
          ------------------------------------------------------------

         15.1 CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A
CONTRARY EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 735 ILCS SECTION 105/5-1 ET
SEQ., BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL
BANKS.

         15.2 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS
TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY

                                       49
<PAGE>   56

UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR ILLINOIS STATE COURT SITTING IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN
ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND
THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION
OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR ANY
LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE BORROWER AGAINST THE AGENT OR ANY
LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH
ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

         15.3 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER
HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY
WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE
RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

               The remainder of this page is intentionally blank.

                                       50
<PAGE>   57

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent have
executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

                               ROADWAY EXPRESS, INC.

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

                                          1077 Gorge Blvd.
                                          Akron, OH 44310

                               Attention:    Arthur Zullo
                               Telephone:    (330) 258-6106
                               FAX:          (330) 258-6230

Commitments
$50,000,000                    BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago),
                               Individually and as Agent

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

                               Title:

                                          1 Bank One Plaza
                                          Mail Suite IL1-0374, 10th Floor
                                          Chicago, Illinois  60670
                               Attention:    Gregory Sjullie
                               Telephone:    (312) 732-8872
                               FAX:          (312) 732-3885

                                       51

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