Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                           MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION

                                       AND

                          MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC

                                 AS RIGHTS AGENT

                          SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2002

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Section                                                                                                        Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions....................................................................................1

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent............................................................................7

Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates............................................................................7

Section 4. Form of Right Certificates.............................................................................9

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.....................................................................10

Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
                  Lost or Stolen Right Certificates..............................................................11

Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.........................................12

Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates....................................................14

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.......................................................14

Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date..........................................................................15

Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights..........................16

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares...........................................24

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.................................24

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..............................................................27

Section 15. Rights of Action.....................................................................................27

Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders...........................................................................28

Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder....................................................29

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..........................................................................29

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................................30

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...............................................................................30

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...............................................................................33

Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates...................................................................34
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Section 23. Redemption...........................................................................................34

Section 24. Exchange.............................................................................................35

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................................................37

Section 26. Notices..............................................................................................37

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...........................................................................38

Section 28. Successors...........................................................................................39

Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.................................................39

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...........................................................................39

Section 31. Severability.........................................................................................39

Section 32. Governing Law........................................................................................40

Section 33. Counterparts.........................................................................................40

Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................................................40
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Exhibit A --  Certificate of Designations of
              Series A Junior Participating
              Cumulative Preferred Stock

Exhibit B --  Form of Right Certificate

                                      -ii-

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                          SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This Shareholder Rights Agreement, is dated as of September 16, 2002,
between Monarch Dental Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Mellon Investor Services LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company (the
"Rights Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company desires to provide
shareholders of the Company with the opportunity to benefit from the long-term
prospects and value of the Company and to ensure that shareholders of the
Company receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover
of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, on September 16, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as such term is
hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding as of September 17, 2002 (the
"Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one Right for each share of
Common Stock of the Company issued (whether or not originally issued or sold
from the Company's treasury, except in the case of treasury shares having
associated Rights) between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one ten-thousandth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Company having
the rights, powers and preferences set forth on Exhibit A hereto, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act as
rights agent hereunder, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

         Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:

                  (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is
hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined)
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding,
but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan or
compensation arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (iv)
any Person holding shares of Common Stock of the Company organized, appointed or
established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such employee benefit plan or compensation arrangement (the
Persons described in clauses (i) through (iv) above are

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referred to herein as "Exempt Persons"); provided, however, that the term
"Acquiring Person" shall not include any Grandfathered Person, unless such
Grandfathered Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of a percentage of the shares
of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding equal to or exceeding such
Grandfathered Person's Grandfathered Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing
or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the execution and
delivery of the Letter of Intent (as such term is hereinafter defined) and the
consummation of the Transaction (as such term is defined in the Letter of
Intent) shall not be deemed to have resulted in or caused any of Gryphon
Advisors II, L.L.C., Bright Now! Dental, Inc. or The 180(Degree) Group, LLC or
any of their respective Affiliates or Associates to become an Acquiring Person.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of an acquisition by the Company of Common Stock of the
Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person to 15% (or in
the case of a Grandfathered Person, the Grandfathered Percentage applicable to
such Grandfathered Person) or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company
then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% (or in the case of a Grandfathered Person, the
Grandfathered Percentage applicable to such Grandfathered Person) or more of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by reason of share
purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company,
become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares (other than pursuant to a
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction) of Common Stock of the
Company and immediately thereafter be the Beneficial Owner of 15% (or in the
case of a Grandfathered Person, the Grandfathered Percentage applicable to such
Grandfathered Person) or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person."

         In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, and notwithstanding
anything to the contrary provided in the Agreement including without limitation
in Sections 1(ii), 3(a) or 27, a Person shall not be an "Acquiring Person" if
the Board of Directors of the Company determines at any time that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," has become such without intending to
become an "Acquiring Person," and such Person divests as promptly as practicable
(or within such period of time as the Board of Directors of the Company
determines is reasonable) a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(a).

                  (b) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                  (c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations (the "Rules") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided,
however, that no Person who is a director or officer of the Company shall be
deemed an Affiliate or an Associate of any other director or officer of the
Company solely as a result of his or her position as director or officer of the
Company.

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                  (d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own" and have "Beneficial Ownership" of, any
securities:

                           (i) which such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, Beneficially Owns (as
         determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Rules under the Exchange Act,
         as in effect on the date of this Agreement);

                           (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has:

                                    (A) the right to acquire (whether or not
                  such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
                  passage of time or upon the satisfaction of any conditions or
                  both) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
                  (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements
                  with and between underwriters and selling group members with
                  respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) or upon
                  the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights
                  (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
                  provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
                  "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own" or have
                  "Beneficial Ownership" of, (1) securities tendered pursuant to
                  a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person
                  or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
                  tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; (2)
                  securities issuable upon exercise of these Rights at any time
                  prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event; or (3)
                  securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the
                  occurrence of a Triggering Event, which Rights were acquired
                  by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
                  Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
                  Sections 3(a), 11(i) or 22 hereof; or

                                    (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
                  agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
                  writing); provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
                  the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own" or have
                  "Beneficial Ownership" of, any security under this clause (B)
                  if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
                  security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in
                  response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
                  pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Rules of the Exchange
                  Act and (2) is not also then reportable by such person on
                  Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
                  successor report); or

                                    (C) the right to dispose of pursuant to any
                  agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
                  writing) (other than customary arrangements with and between
                  underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona
                  fide public offering of securities); or

                           (iii) which are Beneficially Owned, directly or
         indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof)
         with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
         has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
         writing) (other than customary agreements with and between

                                       3
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         underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
         public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
         voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (B)
         of Section 1(d)(ii) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the
         Company;

provided, however, that (1) no Person engaged in business as an underwriter of
securities shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of any securities acquired
through such Person's participation as an underwriter in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date
of such acquisition, and (2) no Person who is a director or an officer of the
Company shall be deemed, as a result of his or her position as director or
officer of the Company, the Beneficial Owner of any securities of the Company
that are Beneficially Owned by any other director or officer of the Company.

         For all purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "then outstanding," when
used with reference to the percentage of the then outstanding securities
Beneficially Owned by a Person, shall mean the number of securities then issued
and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually
issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own
hereunder.

                  (e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the
State of New Jersey are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.

                  (f) "Certificate of Incorporation" when used in reference to
the Company shall mean the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as may be
amended from time to time, of the Company.

                  (g) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
p.m., New York, New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York, New York time, on
the next succeeding Business Day.

                  (h) "Common Stock" when used in reference to the Company shall
mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or any other
shares of capital stock of the Company into which such stock shall be
reclassified or changed. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person
other than the Company organized in corporate form shall mean (i) the capital
stock or other equity interest of such Person with the greatest voting power,
(ii) the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or
direct the management of such Person or (iii) if such Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such
first-mentioned Person and which have issued any such outstanding capital stock,
equity securities or equity interest. "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person not organized in corporate form shall mean units of beneficial
interest which (x) shall represent the right to participate generally in the
profits and losses of such Person (including without limitation any flow-through
tax benefits resulting from an ownership interest in such Person) and (y) shall
be entitled to exercise the greatest voting power of such Person or, in the case
of a limited partnership, shall have the power to remove or otherwise replace
the general partner or partners.

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                  (i) "Company" shall mean Monarch Dental Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, subject to the terms of Section 13(a) hereof.

                  (j) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (k) "Depositary Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(c) hereof.

                  (l) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning defined in
Section 3(a) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, the execution and delivery of the Letter of
Intent (as such term is hereinafter defined) and the consummation of the
Transaction (as such term is defined in the Letter of Intent) shall not be
deemed to have resulted in or caused a Distribution Date.

                  (m) "Exempt Person" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Acquiring Person."

                  (n) "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning defined in Section
4(a) hereof.

                  (o) "Expiration Date" and "Final Expiration Date" shall have
the meanings set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

                  (p) "Fair Market Value" of any securities or other property
shall be as determined in accordance with Section 11(d) hereof.

                  (q) "Grandfathered Percentage" shall mean, with respect to any
Grandfathered Person, the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
of the Company that such Grandfathered Person, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Grandfathered Person, Beneficially Owns as of the
Grandfathered Time, plus an additional 1/2%; provided, however, that, in the
event any Grandfathered Person shall sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company after the Grandfathered Time,
the Grandfathered Percentage shall, subsequent to such sale, transfer or
disposition, mean, with respect to such Grandfathered Person, the lesser of (i)
the Grandfathered Percentage as in effect immediately prior to such sale,
transfer or disposition or (ii) the percentage of outstanding shares of Common
Stock of the Company that such Grandfathered Person Beneficially Owns
immediately following such sale, transfer or disposition, plus an additional
1/2%.

                  (r) "Grandfathered Person" shall mean any one or more of the
following Persons: (A) Warren F. Melamed, D.D.S., (B) Europa International Inc.,
Knoll Capital Management L.P. and Fred Knoll (collectively, "Knoll") and (C) any
other Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, is, as of the Grandfathered Time, the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, any Grandfathered Person
who after the Grandfathered Time becomes the Beneficial Owner of less than 15%
of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding shall cease to be
a Grandfathered Person and shall be subject to all of the provisions of this
Agreement in the same manner as any Person who is not and was not a
Grandfathered Person.

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                  (s) "Grandfathered Time" shall mean 6:30 p.m., New York, New
York time, on September 16, 2002.

                  (t) "Group" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (b) of
the definition of "Person."

                  (u) "Person" shall mean (a) an individual, a corporation, a
partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company,
a trust, a business trust, a government or political subdivision, any
unincorporated organization, or any other association or entity including any
successor (by merger or otherwise) thereof or thereto, and (b) a "group" as that
term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

                  (v) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate
of Designations attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                  (w) "Preferred Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

                  (x) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning defined in
Section 13(b) hereof.

                  (y) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning defined in
Section 23 hereof.

                  (z) "Registered Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 13(b) hereof.

                  (aa) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.

                  (bb) "Rights Agent" shall mean (i) Mellon Investor Services
LLC, (ii) its successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 or 21 hereof
or (iii) any additional Person appointed pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

                  (cc) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                  (dd) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (ee) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.

                  (ff) "Section 24(a)(i) Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 24(a)(i) hereof.

                  (gg) "Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 24(a)(ii) hereof.

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                  (hh) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (ii) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the date of the first
public announcement (which for purposes of this definition shall include,
without limitation, the issuance of a press release or the filing of a
publicly-available report or other document with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other governmental agency) by the Company, acting pursuant to
a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, or an Acquiring
Person, subject in each case to the last paragraph of Section 1(a), that an
Acquiring Person has become such.

                  (jj) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests
having ordinary voting power sufficient, in the absence of contingencies, to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions of such corporation or other entity are at the time directly or
indirectly Beneficially Owned or otherwise controlled by such Person either
alone or together with one or more Affiliates of such Person.

                  (kk) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (ll) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.

                  (mm) "Letter of Intent" shall mean that certain letter
agreement, dated September 12, 2002, entered by and among Monarch Dental
Corporation, Gryphon Advisors II, L.L.C., Bright Now! Dental, Inc. and The
180(Degree) Group, LLC.

         Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable. The Company shall give ten (10) days' prior written
notice to the Rights Agent of the appointment of one or more Co-Rights Agents.
The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be
liable for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent.

         Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.

                  (a) From the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth calendar day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the
Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later calendar day, if any,
as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine in its sole discretion)
after the date a tender or exchange offer by any Person, other than an Exempt
Person, is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a)
of the Exchange Act, or any successor rule, if, upon consummation thereof, such
Person could become the Beneficial Owner of 15% (or in the case of a
Grandfathered Person, the Grandfathered Percentage applicable to such
Grandfathered Person) or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the issuance of the Rights) (the earliest of such dates being
herein

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referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for the
Common Stock of the Company registered in the names of the holders of the Common
Stock of the Company (which certificates for Common Stock of the Company shall
be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates,
and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
the underlying shares of Common Stock of the Company. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, the Company will notify the Rights Agent in writing
of the occurrence thereof and the Rights Agent shall, at the Company's expense,
send, by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of
the Common Stock of the Company as of the Close of Business on the Distribution
Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or
more certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Right
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock of the
Company so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein; provided, however,
that if the Rights Agent is not then also the transfer agent for the Common
Stock of the Company, the Company shall provide the Rights Agent with a
shareholder list and all other information relevant to determining the record
holders of the Rights that the Rights Agent may reasonably request. In the event
that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock of the
Company has been made pursuant to Section 11(o) hereof, the Company may make the
necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a)
hereof) at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, so that Right
Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash
is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Close of Business
on the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates. Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights
Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has
not occurred.

                  (b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock of the
Company issued prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date, the Rights
will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock of the Company on or
until the Distribution Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or
termination of the Rights), and the registered holders of the Common Stock of
the Company also shall be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until
the Distribution Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or termination of
the Rights), the transfer of any of the certificates for the Common Stock of the
Company outstanding prior to the date of this Agreement shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company
represented by such certificate.

                  (c) Certificates for the Common Stock of the Company issued
after the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights, shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights, and shall bear a legend, substantially in the form set
forth below:

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
                  to certain Rights as set forth in a Shareholder Rights
                  Agreement between Monarch Dental Corporation and Mellon
                  Investor Services LLC (or any successor thereto), as Rights
                  Agent, dated as of September 16, 2002, as amended, restated,
                  renewed, supplemented or extended from time to time (the
                  "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
                  incorporated herein by

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
                  offices of Monarch Dental Corporation. Under certain
                  circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
                  Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no
                  longer be evidenced by this certificate. Monarch Dental
                  Corporation may redeem the Rights at a redemption price of
                  $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment, under the terms of the
                  Rights Agreement. Monarch Dental Corporation will mail to the
                  holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as
                  in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly
                  after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
                  circumstances, Rights issued to or held by Acquiring Persons
                  or any Affiliates or Associates thereof (as defined in the
                  Rights Agreement), and any subsequent holder of such Rights,
                  may become null and void. The Rights shall not be exercisable,
                  and shall be void so long as held, by a holder in any
                  jurisdiction where the requisite qualification, if any, to the
                  issuance to such holder, or the exercise by such holder, of
                  the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained
                  or be obtainable.

         With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, the
Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the
Rights), and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company
represented by such certificates. In the event that the Company purchases or
acquires any shares of Common Stock of the Company after the Record Date but
prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock of
the Company shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock of
the Company which are no longer outstanding. The failure to print the foregoing
legend on any such certificate representing Common Stock of the Company or any
defect therein shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the application or
interpretation of the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof.

         Section 4. Form of Right Certificates.

                  (a) The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase shares and of assignment and certificate to be printed on the reverse
thereof) shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which do
not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or responsibilities of the Rights
Agent as set forth in this Agreement) and as are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law, rule or regulation or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to
customary usage. The Right Certificates shall be in a machine printable format
and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates, whenever
distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date, shall show the date of
countersignature, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to

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purchase such number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (the "Exercise
Price"), but the number of such shares and the Exercise Price shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.

                  (b) Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person)
who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing)
regarding the transferred Rights, the shares of Common Stock of the Company
associated with such Rights or the Company or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section
7(e) hereof, and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6, Section 11
or Section 22 upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other
Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall have deleted therefrom the
second sentence of the existing legend on such Right Certificate and in
substitution therefor shall contain (to the extent the Rights Agent has been
notified thereof) the following legend:

                  The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were
                  Beneficially Owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
                  Person or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring Person
                  (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). This
                  Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become
                  null and void under certain circumstances as specified in
                  Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

         The Company shall give notice to the Rights Agent promptly after it
becomes aware of the existence and identity of any Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof. The Company shall instruct the Rights Agent in
writing of the Rights which should be so legended. The failure to print the
foregoing legend on any such Right Certificate or any defect therein shall not
affect in any manner whatsoever the application or interpretation of the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof.

         Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.

                  (a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, or its President or any Vice
President and by its Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or by its Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall
have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be
attested to by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually
countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent and shall not be
valid for any purpose unless so

                                       10
<PAGE>

countersigned, and such countersignature upon any Right Certificate shall be
conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Right Certificate has been
duly countersigned as required hereunder. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, and issued and
delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who
signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company;
and any Right Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person
who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the
date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an
officer.

                  (b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights
Agent of written notice of the Distribution Date pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof
and, if the Rights Agent is not then also the transfer agent for the Common
Stock of the Company, all information reasonably requested by the Rights Agent
pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept,
at one of its offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Right
Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of
the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.

         Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.

                  (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e)
and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Certificates, entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of one ten-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (or following a Triggering Event, preferred stock,
cash, property, debt securities, Common Stock of the Company or any combination
thereof) as the Right Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase and at the same Exercise Price. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged, with the form of assignment and certificate duly executed, at the
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever
with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the
registered holder shall have properly completed and signed the certificate
contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right
Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of
the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14
hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right
Certificate or Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company
may require payment by the registered holder of a Right Certificate, of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be

                                       11
<PAGE>

imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take
any action under any Section of this Agreement which requires the payment by a
Rights holder of applicable taxes and governmental charges unless and until the
Rights Agent is in good faith reasonably satisfied that all such taxes and/or
charges have been paid.

                  (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate, if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Right Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

         Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.

                  (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Exercise
Price for the total number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
(or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercised, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the
Close of Business on the tenth anniversary of the Record Date (the "Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in
Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as
provided in Section 24 hereof (the earlier of (i), (ii) or (iii) being herein
referred to as the "Expiration Date"). Except as set forth in Section 7(e)
hereof and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Person who
prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock
of the Company may exercise all of the rights of a registered holder of a Right
Certificate with respect to the Rights associated with such shares of Common
Stock of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, as of
the date such Person becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock of the
Company.

                  (b) The Exercise Price for each one ten-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be Thirty
United States Dollars (U.S. $30.00), shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof and shall be payable in
lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(c)
below.

                  (c) As promptly as practicable following the Distribution
Date, the Company shall deposit with a corporation, trust, bank or similar
institution in good standing organized under the laws of the United States or
any State of the United States, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by a federal or state authority (such institution is hereinafter
referred to as the

                                       12
<PAGE>

"Depositary Agent"), certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock
that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights and the Company shall cause
such Depositary Agent to enter into an agreement pursuant to which the
Depositary Agent shall issue receipts representing interests in the shares of
Preferred Stock so deposited. Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on
the reverse side thereof duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise
Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable tax
or charge (as determined by the Rights Agent) by certified check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company or by money order, the Rights Agent shall,
subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the
Depositary Agent (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the Depositary
Agent) depositary receipts or certificates for the number of one ten-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizes the Depositary Agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid
in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause
the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt promptly deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event
that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock)
of the Company, pay cash or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash or other property are available for distribution by the Rights
Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement. The payment of the
Exercise Price may be made by certified or bank check payable to the order of
the Company, or by money order or wire transfer of immediately available funds
to the account of the Company (provided that prompt written notice of such wire
transfer shall be given by the holder of the related Right to the Rights Agent).

                  (d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of
such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Sections 6 and 14 hereof.

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
Section 13 Event, any Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the
Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a
transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders
of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights, the shares of Common Stock of the Company
associated with such Rights or the Company, or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined is part of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further action and no holder of

                                       13
<PAGE>

such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights,
whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall
notify the Rights Agent when this Section 7(e) applies and shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other
Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person or any
transferee of any of them hereunder.

                  (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the
occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such
registered holder shall have (i) duly and properly completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the
reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii)
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company or
the Rights Agent shall reasonably request.

         Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Right Certificates to the Company.

         Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.

                  (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock or any authorized and issued shares of Preferred Stock held in
its treasury, the number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to
permit the exercise in full of all outstanding and exercisable Rights. Upon the
occurrence of any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate number of
shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights in
excess of the number then reserved, the Company shall make appropriate increases
in the number of shares so reserved.

                  (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and
after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that
the Board of Directors of the Company determines that it is reasonably likely
that the Rights will be exercised), all shares of Preferred Stock issued or
reserved for issuance to be listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon the
principal national securities exchange, if any, upon which the Common Stock of
the Company is listed or, if the principal market for the Common Stock of the
Company is not on any national securities exchange, to be eligible for quotation
on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ") or any successor thereto or other comparable quotation system.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                  (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the earliest date after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii)
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain
effective (with a prospectus that at all times meets the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no
longer exercisable for such securities or (B) the Expiration Date. The Company
will also take such action as may be appropriate under, and which will ensure
compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in
connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily
suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date
determined in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at
such time as the suspension is no longer in effect, in each case with prompt
written notice to the Rights Agent. Notwithstanding any such provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained.

                  (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock
delivered upon the exercise of the Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates or depositary receipts for such shares (subject to payment of the
Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.

                  (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all taxes and governmental charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any certificates for shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights. The
Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge which may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a person
other than, or in respect of the issuance or delivery of securities in a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificates evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for
securities in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise
of any Rights until such tax or charge shall have been paid (any such tax or
charge being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax or charge is due.

         Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Stock (including any fraction of a share of Preferred
Stock) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to
have become the holder of record of the shares of Preferred Stock represented
thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right
Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the
Exercise Price (and any applicable taxes and charges) was made; provided,
however, that if the date of

                                       15
<PAGE>

such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer
books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the
record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the
Company are open; and further provided, however, that if delivery of shares of
Preferred Stock is delayed pursuant to Section 9(c), such Person shall be deemed
to have become the record holder of such shares of Preferred Stock only when
such shares first become deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the Right
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to
any rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the
Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote,
to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of
the Company, except as provided herein.

         Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.

                  (a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
         date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock
         payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding
         Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a
         smaller number of shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
         in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
         reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
         the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
         otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the
         Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
         dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
         reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock
         issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
         holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to
         receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which,
         if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at
         a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were
         open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled
         to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
         reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the
         consideration to be paid upon the exercise of a Right be less than the
         aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
         issuable upon exercise of a Right. If an event occurs which would
         require an adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
         hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
         in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
         pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                      (ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 24 hereof, in
         the event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and
         Associates, shall become an Acquiring Person, then, promptly following
         any such occurrence (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), proper provision
         shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in
         Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon
         exercise thereof at the then current Exercise Price in accordance with
         the terms of this Agreement, such number of shares of Preferred Stock
         of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by

                                       16
<PAGE>

         (x) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the then number of
         one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was
         exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
         11(a)(ii) Event, whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and
         dividing that product by (y) 50% of the Fair Market Value per one
         ten-thousandth of a share of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
         to Section 11(d)) on the date of the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
         Event (such number of shares being referred to as the "Adjustment
         Shares").

                  (iii) In lieu of issuing any shares of Preferred Stock in
         accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company, acting by or
         pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, may,
         and in the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock which are
         authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but not
         outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon
         exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full
         of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of
         this Section 11(a), the Company, acting by or pursuant to a resolution
         of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall: (A) determine the
         excess of (X) the Fair Market Value of the Adjustment Shares issuable
         upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (Y) the
         Exercise Price attributable to each Right (such excess being referred
         to as the "Spread") and (B) with respect to all or a portion of each
         Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to
         substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable
         Exercise Price, (1) Common Stock of the Company, (2) cash, (3) a
         reduction in the Exercise Price, (4) Preferred Stock Equivalents which
         the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value
         as shares of Common Stock of the Company, (5) debt securities of the
         Company, (6) other assets or securities of the Company or (7) any
         combination of the foregoing which, when added to any shares of
         Preferred Stock issued upon such exercise, has an aggregate value equal
         to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by
         the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
         Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company shall
         not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause
         (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
         occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
         Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
         later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii)
         Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon
         the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of
         the Exercise Price, shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available)
         and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
         aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the
         Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
         additional shares of Preferred Stock could be authorized for issuance
         upon exercise in full of the Rights, the 30-day period set forth above
         may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90)
         days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the
         Company may seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such
         additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, being referred
         to herein as the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company
         determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or
         second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall
         provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply
         uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the
         exercisability of the Rights until the

                                       17
<PAGE>

         expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
         authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
         form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
         determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
         Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
         exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended and a
         public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
         effect (with prompt written notice of each such announcement to the
         Rights Agent). For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of
         the Preferred Stock shall be the Fair Market Value (as determined
         pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Preferred Stock on
         the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any Preferred Stock
         Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Preferred
         Stock on such date.

                  (b) If the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them
(for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or securities having the
same or more favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of
Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock Equivalents")) or securities convertible into
Preferred Stock or Preferred Stock Equivalents at a price per share of Preferred
Stock or per share of Preferred Stock Equivalents (or having a conversion price
per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Preferred Stock
Equivalents) less than the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Exercise
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Preferred Stock Equivalents to be offered (and the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such Fair Market Value and the denominator of which
shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and Preferred
Stock Equivalents to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of a Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of stock of the
Company issuable upon exercise of a Right. In case such subscription price may
be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than
cash, the value of such consideration shall be the Fair Market Value thereof
determined in accordance with Section 11(d) hereof. Shares of Preferred Stock
owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
rights or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be
the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.

                  (c) If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular periodic cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings
of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or
convertible securities,

                                       18
<PAGE>

subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)),
the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Fair Market Value (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per one ten-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the Fair Market Value (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the portion of the cash, assets
or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such convertible
securities, subscription rights or warrants applicable to one ten-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be the Fair Market
Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per one ten-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of a Right be less than the aggregate
par value of the shares of stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of a
Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date
is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise
Price shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.

                  (d) For the purpose of this Agreement, the "Fair Market Value"
of any share of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any other stock or any Right or
other security or any other property shall be determined as provided in this
Section 11(d).

                           (i) In the case of a publicly-traded stock or other
         security, the Fair Market Value on any date shall be deemed to be the
         average of the daily closing prices per share of such stock or per unit
         of such other security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such
         term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to but not including
         such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Fair Market
         Value per share of any share of stock is determined during a period
         following the announcement by the issuer of such stock of (x) a
         dividend or distribution on such stock payable in shares of such stock
         or securities convertible into shares of such stock or (y) any
         subdivision, combination or reclassification of such stock, and prior
         to the expiration of the 30 Trading Day period after the ex-dividend
         date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such
         subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such
         case, the Fair Market Value shall be properly adjusted to take into
         account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be
         the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
         on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular
         way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
         transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
         admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the
         securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
         Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
         reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
         national securities exchange on which such security is listed or
         admitted to trading; or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any
         national securities exchange, the last quoted price (or, if not so
         quoted, the average of the last quoted high bid and low asked prices)
         in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
         system then in use; or, if on any such date no bids for such security
         are quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
         asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a
         market in such security selected by the Board of Directors of the
         Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such
         security, the Fair Market Value of such security on such date

                                       19
<PAGE>

         shall be determined reasonably and with utmost good faith to the
         holders of the Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company,
         provided, however, that if at the time of such determination there is
         an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of such security on such
         date shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking
         firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which
         determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
         Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
         Rights. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
         national securities exchange on which such security is listed or
         admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such
         security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national
         securities exchange, a Business Day.

                           (ii) If a security is not publicly held or not so
         listed or traded, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair value per
         share of stock or per other unit of such security, determined
         reasonably and with utmost good faith to the holders of the Rights by
         the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if at
         the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, the Fair
         Market Value of such security on such date shall be determined by a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
         Directors of the Company, which determination shall be described in a
         statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
         Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights; provided, however, that for
         the purposes of making any adjustment provided for by Section 11(a)(ii)
         hereof, the Fair Market Value of a share of Preferred Stock shall not
         be less than the product of the then Fair Market Value of a share of
         Common Stock multiplied by the higher of the then Dividend Multiple or
         Vote Multiple (as both of such terms are defined in the Certificate of
         Designations attached as Exhibit A hereto) applicable to the Preferred
         Stock and shall not exceed 105% of the product of the then Fair Market
         Value of a share of Common Stock multiplied by the higher of the then
         Dividend Multiple or Vote Multiple applicable to the Preferred Stock.

                           (iii) In the case of property other than securities,
         the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined reasonably and with
         utmost good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of
         the Company; provided, however, that if at the time of such
         determination there is an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of
         such property on such date shall be determined by a nationally
         recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
         of the Company, which determination shall be described in a statement
         filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding upon the Rights Agent
         and the holders of the Rights.

                  (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price; provided,
however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not
required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to
the nearest cent or to the nearest one-millionth of a share of Common Stock of
the Company or hundred-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may
be, or to such other figure as the Board of Directors of the Company may deem
appropriate. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier

                                       20
<PAGE>

of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

                  (f) If as a result of any provision of Section 11(a) or
Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Section 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(g) through (k) and (m), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13
and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to
any such other shares.

                  (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one ten-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (or other securities or amount of cash or combination
thereof) purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights,
all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

                  (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a
result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of one
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
hundred-millionth) as the Board of Directors of the Company determines is
appropriate to preserve the economic value of the Rights, including, by way of
example, that number obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right may be
exercisable immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price and (ii)
dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately
after such adjustment of the Exercise Price.

                  (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Exercise Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution
for any adjustment in the number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in
the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one ten-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of
the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-millionth) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall
make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made and shall promptly give the Rights Agent a
copy of such announcement. This record date may be the date on which the
Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates
have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the
public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company
shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record
of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject

                                       21
<PAGE>

to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall
cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right
Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at
the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered
in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.

                  (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise
Price or the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and
thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per share and the
number of shares which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued
hereunder without prejudice to any adjustment or change.

                  (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Exercise Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number
of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock at such
adjusted Exercise Price.

                  (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer (and shall give prompt written
notice of such election to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event
the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

                  (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, issuance wholly for cash of
any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Fair Market Value, issuance
wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms
are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, stock
dividends or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in
this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred
Stock, shall not be taxable to such shareholders.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                  (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date and so long as the Rights have not been
redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof or exchanged pursuant to Section 24
hereof, (i) consolidate with (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction that complies with the proviso at the end of this sentence), (ii)
merge with or into, or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell
or transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with the proviso at the end of this
sentence) if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger
or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments outstanding or
agreements or arrangements in effect which would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, or (y)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or
sale the shareholders of a Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the
"Principal Party" for the purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a
distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates
and Associates; provided, however, that this Section 11(n) shall not affect the
ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, or merge with or
into, or sell or transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of
the Company. The Company further covenants and agrees that after the
Distribution Date it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will substantially
diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

                  (o) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, in the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock of
the Company or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock of the Company)
into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock of the Company, then
in any such case (A) the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be
determined by multiplying the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately after
such event, and (B) each share of Common Stock of the Company outstanding
immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of
Rights which each share of Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately
prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for
in this Section 11(o) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is
declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is
effected.

                  (p) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall only
result in the loss of rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so exercised
and shall not otherwise affect the rights of holders of Right Certificates under
this Rights Agreement, including rights to purchase securities of the Principal
Party following a Section 13 Event which has occurred or may thereafter occur,
as set forth in Section 13 hereof. Upon exercise of a Right Certificate under

                                       23
<PAGE>

Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Right Certificate duly
marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred.

         Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made or an event that causes Rights to become null and
void occurs as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof, the Company shall
(a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts and computations accounting for such adjustment, (b)
promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock of the Company a copy of such certificate
and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate (or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing
shares of Common Stock of the Company) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment contained therein and shall have no duty with respect to and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment or event unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.

         Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.

                  (a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which is not prohibited by Section 11(n) hereof), and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or
merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which is not prohibited by the proviso at the end of the first sentence of
Section 11(n) hereof) shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into
the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the shares of
Common Stock of the Company shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or
other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the
Company shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or
a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or
more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions, each of which is not
prohibited by the proviso at the end of the first sentence of Section 11(n)
hereof), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current
Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of freely
tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined in Section
13(b)), free and clear of rights of call or first refusal, liens, encumbrances,
transfer restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the number of one
ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, and dividing
that product by (2) 50% of the Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date
of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such consolidation, merger, sale, mortgage or transfer, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this

                                       24
<PAGE>

Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such
Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section
11 hereof shall apply to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party
shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock to permit exercise of all
outstanding Rights in accordance with this Section 13(a) and the making of
payments in cash and/or other securities in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights.

                  (b) "Principal Party" shall mean

                           (i) in the case of any transaction described in
         clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person
         that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock
         of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if
         there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Stock that has
         the highest aggregate Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section
         11(d)), and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the
         other party to the merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than
         one such Person, the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest
         aggregate Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)); and

                           (ii) in the case of any transaction described in
         clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is
         the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
         transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each
         Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the
         same portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
         such transaction or transactions or if the Person receiving the largest
         portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever
         Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Fair Market
         Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(d));

provided, however, that in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) of
Section 13(b) hereof, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time
and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock") or such Person
is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary or
Affiliate of another Person who has Registered Common Stock outstanding,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of
such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation,
and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered Common
Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the ultimate parent entity
of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is
directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of
such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party"
shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered
Common Stock having the highest aggregate Fair Market Value (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)); and (4) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered
Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or
indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and none of such other Persons
has Registered

                                       25
<PAGE>

Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate
parent entity is the corporation having the greatest shareholders' equity or, if
no such ultimate parent entity is a corporation, "Principal Party" shall refer
to whichever ultimate parent entity is the entity having the greatest net
assets.

                  (c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto (x) the Principal Party shall have
a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock, which have not
been issued or reserved for issuance, to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with this Section 13, and (y) the Company and each
Principal Party and each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a
result of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms
set forth in Section 13(a) and (b) and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of
assets mentioned in Section 13(a), the Principal Party at its own expense will:

                           (i) prepare and file a registration statement under
         the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities
         purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, cause
         such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
         after such filing and cause such registration statement to remain
         effective (with a prospectus that at all times meets the requirements
         of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;

                           (ii) qualify or register the Rights and the
         securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky
         laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;

                           (iii) list (or continue the listing of) the Rights
         and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a
         national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements
         for quotation on NASDAQ; and

                           (iv) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
         financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
         which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on
         Form 10 under the Exchange Act.

                  (d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a
transaction referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or By-laws or other
instrument governing its affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current Fair Market Value
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities exercisable for, or
convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such Fair
Market Value, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar
provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13, then, in such event, the
Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the
Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights
Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such
Principal Party

                                       26
<PAGE>

shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities
shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in
connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed
transaction.

         The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.

         Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

                  (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(o)
hereof, or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. If
the Company elects not to issue such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay,
in lieu of such fractional Rights, to the registered holders of the Right
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value
of a whole Right, as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof.

                  (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that
are not integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the Fair Market Value of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Fair Market Value of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.

                  (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.

                  (d) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional
shares is to be made by the Rights Agent, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare
and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail
the facts related to such payments and the prices and/or formulas utilized in
calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights
Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights
Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have
no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any
payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any Section of this
Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares
unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and
sufficient monies.

         Section 15. Rights of Action.

                  (a) All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other
than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to Sections 18 and 20
hereof, are vested in the respective

                                       27
<PAGE>

registered holders of the Right Certificates (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company); and any
registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
of the Common Stock of the Company), without the consent of the Rights Agent or
of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Stock of the Company), may, in such registered holder's own
behalf and for such registered holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute
and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Right evidenced by such
Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations
hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement. Holders of Rights shall be
entitled to recover from the Company the reasonable costs and expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement.

                  (b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, judgment, decree or ruling (whether
interlocutory or final) issued by a court or by a governmental, regulatory,
self-regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule,
regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, that the Company and the Rights Agent shall use all
reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order, judgment, decree or
ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.

         Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:

                  (a) prior to the Distribution Date, each Right will be
transferable only simultaneously and together with the transfer of shares of
Common Stock of the Company;

                  (b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;

                  (c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f), the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated certificate representing
Common Stock of the Company) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of
the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificates or the associated certificate representing
Common Stock of the Company made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and, subject to the last sentence of Section
7(e), neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice
to the contrary; and

                                       28
<PAGE>

                  (d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as the result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligations; provided, however, that the Company must use
its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.

         Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained
herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.

         Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

                  (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent such
compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Rights
Agent for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on
demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery,
administration, execution and amendment of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage,
judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), incurred
without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be
determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a
court of competent jurisdiction) for any action taken, suffered or omitted by
the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance, exercise, performance or
administration of its duties under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability
arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. The costs and expenses incurred by
the Rights Agent in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the
Company unless it is determined by a final, non-appealable order, judgment,
decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction that the Rights Agent is
not entitled to indemnification due to the Rights Agent's gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 18 and Section 20
below shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the exercise or
expiration of the Rights and the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent.

                                       29
<PAGE>

                  (b) The Rights Agent shall be authorized and protected and
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it in connection with its acceptance and administration of this
Agreement or the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder, in reliance
upon any Right Certificate or certificate representing Common Stock of the
Company, Preferred Stock, or other securities of the Company, instrument of
assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it in good faith and without negligence to be genuine and to be
signed and executed by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the
advice or opinion of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to
receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected
and shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection
therewith unless and until it has received such notice in writing.

         Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.

                  (a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the
successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement,
any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have
the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

                  (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in
this Agreement.

         Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes only
the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied
duties and obligations other than those required by law) upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

                  (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected
by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company or any employee of the Rights
Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Rights

                                       30
<PAGE>

Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for, or in respect of, any
action, taken, suffered or omitted by it in accordance with such advice or
opinion (subject to Section 20(c) hereof).

                  (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of "Fair Market Value") be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof shall be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent. Any such certificate shall be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate (subject to
Section 20(c) hereof).

                  (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable to the Company and any
other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
(which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a
final, non-appealable order, judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent
jurisdiction); provided, however, that any liability of the Rights Agent under
this Rights Agreement shall be limited to $75,000. Anything to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
punitive, indirect consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Rights
Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

                  (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to
have been made by the Company only.

                  (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility or
have any liability in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution
and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void hereunder), or any
change or any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 11, 13 or
23(c) hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Right Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate describing
any such adjustment furnished in accordance with Section 12 hereof describing
such change or adjustment, upon which the Rights Agent may rely), nor shall it
be responsible for any determination by the Board of Directors of the Company of
the Fair Market Value of the Rights or Preferred Stock pursuant to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to
make any

                                       31
<PAGE>

representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares
of Common Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether or not any shares of Common
Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  (f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

                  (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and
certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any person believed
by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, a Vice President, the
Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of
the Company, and is authorized to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and such instructions shall be full
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall not
be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting
while waiting for these instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent,
set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered or omitted to be
taken by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which
such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent
shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by, or omission of, the
Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or
after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than
five Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives
such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken,
suffered or omitted.

                  (h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, Affiliate, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

                  (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
(through its officers and directors) or by or through its attorneys or agents,
and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act,
omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for
any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act,
omission, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable order,
judgment, decree or ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction).

                                       32
<PAGE>

                  (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

                  (k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either
not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause (1) or clause
(2) thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

         Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company by first class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
(with or without cause), effective immediately or on a specified date, by
written notice given to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case
may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the
Company, and by giving notice to the holders of the Right Certificates by any
means reasonably determined by the Company to inform such holders of such
removal (including without limitation, by including such information in one or
more of the Company's reports to shareholders or reports or filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission). If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or the registered
holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United
States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stockholder services power and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least
$10,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (a) of this
sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock of
the Company and the Preferred Stock, and give notice to the holders of the Right
Certificates by any means reasonably determined by the Company to inform such
holders of such appointment (including without limitation, by including such
information in one or more of the Company's reports to shareholders or reports
or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission). Failure to give any
notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

                                       33
<PAGE>

         Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company to reflect any
adjustment or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or
class of shares of stock or other securities or property purchasable under the
Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock of
the Company following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or
expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of
Common Stock of the Company so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities hereafter issued by the Company, and (b)
may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however,
that (i) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the
person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Right
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustments
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

         Section 23. Redemption.

                  (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any dividend
declared or paid on the Common Stock of the Company in shares of Common Stock of
the Company or any subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company or similar event occurring after the date of this
Agreement (such redemption price, as adjusted from time to time, being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The Rights may be redeemed
only until the earlier to occur of (i) the time at which any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.

                  (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights in accordance with Section 23
hereof, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held.
Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the
redemption of the Rights in accordance with Section 23 hereof, the Company shall
give prompt written notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to the Rights
Agent and to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the
registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock of the Company. Any
notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. The Company promptly shall mail a
notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither
the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or
purchase for value any Rights at any

                                       34
<PAGE>

time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or
Section 24 hereof or in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock
of the Company prior to the Distribution Date.

                  (c) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
in cash, shares of Common Stock of the Company (based on the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock of the Company as of the time of redemption) or any other
form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company.

         Section 24. Exchange.

                  (a) (i) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
         option, at any time on or after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
         Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable
         Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void
         pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common
         Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock
         of the Company per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
         split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
         hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
         "Section 24(a)(i) Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
         Board of Directors of the Company shall not be empowered to effect such
         exchange at any time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person),
         together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
         Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Stock of the Company.

                      (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
         Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time on or after
         the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of
         the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include
         Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
         hereof) for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio
         specified in the following sentence, as appropriately adjusted to
         reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
         occurring after the date of this Agreement. Subject to the adjustment
         described in the foregoing sentence, each Right may be exchanged for
         that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company obtained by
         dividing the Spread (as defined in Section 11(a)(iii)) by the then Fair
         Market Value per one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock on
         the earlier of (x) the date on which any person becomes an Acquiring
         Person or (y) the date on which a tender or exchange offer by any
         Person (other than an Exempt Person) is first published or sent or
         given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act or any
         successor rule, if upon consummation thereof such Person could become
         an Acquiring Person (such exchange ratio being referred to herein as
         the "Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
         the Board of Directors of the Company shall not be empowered to effect
         such exchange at any time after any Person (other than an Exempt
         Person), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
         becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Stock of the
         Company.

                  (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 24 and without

                                       35
<PAGE>

any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 24(a)(i)
Exchange Ratio or the Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange Ratio, as applicable. The
Company shall promptly give written notice to the Rights Agent of any such
exchange in accordance with Section 26 hereof and shall promptly mail a notice
of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the shares of Common Stock of the Company for Rights will be effected and, in
the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

                  (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company,
at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Preferred Stock Equivalent, as
such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for Common Stock of the Company
exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one ten-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Preferred Stock Equivalent) for each share of Common Stock
of the Company, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting
rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the
fraction of a share of Preferred Stock delivered in lieu of each share of Common
Stock of the Company shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common
Stock of the Company.

                  (d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock (or Preferred Stock Equivalents)
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of
Common Stock of the Company or Preferred Stock (or Preferred Stock Equivalent)
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

                  (e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Stock of the Company or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company. If the Company elects not to
issue such fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company, the Company shall
pay, in lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company, to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a whole
share of Common Stock of the Company. For the purposes of this paragraph (e),
the Fair Market Value of a whole share of Common Stock of the Company shall be
the closing price of a share of Common Stock of the Company (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

                                       36
<PAGE>

         Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.

                  (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular periodic cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or
merger into or with, or to effect any sale, mortgage or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale, mortgage or other
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of 50% or
more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) to, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in one
or more transactions each of which is not prohibited by the proviso at the end
of the first sentence of Section 11(n) hereof), or (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock of the Company payable in Common Stock of the
Company or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common
Stock of the Company (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock of the Company) then in each such case, the Company
shall promptly give to each holder of a Right Certificate and to the Rights
Agent, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a written notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock
dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock of the Company and/or
Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least
twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares
of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such
other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company and/or Preferred Stock, whichever shall be
the earlier; provided, however, no such notice shall be required pursuant to
this Section 25 as a result of any Subsidiary of the Company effecting a
consolidation or merger with or into, or effecting a sale or other transfer of
assets or earnings power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company in a manner not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

                  (b) In case any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in
any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
registered holder of a Right Certificate and to the Rights Agent, in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a written notice of the occurrence of such event, which
shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

         Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile transmission or by nationally-recognized
overnight courier addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Rights Agent) as follows:

                                       37
<PAGE>

                           Monarch Dental Corporation
                           Tollway Plaza II
                           15950 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 825
                           Dallas, TX  75248
                           Attention: Secretary
                           Facsimile No. (972) 361-8442

         Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder
of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given
or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile transmission
or by nationally-recognized overnight courier addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

                           Mellon Investor Services LLC
                           600 North Pearl Street
                           Dallas, TX  75201
                           Attention: Relationship Manager
                           Facsimile No. (214) 922-4466

         Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing
shares of Common Stock of the Company) shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the
address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

         Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, but subject to
the other provisions of this Section 27, if the Board of Directors of the
Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement as the
Board of Directors of the Company may deem necessary or desirable without the
approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock of
the Company. From and after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall, but subject to the other provisions of this
Section 27, if the Board of Directors of the Company so directs, supplement or
amend this Agreement without the approval of any holder of Right Certificates in
order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or
(iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereof in any manner which the Board
of Directors of the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person);
provided, however, that from and after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may
be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and the benefits to, the holders of Rights (other
than an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).
Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event amend this Agreement to lower the
threshold set forth in Section 1(a) to

                                       38
<PAGE>

not less than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company then known by the Company to be
Beneficially Owned by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any entity holding Common Stock of the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan) and (ii) 10%. Upon the delivery of a certificate
from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed
supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment, and any failure of the
Rights Agent to so execute such supplement or amendment shall not affect the
validity of the actions taken by the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant
to this Section 27. Prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock of the Company. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 27, the Rights Agent's written consent must be
obtained regarding any amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 27 which
changes or increases the Rights Agent's rights, duties, liabilities or
obligations.

         Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

         Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including without limitation,
the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii)
make all determinations and computations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
of Directors in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and
(y) not subject any member of the Board of Directors to any liability to the
holders of the Rights or to any other person. The Rights Agent shall always be
entitled to assume that the Company's Board of Directors acted in good faith and
shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.

         Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Stock of the Company) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company).

         Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this

                                       39
<PAGE>

Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or
restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good
faith judgment that severing the invalid language from the Agreement would
adversely affect the purpose or effect of the Agreement, the right of redemption
set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated (with prompt written notice
to the Rights Agent) and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.

         Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State. The courts of the State of
Delaware and of the United States of America located in the State of Delaware
(the "Delaware Courts") shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over any
litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, except with regard to any litigation arising out of or
relating solely to the rights, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent which
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such
State.

         Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.

         Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                       40
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as an instrument under seal and attested, all as of the day and
year first above written.

ATTEST:                             MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ DeLisa Cash                 By: /s/ W. Barger Tygart
    -----------------------------      --------------------------------
                                        Name: W. Barger Tygart
                                        Title: Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:                             MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC
                                    as Rights Agent

By: /s/ Cindy Bennett               By: /s/ David M. Cary
    -----------------------------      --------------------------------
                                       Name: David M. Cary
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       41
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                         VOTE OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHING
                    SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                           MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION

         Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware:

         VOTED, that pursuant to authority conferred upon and vested in the
Board of Directors by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), of Monarch Dental Corporation (the
"Corporation"), the Board of Directors hereby establishes and designates a
series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, and hereby fixes and determines
the relative rights and preferences of the shares of such series, in addition to
those set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, as follows:

         Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock" (the
"Series A Preferred Stock"), and the number of shares initially constituting
such series shall be 25,000; provided, however, that if more than a total of
25,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be issuable upon the exercise of
Rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Shareholder Rights Agreement dated
as of September 16, 2002, between the Corporation and Mellon Investor Services,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, may direct by resolution or resolutions that a certificate be
properly executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 103 thereof, providing for the total number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock authorized to be issued to be increased (to the extent
that the Certificate of Incorporation then permits) to the largest number of
whole shares (rounded up to the nearest whole number) issuable upon exercise of
such Rights.

         Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

         (A) (i) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of preferred stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to
the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of common stock
and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June,
September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provisions for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in
kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend
payable in shares of common stock or a subdivision of the outstanding

<PAGE>

shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
common stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The
multiple of cash and non-cash dividends declared on the common stock to which
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled, which shall be 10,000
initially but which shall be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided,
is hereinafter referred to as the "Dividend Multiple." In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after September 16, 2002 (the "Rights Declaration
Date") (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in shares of
common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of
the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of common stock, then in each such case the Dividend Multiple
thereafter applicable to the determination of the amount of dividends which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive shall
be the Dividend Multiple applicable immediately prior to such event multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

                  (ii) Notwithstanding anything else contained in this paragraph
(A), the Corporation shall, out of funds legally available for that purpose,
declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided
in this paragraph (A) immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution
on the common stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock);
provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared
on the common stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
$1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on
such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

         (B) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, unless
the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall
begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of
issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in
an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and
payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix in
accordance with applicable law a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than such
number of days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof as may be allowed
by applicable law.

<PAGE>

         Section 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights
required by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
the following voting rights:

         (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 10,000
votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
The number of votes which a holder of a share of Series A Preferred Stock is
entitled to cast, which shall initially be 10,000 but which may be adjusted from
time to time as hereinafter provided, is hereinafter referred to as the "Vote
Multiple." In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in
shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the
Vote Multiple thereafter applicable to the determination of the number of votes
per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled shall be the Vote Multiple immediately prior to such event multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

         (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of common stock and
the holders of shares of any other capital stock of this Corporation having
general voting rights, shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

         (C) Except as otherwise required by applicable law or as set forth
herein, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with holders of common stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.

         Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

         (A) Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series A
Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until
all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:

                  (i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;

                  (ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all
such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

                  (iii) except as permitted in subsection 4(A)(iv) below,
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends

<PAGE>

or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred
Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any
stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or

                  (iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of any stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer
made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to
all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.

         (B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under subsection (A) of this Section
4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

         Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock
to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

         Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation
(voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (x) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (1) $10,000.00 per share or
(2) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of common stock, or (y) to the holders of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably
on the Series A Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on
common stock payable in shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common
stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each
such case the aggregate amount per share to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (x)
of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of common stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the

<PAGE>

denominator of which is the number of shares of common stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         Neither the consolidation of nor merging of the Corporation with or
into any other corporation or corporations, nor the sale or other transfer of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall be deemed to be
a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning
of this Section 6.

         Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of common stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of common stock is changed or exchanged,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, payable with respect to the Series A
Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on common stock payable in
shares of common stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of common stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of common stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of common stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
common stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of common stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.

         Section 8. Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the ability
of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise deal in such shares to the extent
otherwise permitted hereby and by law.

         Section 9. Ranking. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the
Certificate of Incorporation or a Certificate of Designations relating to any
other series of preferred stock of the Corporation, the Series A Preferred Stock
shall rank junior to every other series of the Corporation's preferred stock
previously or hereafter authorized, as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up and shall rank
senior to the common stock.

         Section 10. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation and this
Certificate of Designations shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

         Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued
in whole shares or in any fraction of a share that is one ten-thousandth
(1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple of such fraction, which shall
entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional

<PAGE>

shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in
distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A
Preferred Stock. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation may elect to make
a cash payment as provided in the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share
other than one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share or any integral multiple
thereof.

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit B

[Form of Right Certificate]

Certificate No. R-______ Rights

         NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF
REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF
MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION AND MELLON
INVESTOR SERVICES, AS RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 (THE "RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR
AFFILIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.

Right Certificate

MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION

         This certifies that ________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the
Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of September 16, 2002 (the "Rights
Agreement") between Monarch Dental Corporation (the "Company") and Mellon
Investor Services, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on September 17, 2012 at
the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable
share of the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of _____ per one
ten-thousandth of a share (the "Exercise Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and
the related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share set forth above, are
the number and Exercise Price as of _______, based on the Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date.

         Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person or Associate or
Affiliate thereof, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a Person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.

<PAGE>

         As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number
of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

         This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the
Company and the designated office of the Rights Agent and are also available
upon written request to the Company or the Rights Agent.

         This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Certificates of like
tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to
purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Right
Certificate shall be exercised in whole or in part pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
of the Rights Agreement, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Right
Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth
in the Rights Agreement.

         Under certain circumstances, subject to the provisions of the Rights
Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company at its option may exchange all
or any part of the Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of the
Company's Common Stock or Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio (subject to
adjustment) specified in the Rights Agreement.

         Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Board of Directors of the Company at
its option at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common
Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors).

         The Company is not obligated to issue fractional shares of stock upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock,
which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts).
If the Company elects not to issue such fractional shares, in lieu thereof a
cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

         No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may
at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in
the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as
such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for

                                       2
<PAGE>

the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

         This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights
Agent.

         WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
as a document under corporate seal.

Attested:                                    MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION

By:                                          By:
   -------------------------------               -------------------------------
[Secretary or Assistant Secretary]           Name:
                                             Title: [Chairman, Vice Chairman,
                                                    President or Vice President]
Countersigned:

MELLON INVESTOR SERVICES LLC

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

                                       3
<PAGE>

                   [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
                (TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IF SUCH
               HOLDER DESIRES TO TRANSFER THE RIGHT CERTIFICATE.)

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________ hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto ____________________________________ (Please print name and
address of transferee) ____________________________________ this Right
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.

         Dated:          ,
                ---------  --                -----------------------------------

                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Signature

         Signature Guaranteed:
                               ------------------------------------

                                   CERTIFICATE

         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

         (1)______the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ______ are
______ are not being transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement); and

         (2)______after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the undersigned ____ did ____ did not directly or indirectly
acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is,
was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such
Person.

         Dated:          ,
                ---------  --                -----------------------------------

                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Signature

<PAGE>

                                     NOTICE

         The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

<PAGE>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

                      (TO BE EXECUTED IF HOLDER DESIRES TO
                        EXERCISE THE RIGHT CERTIFICATE.)

To MONARCH DENTAL CORPORATION:

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _______ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:

Please insert social security or other identifying taxpayer number:
                                                                    ------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)

         If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate or if the Rights are being exercised pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement, a new Right Certificate for the balance of
such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security or other identifying taxpayer number:
                                                                    ------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)

         Dated:          ,
                ---------  --                -----------------------------------

                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Signature

Signature Guaranteed:
                      ------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                                   CERTIFICATE

         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

         (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ____ are ____ are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement); and

         (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned ____ did ____ did not directly or indirectly acquire the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.

         Dated:          ,
                ---------  --                -----------------------------------

                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Signature

<PAGE>

                                     NOTICE

         The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

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

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                         Dated as of September 13, 2002

                                      among

                           NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.,
                                as the Borrower,

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
                   as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
                                       and
                                   L/C Issuer,

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                              as Syndication Agent,

                                       and

                         The Other Lenders Party Hereto

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

                         BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
                                       and
                            WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.
                                       as
                     Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<Table>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE I.            DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
         1.01         Defined Terms...............................................................................1
         1.02         Other Interpretive Provisions..............................................................24
         1.03         Accounting Terms...........................................................................25
         1.04         Rounding...................................................................................25
         1.05         References to Agreements and Laws..........................................................25
         1.06         Times of Day...............................................................................25
         1.07         Letter of Credit Amounts...................................................................25

ARTICLE II.           THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
         2.01         Revolving Loans............................................................................26
         2.02         Term B Loans...............................................................................26
         2.03         Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.........................................26
         2.04         Letters of Credit..........................................................................28
         2.05         Swing Line Loans...........................................................................35
         2.06         Prepayments................................................................................38
         2.07         Termination or Reduction of Commitments....................................................40
         2.08         Repayment of Loans.........................................................................41
         2.09         Interest...................................................................................42
         2.10         Fees.......................................................................................43
         2.11         Computation of Interest and Fees...........................................................43
         2.12         Evidence of Debt...........................................................................44
         2.13         Payments Generally.........................................................................44
         2.14         Sharing of Payments........................................................................46
         2.15         Incremental Facility.......................................................................46

ARTICLE III.          TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
         3.01         Taxes......................................................................................48
         3.02         Illegality.................................................................................49
         3.03         Inability to Determine Rates...............................................................49
         3.04         Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate
                      Loans......................................................................................50
         3.05         Funding Losses.............................................................................50
         3.06         Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation........................................51
         3.07         Survival...................................................................................51

ARTICLE IV.           CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
         4.01         Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.....................................................51
         4.02         Conditions to all Credit Extensions........................................................53

ARTICLE V.            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
         5.01         Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws...................................54
         5.02         Authorization; No Contravention............................................................54
         5.03         Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.................................................54
         5.04         Binding Effect.............................................................................55
         5.05         Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect...........................................55
         5.06         Litigation.................................................................................55
         5.07         No Default.................................................................................56
         5.08         Ownership of Property; Liens...............................................................56
         5.09         Environmental Compliance...................................................................56
</Table>

                                       i
<PAGE>

<Table>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         5.10         Insurance..................................................................................56
         5.11         Taxes......................................................................................56
         5.12         ERISA Compliance...........................................................................56
         5.13         Subsidiaries...............................................................................57
         5.14         Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.............57
         5.15         Disclosure.................................................................................57
         5.16         Compliance with Laws.......................................................................58
         5.17         Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. .....................................................58
         5.18         Businesses.................................................................................58
         5.19         Common Enterprise..........................................................................58
         5.20         Solvent....................................................................................59
         5.21         Senior Debt................................................................................59

ARTICLE VI.           AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
         6.01         Financial Statements.......................................................................59
         6.02         Certificates; Other Information............................................................60
         6.03         Notices....................................................................................61
         6.04         Payment of Obligations.....................................................................62
         6.05         Preservation of Existence, Etc. ...........................................................62
         6.06         Maintenance of Properties..................................................................62
         6.07         Maintenance of Insurance...................................................................62
         6.08         Compliance with Laws.......................................................................62
         6.09         Books and Records..........................................................................63
         6.10         Inspection Rights..........................................................................63
         6.11         Use of Proceeds............................................................................63
         6.12         Further Assurances.........................................................................63
         6.13         Subsidiaries...............................................................................63

ARTICLE VII.          NEGATIVE COVENANTS
         7.01         Liens......................................................................................64
         7.02         Investments................................................................................65
         7.03         Indebtedness...............................................................................67
         7.04         Fundamental Changes........................................................................68
         7.05         Dispositions...............................................................................68
         7.06         Restricted Payments........................................................................70
         7.07         Change in Nature of Business...............................................................70
         7.08         Transactions with Affiliates...............................................................70
         7.09         Burdensome Agreements......................................................................70
         7.10         Use of Proceeds............................................................................71
         7.11         Financial Covenants........................................................................71
         7.12         Capital Expenditures.......................................................................72
         7.13         Issuance of Shares.........................................................................72
         7.14         Fiscal Year and Accounting Methods.........................................................72
         7.15         Amendment and Waivers of Subordinated Debt.................................................73

ARTICLE VIII.         EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
         8.01         Events of Default..........................................................................73
         8.02         Remedies Upon Event of Default.............................................................75
         8.03         Application of Funds.......................................................................76

ARTICLE IX.           ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
</Table>

                                       ii
<PAGE>

<Table>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         9.01         Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent......................................77
         9.02         Delegation of Duties.......................................................................77
         9.03         Liability of Administrative Agent..........................................................78
         9.04         Reliance by Administrative Agent...........................................................78
         9.05         Notice of Default..........................................................................78
         9.06         Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent.........................79
         9.07         Indemnification of Administrative Agent....................................................79
         9.08         Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity............................................80
         9.09         Successor Administrative Agent.............................................................80
         9.10         Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim..............................................81
         9.11         Collateral and Guaranty Matters............................................................82
         9.12         Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.......................................................82

ARTICLE X.            MISCELLANEOUS
         10.01        Amendments, Etc. ..........................................................................83
         10.02        Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.........................................84
         10.03        No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.............................................................85
         10.04        Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes.........................................................86
         10.05        Indemnification by the Borrower............................................................86
         10.06        Payments Set Aside.........................................................................87
         10.07        Successors and Assigns.....................................................................88
         10.08        Confidentiality............................................................................91
         10.09        Set-off....................................................................................91
         10.10        Interest Rate Limitation...................................................................92
         10.11        Counterparts...............................................................................92
         10.12        Integration................................................................................92
         10.13        Survival of Representations and Warranties.................................................92
         10.14        Severability...............................................................................93
         10.15        Tax Forms..................................................................................93
         10.16        Replacement of Lenders.....................................................................94
         10.17        Exceptions to Covenants....................................................................95
         10.18        Governing Law..............................................................................95
         10.19        Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury...........................................................96
         10.20        ENTIRE AGREEMENT...........................................................................96
</Table>

                                       iii
<PAGE>

SCHEDULES

         2.01     Revolving Commitments and Revolving Pro Rata Shares
         2.02     Term Commitments and Term Pro Rata Shares
         2.03     Existing Letters of Credit
         4.01     Material Adverse Effect Exceptions
         5.05     Supplement to Interim Financial Statements
         5.06     Existing Litigation
         5.13     Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
         7.01     Existing Liens
         7.02     Existing Investments
         7.03     Existing Indebtedness
         7.08     Affiliate Transactions
         10.02    Administrative Agent's Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

                  FORM OF

         A        Revolving Loan Notice
         B        Term B Loan Notice
         C        Swing Line Loan Notice
         D        Revolving Loan Note
         E        Term B Loan Note
         F        Swing Line Note
         G        Compliance Certificate
         H        Assignment and Assumption
         I        Guaranty
         J        Security Agreement
         K        Opinion Matters

                                       iv
<PAGE>

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of September 13,
2002, among NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"),
each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the "Lenders" and
individually, a "Lender"), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing
Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent.

         The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving and
term credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.

         In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                        DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

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

         "Acquisition" means the acquisition by any Person of (a) a majority of
the issued and outstanding class of any Stock of another Person, (b) all or
substantially all of the assets of another Person or (c) all or substantially
all of a line of business of another Person, in each case (i) whether or not
involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and (ii) whether in
one transaction or a series of related transactions.

         "Acquisition Consideration" means the consideration given by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for an Acquisition, including but not
limited to the sum of (without duplication) (a) the fair market value of any
cash, property (including any Stock) or services given, plus (b) the amount of
any Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed (to the extent the proceeds of such
Indebtedness are used to fund such Acquisition and are not otherwise accounted
for under the preceding clause (a)) or assumed in connection with such
Acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "Additional Subordinated Debt" means an additional $50,000,000 in
stated principal amount of subordinated notes issued pursuant to the terms of
the Borrower's Indenture, dated May 5, 1999 (as such terms are in effect on the
Closing Date), in respect of its 9-1/4% of Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009.

         "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America in its capacity as
administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor
administrative agent.

         "Administrative Agent's Office" means the Administrative Agent's
address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such
other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

         "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in
a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

                                       1
<PAGE>

         "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, another Person that
directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is
Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. "Control"
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the
ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and
"Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if
such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more
of the Voting Stock.

         "Agent-Related Persons" means the Administrative Agent, together with
its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the
Administrative Agent, Bank of America Securities LLC, as Co-Arranger), and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and
Affiliates.

         "Aggregate Commitments" means the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and
the Aggregate Term B Commitments.

         "Aggregate Credit Exposures" means, at any time, the sum of (i) the
unused portion of the Revolving Commitment then in effect, (ii) the unused
portion of each Term B Commitment then in effect and (iii) the Total
Outstandings at such time.

         "Aggregate Revolving Commitments" means the Revolving Commitments of
all Lenders.

         "Aggregate Term B Commitments" means the Term B Commitments of all
Lenders.

         "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement.

         "Applicable Law" means (a) in respect of any Person, all provisions of
Laws applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts and
determinations of arbitrators applicable to such Person and (b) in respect of
contracts made or performed in the State of Texas, "Applicable Law" shall also
mean the laws of the United States of America, including, without limitation the
foregoing, 12 USC Sections 85 and 86, as amended to the date hereof and as the
same may be amended at any time and from time to time hereafter, and any other
statute of the United States of America now or at any time hereafter prescribing
the maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit, and the laws of
the State of Texas.

         "Applicable Rate" means the following percentages per annum, based upon
the Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate
received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):

                                       2
<PAGE>
<Table>
<Caption>
                                                           Eurodollar Rate                    Base Rate     Base
                                                            for Revolving      Eurodollar        for       Rate for
  Pricing                                   Revolving         Loans and         Rate for      Revolving    Term B
   Level     Leverage Ratio              Commitment Fee   Letters of Credit   Term B Loans      Loans        Loans
  -------    --------------              --------------   -----------------   ------------    ---------    --------
<S>          <C>                         <C>              <C>                 <C>             <C>          <C>
     1       Less than 2.50 to 1.00           0.375             2.000            3.000          1.000        2.000
     2       Greater than or equal to         0.500             2.250            3.000          1.250        2.000
             2.50 to 1.00 but less
             than 3.00 to 1.00
     3       Greater than or equal to         0.500             2.500            3.250          1.500        2.250
             3.00 to 1.00 but less
             than 3.50 to 1.00
     4       Greater than or equal to         0.500             2.750            3.250          1.750        2.250
             3.50 to 1.00
</Table>

         Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change
in the Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day
immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered for any
fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that (i) if a
Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section
6.02(a), then Pricing Level 4 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the
date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered
and shall remain in effect until the first Business Day immediately following
the date such Compliance Certificate is actually delivered to the Administrative
Agent and (ii) if a Compliance Certificate which is delivered pursuant to
Section 6.02(a) for any fiscal year contains a Leverage Ratio that is higher
than the Leverage Ratio set forth in the Compliance Certificate delivered
pursuant to Section 6.02(a) for the fourth fiscal quarter for such fiscal year
by an amount which would result in a higher Pricing Level being in effect, the
higher Pricing Level shall retroactively apply as of the first Business Day
immediately following the date that the Compliance Certificate for such fourth
fiscal quarter was delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Applicable Rate in effect from and after the Closing Date through
and including the date the Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to
Section 6.02(a) for the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2002 shall be Level
3.

         "Assignment and Assumption" means an Assignment and Assumption
substantially in the form of Exhibit H.

         "Attorney Costs" means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and
disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel.

         "Attributable Indebtedness" means, on any date, (a) in respect of any
Capital Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on
a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP,
and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of
the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a
balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if
such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease.

         "Audited Financial Statements" means the audited consolidated balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2001, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

         "Authorized Officer" means (a) any Responsible Officer and (b) any
controller of any Loan Party.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         "Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit" has the meaning specified in Section
2.04(b)(iii).

         "Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

         "Base Rate" means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the
higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest
in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of
America as its "prime rate." The "prime rate" is a rate set by Bank of America
based upon various factors including Bank of America's costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at
the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such
change.

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

         "Borrower" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph
hereto.

         "Borrowing" means a Revolving Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing, or a
Term B Loan Borrowing, as the context may require.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in
fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent's Office is located
and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on
which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the
London interbank eurodollar market.

         "Capital Expenditures" means for any period, the sum of the aggregate
of any expenditures by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period for an
asset which will be used in a year or years subsequent to the year in which the
expenditure is made and which asset is properly classifiable in relevant
financial statements of such Person as property, equipment or improvements,
fixed assets, or a similar type of capital asset in accordance with GAAP,
excluding, however, without duplication, (a) any such asset acquired in an
Acquisition and (b) any such expenditure, or portion thereof, to the extent
funded (i) with the cash proceeds of any Disposition made pursuant to Section
7.05 or (ii) with the cash proceeds of insurance, and (c) with respect to any
such expenditure by Building Systems de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., (i) the portion
thereof, if any, funded with the proceeds of a concurrent loan or capital
contribution by any shareholder of Building Systems de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
other than Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower and (ii) forty-nine percent
(49%) of any such expenditure, or portion thereof, that is funded by Building
Systems de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. other than from the proceeds of concurrent loans
or capital contributions from its shareholders.

         "Capital Lease" means, as of any date, any lease of property, real or
personal, the obligations of the lessee in respect of which are required in
accordance with GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee.

         "Cash and Cash Equivalents" means (a) cash, (b) marketable obligations
issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the U.S. Government or issued by any of
its agencies and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S., in each case
maturing within one year from the date of

                                       4
<PAGE>

acquisition (and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those
obligations); (c) short-term investment grade domestic and eurodollar
certificates of deposit or time deposits that are fully insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or are issued by commercial banks having combined
capital, surplus, and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000 (as shown
on its most recently published statement of condition); (d) commercial paper and
similar obligations rated "P-I" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or "A-1" by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group (a division of McGraw Hill, Inc.); (e) readily
marketable tax-free municipal bonds of a domestic issuer rated "Aaa" by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc., or "AAA" by Standard & Poors Ratings Group (a division
of McGraw Hill, Inc.), and maturing within one year from the date of issuance
(and investments in mutual funds investing primarily in those bonds); and (f)
demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business.

         "Cash Collateralize" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(g).

         "Change of Control" means, with respect to any Person, an event or
series of events by which:

                  (a) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in
         Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but
         excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries,
         and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or
         other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the
         "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be
         deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such
         person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an "option
         right"), within sixty (60) days of the applicable measurement date),
         directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the Voting Stock of such
         Person (and taking into account all such securities that such person or
         group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

                  (b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of
         the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing
         body of such Person ceases to be composed of individuals (i) who were
         members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of
         such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or
         equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in
         clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or
         nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
         body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other
         equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in
         clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or
         nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
         body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any
         individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a
         member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of
         an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the
         election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group
         other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by
         or on behalf of the board of directors).

         "Closing Date" means the first date all the conditions precedent in
Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the
case of Section 4.01(b), waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable
payment).

                                       5
<PAGE>

         "Co-Arrangers" means Banc of America Securities LLC and Wachovia
Securities, Inc., in their capacity as co-lead arrangers and co-book managers.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

         "Collateral" means any collateral in which a Lien is granted by any
Person to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations pursuant to the
Collateral Documents; provided, however, that with respect to fixtures,
"Collateral" shall include only trade fixtures and shall not include or be
deemed to include heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and
fixtures, electrical systems and fixtures, plumbing systems and fixtures,
building mechanical systems and fixtures, or any other base building systems and
fixtures constituting fixtures under the UCC and necessary to, or primarily
utilized in connection with, the operation of the real property and improvements
on or to which any such systems and fixtures are affixed or attached.

         "Collateral Documents" means the Security Agreement and any document
related thereto.

         "Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.02 at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the respective amounts set forth opposite such
Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 and Schedule 2.02, or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, or in any
amendment hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to
time in accordance with this Agreement.

         "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
of Exhibit G, with such changes, or in such other form, as agreed to by the
Administrative Agent.

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

         "Control" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Affiliate."

         "Credit Extension" means each of the following: (a) a Revolving
Borrowing, (b) a Term B Loan Borrowing, and (c) an L/C Credit Extension.

         "Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States,
and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency,
reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other
applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of
creditors generally.

         "Default" means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of
Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both,
would be an Event of Default.

         "Default Rate" means an interest rate equal to the lesser of (a) the
Highest Lawful Rate and (b) the sum of (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the
Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum;
provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate
shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable
Rate)

                                       6
<PAGE>

otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest
extent permitted by Applicable Laws and not in any event to exceed the Highest
Lawful Rate.

         "Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any
portion of the Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in
Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day
of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to
pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount
required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when
due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed
insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

         "Disposition" or "Dispose" means the sale, transfer, license, lease or
other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction, but excluding
any Stock Issuance and any transaction permitted under Section 7.04(a) or
Section 7.04(b)) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment,
transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts
receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

         "Dividends", in respect of any Person, means (a) cash dividends or any
other distributions of property, or otherwise, on, or in respect of, any class
of Stock of such Person (other than dividends or other distributions payable
solely in Stock of such Person or options, warrants or other rights to purchase
capital stock of such Person), and (b) any and all funds, cash or other payments
made in respect of the redemption, repurchase or acquisition of such Stock
(specifically including, without limitation, a Treasury Stock Purchase), unless
such Stock shall be redeemed or acquired through the exchange of such Stock with
Stock of the same or another class or options or warrants to purchase such Stock
or Stock of another class.

         "Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States.

         "Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the
laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

         "EBITDA" means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Net Income for such
period, plus (b) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining
Net Income for any period, (i) Interest Expense for such period, plus (ii)
federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period, plus (iii)
depreciation and amortization expenses for such period, plus (iv) non-cash
contributions during such period to 401(k) and other employee benefit plans,
plus (v) permanent non-cash restructuring charges during such period; provided,
however, in no event shall the (y) non-cash contributions referred to in
subsection (b)(iv) above exceed $7,500,000 in aggregate amount during any four
consecutive fiscal quarter period and (z) non-cash charges referred to in
subsection (b)(v) above exceed $5,000,000 in an aggregate amount during any four
consecutive fiscal quarter period.

         "Eligible Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

         "Environmental Laws" means any and all Federal, state, local, and
foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders,
decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or
governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the

                                       7
<PAGE>

protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the
environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air
emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

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

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

         "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for
purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

         "ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension
Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension
Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation
of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of
ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is
in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of
ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension
Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds
under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the
imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC
premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate.

         "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan:

                  (a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the
         Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of
         the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average
         British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in
         Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a
         term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately
         11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of
         such Interest Period, or

                  (b) if the rate referenced in the preceding subsection (a)
         does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall
         not be available, the rate per annum

                                       8
<PAGE>

         equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
         offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an
         average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for
         deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
         Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as
         of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to
         the first day of such Interest Period, or

                  (c) if the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (a)
         and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the
         Administrative Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in
         Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same
         day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being
         made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term
         equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of
         America's London Branch to major banks in the London interbank
         eurodollar market at their request at approximately 4:00 p.m. (London
         time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

         "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based
on the Eurodollar Rate.

         "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

         "Excess Cash Flow" means, for any period, for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (without duplication)
the sum of (a) EBITDA for such period, minus (b) actual Capital Expenditures for
such period, minus (c) Interest Expense for such period, minus (d) federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash for such period, minus (e)
scheduled payments and voluntary prepayments of Indebtedness (excluding
prepayments of the Revolving Loans unless they result in a pro rata reduction of
the Revolving Commitment) during such period, minus (f) Dividends made hereunder
during such period, minus (g) any increases in Working Capital for such period,
plus (h) any decreases in Working Capital for such period, minus (i) the
non-financed cash portion of any Acquisition Consideration paid during such
period.

         "Excess Cash Flow Payment Date" has the meaning specified in Section
2.06(e).

         "Existing Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement dated
as of March 25, 1998 among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders, as amended or modified.

         "Existing Letters of Credit" means the Letters of Credit issued under
the Existing Credit Agreement and listed on Schedule 2.03.

         "Fair Market Value" of any asset means the fair market value of such
asset as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Borrower or
the executive committee of such board of directors and evidenced by a duly
adopted resolution of such board of directors or such executive committee.

         "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to
the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal

                                       9
<PAGE>

Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by
the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided
that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day
shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple
of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America by other lenders on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

         "Fee Letter" means the letter agreement, dated August 13, 2002 among
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Co-Arrangers, Bank of America and
Wachovia Bank, National Association.

         "Foreign Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i).

         "Foreign Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary of the Borrower which is
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America or any state or commonwealth thereof.

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

         "Funded Debt" means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the following (without
duplication):

                  (a) obligations for borrowed money and all obligations
         evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar
         instruments;

                  (b) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and
         Synthetic Lease Obligations;

                  (c) obligations in respect of any Redeemable Stock;

                  (d) any direct or contingent obligations arising under letters
         of credit (including standby and commercial), banker's acceptances,
         bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

                  (e) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of
         property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the
         ordinary course of business or accrued liabilities arising in the
         ordinary course of business that are not overdue or that are being
         contested in good faith), and indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest
         thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased
         (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title
         retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been
         assumed or is limited in recourse;

                  (f) net obligations under any Swap Contract;

                                       10
<PAGE>

                  (g) Guarantees with respect to obligations of the type
         specified in subsections (a) through (f) above of Persons other than
         the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and

                  (h) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in subsections
         (a) through (g) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a
         joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability
         company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or
         joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse
         to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles
Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements
and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other
principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of
the date of determination, consistently applied.

         "Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or
other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality,
regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

         "Guarantors" means, collectively, each Domestic Subsidiary.

         "Guaranty" means any Guaranty executed by one or more of the Guarantors
in favor of the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

         "Guarantee" means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent
or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by
another Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or
indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i)
to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of)
such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property,
securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of
such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such
Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of
income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor
to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or
(b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other
obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other
obligation is assumed by such Person; provided, however, that the term
"Guarantee" shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or
collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall
be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the
related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such
Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum

                                       11
<PAGE>

reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the
guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term "Guarantee" as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.

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

         "Highest Lawful Rate" means at the particular time in question the
maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is then
permitted to charge on the Obligations. If the maximum rate of interest which,
under Applicable Law, any Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations shall
change after the date hereof, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be automatically
increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the
effective time of each change in the Highest Lawful Rate without notice to the
Borrower. For purposes of determining the Highest Lawful Rate under Applicable
Law, the indicated rate ceiling shall be the lesser of (a)(i) the "weekly
ceiling", as that expression is defined in Section 303.003 of the Texas Finance
Code, as amended, or (ii) if available in accordance with the terms thereof and
at the Administrative Agent's option after notice to the Borrower and otherwise
in accordance with the terms of Section 303.103 of the Texas Finance Code, as
amended, the "annualized ceiling" and (b)(i) if the amount outstanding under
this Agreement is less than $250,000, twenty-four percent (24%), or (ii) if the
amount under this Agreement is equal to or greater than $250,000, twenty-eight
percent (28%) per annum.

         "Incremental Facility" has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).

         "Incremental Facility Effective Date" has the meaning specified in
Section 2.15(c).

         "Indebtedness" means, as to any Person at a particular time, without
duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or
liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

                  (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all
         obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan
         agreements or other similar instruments;

                  (b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person
         arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial),
         bankers' acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar
         instruments;

                  (c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

                  (d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred
         purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts
         payable in the ordinary course of business);

                  (e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured
         by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person
         (including indebtedness arising under

                                       12
<PAGE>

         conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not
         such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited
         in recourse;

                  (f) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and
         Synthetic Lease Obligations;

                  (g) obligations in respect of Redeemable Stock of such Person;

                  (h) any "withdrawal liability" of such Person as such term is
         defined under Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA; and

                  (i) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the
         foregoing.

         For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include
the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture
that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person
is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly
made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any
Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value
thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease
Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable
Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

         "Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

         "Indemnitees" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

         "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, the
ratio of (a) EBITDA to (b) Interest Expense, in each case for the four
consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended.

         "Interest Expense" means, for any period, for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, total interest expense, whether paid or
accrued (including the interest component of Capital Leases), including, without
limitation, all commitment fees, commissions, discounts and other fees and
charges owed with respect to letters of credit and net costs under interest rate
contracts and foreign exchange contracts, but excluding, however, amortization
of debt issuance costs, all as determined in conformity with GAAP.

         "Interest Payment Date" means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base
Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the
Revolving Maturity Date or Term B Maturity Date, as applicable; provided,
however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three
months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of
such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any
Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each
March, June, September and December and the Revolving Maturity Date or Term B
Maturity Date, as applicable.

         "Interest Period" means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or
continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or
six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Revolving Loan Notice
or Term B Loan Notice, as the case may be; provided that:

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  (i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that
         is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
         Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which
         case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

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

                  (iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving
         Maturity Date or Term B Maturity Date, as applicable.

         "Investment" means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect
acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase
or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b)
a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of,
or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or
interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest
in such other Person, or (c) without duplication, an Acquisition. For purposes
of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount
actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in
the value of such Investment.

         "IP Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17.

         "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

         "Landlord Waivers" means a landlord's waiver with respect to Collateral
located on or about leased property of the Borrower or its Domestic Subsidiaries
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

         "Laws" means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state
and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes
and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged
with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all
applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses,
authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority,
in each case, but only for purposes of Article III, whether or not having the
force of law.

         "L/C Advance" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's funding
of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Revolving Pro
Rata Share.

         "L/C Borrowing" means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing
under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made
or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.

         "L/C Cash Collateral Account" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.04(g).

                                       14
<PAGE>

         "L/C Credit Extension" means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the
issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or
increase of the amount thereof.

         "L/C Issuer" means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters
of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

         "L/C Obligations" means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate
undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all
Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.

         "Lender" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto
and, as the context requires, includes the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

         "Lending Office" means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such
Lender described as such in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such
other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.

         "Letter of Credit" means any letter of credit issued hereunder and
shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a
commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

         "Letter of Credit Application" means an application and agreement for
the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in
use by the L/C Issuer.

         "Letter of Credit Expiration Date" means the day that is seven days
prior to the Revolving Maturity Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the
next preceding Business Day).

         "Letter of Credit Sublimit" means an amount equal to $20,000,000. The
Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate
Commitments.

         "Leverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Funded
Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most
recently ended.

         "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference,
priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect
as any of the foregoing).

         "Litigation" means any proceeding, claim, lawsuit and/or arbitration by
or before any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation,
proceedings, claims, lawsuits, and/or investigations under or pursuant to any
environmental, occupational, safety and health, antitrust, unfair competition,
securities, tax or other Law, or under or pursuant to any contract, agreement or
other instrument.

                                       15
<PAGE>

         "Loan" means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under
Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan, a Term B Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

         "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Agent Fee Letter,
any Swap Contract entered into with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender,
each Guaranty, each Request for Credit Extension, each Compliance Certificate,
each Collateral Document, and any other agreement executed, delivered or
performable by any Loan Party in connection herewith or as security for the
Obligations.

         "Loan Parties" means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

         "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a
material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities
(actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) an impairment of the
ability of any Loan Party to perform its payment or other material obligations
under any Loan Document to which it is a party; (c) a material adverse effect
upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan
Party of any material provision of any Loan Document to which it is a party; or
(d) a material adverse effect upon any Lien granted in any material portion of
any Collateral.

         "Multiemployer Plan" means any employee benefit plan of the type
described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding
five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

         "Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to a Disposition, Stock
Issuance or any issuance of Indebtedness by any Person, the cash proceeds
received by such Person in connection with such transaction (including any cash
received in respect of non-cash proceeds, but only and as when received) after
deducting therefrom the aggregate, without duplication, of the following amounts
to the extent properly attributable to such transaction or to any asset that may
be the subject thereof: (i) reasonable fees and commissions (including without
limitation brokerage commissions, legal fees, finder's fees, financial advisory
fees, fees for solvency opinions, accounting fees, underwriting fees, investment
banking fees, survey, title insurance, appraisals, notaries and other similar
commissions and fees and expenses), paid, payable or reimbursed by such Person;
(ii) filing, recording or registration fees or charges or similar fees or
charges paid by such Person; (iii) taxes paid or payable by such Person or any
shareholder, partner or member of such Person to governmental taxing authorities
as a result of such sale or other disposition or issuance (after taking into
account any available tax credits or deductions or any tax sharing arrangements
to the extent actually utilized); (iv) the amount paid or payable in respect of
the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on
any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) that is secured by a Lien on the
asset in question, if any, to the extent required to be paid; and (v) the amount
of any reserve reasonably maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with
respect to indemnification obligations owing pursuant to the definitive
documentation pursuant to which such event is consummated (with any unused
portion of such reserve to constitute Net Cash Proceeds on the date upon which
the indemnification obligations terminate or such reserve is reduced other than
in connection with a payment).

                                       16
<PAGE>

         "Net Income" means, with respect to any period, the net income or loss
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period,
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be (a) excluded
therefrom, without duplication and only to the extent included in determining
Net Income, (i) any items of extraordinary gain (and related tax effect) not
described in clause (iii) below, (ii) interest income (iii) gains from asset
sales (other than the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business) and
(iv) the income or loss of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) of which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary owns Stock, except to the extent of the amount of
Dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries during such period and (b) added thereto, without duplication
and only to the extent included in determining Net Income, (i) any items of
extraordinary loss not described in clause (ii) below, including the write-off
of the unamortized balance of capitalized financing costs (and the related tax
effect), (ii) losses from asset sales (other than the sale of inventory in the
ordinary course of business), and (iii) write-downs of goodwill in accordance
with Financial Accounting Standard No. 142. For purposes of determining Net
Income, gains and losses on asset sales (other than the sale of inventory in the
ordinary course of business) during any period of four consecutive fiscal
quarters shall be netted against each other, and there shall be excluded from
such determination the portion of such net amount in excess of $1,000,000.

         "Net Worth" means, as of any fiscal quarter end, consolidated
shareholders' equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date
determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Nonrenewal Notice Date" has the meaning specified in Section
2.04(b)(iii).

         "Notes" means collectively, the Revolving Loan Notes, the Swing Line
Note, and the Term B Loan Notes.

         "Obligations" means all debts, liabilities and obligations of any Loan
Party arising under any Loan Document, whether direct or indirect (including
those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now
existing or hereafter arising. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
"Obligations" includes all amounts which would be owed by any Loan Party or any
other Person (other than Administrative Agent or Lenders) to the Administrative
Agent, the Lenders or any Affiliate of a Lender under any Loan Document, but for
the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a
bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving any Loan Party or any
other Person (including all such amounts which would become due or would be
secured but for the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of
any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding of any other Loan Party or any
other Person under any Debtor Relief Law).

         "Organization Documents" means, (a) with respect to any corporation,
the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or
comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction);
(b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles
of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to
any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the
partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or
organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect
thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the
applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or

                                       17
<PAGE>

organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or
organization of such entity.

         "Outstanding Amount" means (i) with respect to Revolving Loans, Swing
Line Loans and Term B Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal
amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or
repayments of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Term B Loans, as the case
may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on
any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to
any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the
aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result
of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit
or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of
Credit taking effect on such date.

         "Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

         "Pension Plan" means any "employee pension benefit plan" (as such term
is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes
or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or
other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any
time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

         "Permitted Stock Issuance" means the Stock Issuance by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries (a) to any employee or employee benefit plan of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) to any seller in connection with any
Acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (c) to the Borrower
or another Subsidiary.

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

         "Plan" means any "employee benefit plan" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such
plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Pro Rata Share" means either a Revolving Pro Rata Share or a Term B
Pro Rata Share, as the context requires.

         "Redeemable Stock" means any Stock of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries which prior to the Term B Maturity Date may be (a) mandatorily
redeemable, (b) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof or (c)
convertible into Indebtedness.

         "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c).

         "Release Date" means the date upon which all Obligations are paid in
full and the Commitments are terminated.

                                       18
<PAGE>

         "Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c)
of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

         "Request for Credit Extension" means (a) with respect to a Revolving
Borrowing or a conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Revolving Loan
Notice, (b) with respect to the Term B Borrowing or a conversion or continuation
of Term B Loans, a Term B Loan Notice, (c) with respect to an L/C Credit
Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (d) with respect to a Swing Line
Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

         "Required Lenders" means, as of any date of determination, Lenders
having at least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of
each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C
Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding
in the aggregate at least 66-2/3% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate
amount of each Lender's risk participation and funded participation in L/C
Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed "held" by such Lender for purposes
of this definition); provided that the Commitments of, and the portion of the
Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be
excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

         "Required Revolving Lenders" means, as of any date of determination,
Lenders having at least 66-2/3% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or, if
the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the
L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 66-2/3% of the Total
Revolving Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender's risk
participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans
being deemed "held" by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided
that the Revolving Commitments of, and the portion of the Total Revolving
Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for
purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

         "Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, president,
chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party. Any
document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan
Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and
such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf
of such Loan Party.

         "Restricted Payments" means, collectively, (a) Dividends and (b) any
payment or prepayment of principal, interest, premium or penalty of any
Subordinated Debt of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any defeasance,
redemption, purchase, repurchase or other acquisition or retirement for value,
in whole or in part, of any Subordinated Debt (including, without limitation,
the setting aside or the deposit of funds therefor).

         "Revolving Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous
Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans,
having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section
2.01.

                                       19
<PAGE>

         "Revolving Availability Period" means the period from and including
September 16, 2002 (provided that all conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are
satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the case of Section
4.01(b), waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable payment) by
such date) to the earliest of (a) the Revolving Maturity Date, (b) the date of
termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.07, and
(c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving
Loans and of the obligation of the of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit
Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

         "Revolving Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a)
make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase
participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line
Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to
exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 2.01 or in
any Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party
hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with this Agreement (collectively, the "Aggregate Revolving
Commitment").

         "Revolving Commitment Fee" has the meaning specified in Section
2.10(a).

         "Revolving Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

         "Revolving Loan Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in
favor of a Lender evidencing Revolving Loans made by such Lender, substantially
in the form of Exhibit D.

         "Revolving Loan Notice" means a notice of (a) a Revolving Borrowing,
(b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a
continuation of Revolving Loans, pursuant to Section 2.03(a), which, if in
writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

         "Revolving Maturity Date" means (a) September 15, 2007 or (b) such
earlier date as the (i) the Obligations become due and payable pursuant to this
Agreement (whether by acceleration, prepayment in full, scheduled reduction or
otherwise) or (ii) there shall exist an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f)
of this Agreement.

         "Revolving Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to each Lender at any
time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal
place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Revolving Commitment of such
Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each
Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C
Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the
Revolving Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the
Revolving Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination
and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms
hereof. The initial Revolving Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth
opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

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

                                       20
<PAGE>

         "Security Agreement" means any Security Agreement executed by one or
more of the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit J.

         "Senior Debt" means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the remainder
of (a) Funded Debt as of such date minus (b) Subordinated Debt as of such date.

         "Senior Leverage Ratio" means, as of any date of determination, for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Senior
Debt as of such date to (b) EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most
recently ended.

         "Solvent" means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of
determination, that the fair value of the assets of such Person (at fair
valuation) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of
liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person
as of such date, that the present fair saleable value of the assets of such
Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required
to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become
absolute and matured, and that, as of such date, such Person will be able to pay
all liabilities of such Person as such liabilities mature and such Person does
not have unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its business. In
computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such
liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and
circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably
be expected to become an actual or matured liability discounted to present value
at rates believed to be reasonable by such Person.

         "Stock" means shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common
stock or preferred stock), beneficial, partnership or membership interests,
participations or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or equivalent entity,
whether voting or non-voting.

         "Stock Issuance" means the issuance or other disposition by a Person of
any shares of its Stock or other securities, or rights, warrants or options to
purchase or acquire any shares or securities, but shall not include the
Disposition of any Stock which is Collateral.

         "Subordinated Debt" means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary which is expressly subordinated to the Obligations, at all times
pursuant to terms satisfactory to the Required Lenders. By signing this
Agreement, the Lenders acknowledge that (a) the Indebtedness of the Borrower in
respect of the $125,000,000 in stated principal amount of its 9 1/4% Senior
Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to the terms of the Borrower's Indenture,
dated May 5, 1999 (as such terms are in effect on the Closing Date), is
Subordinated Debt and (b) the Additional Subordinated Debt will be Subordinated
Debt.

         "Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority
of the Voting Stock (other than securities or interests having such power only
by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned,
or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise
specified, all

                                       21
<PAGE>

references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

         "Swap Contract" means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis
swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity
swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index
swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward
bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate
options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor
transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency
rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar
transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options
to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is
governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions
of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and
conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign
Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master
agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"), including
any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

         "Swap Termination Value" means, in respect of any one or more Swap
Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable
netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after
the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s)
determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any
date prior to the date referenced in subsection (a), the amount(s) determined as
the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon
one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any
recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any
Affiliate of a Lender).

         "Swing Line" means the revolving credit facility made available by the
Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.05.

         "Swing Line Borrowing" means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant
to Section 2.05.

         "Swing Line Lender" means Bank of America in its capacity as provider
of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

         "Swing Line Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

         "Swing Line Loan Notice" means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing
pursuant to Section 2.05(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit C.

         "Swing Line Sublimit" means an amount equal to the lesser of (a)
$10,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit
is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

         "Syndication Agent" means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its
capacity as syndication agent under any of the Loan Documents.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         "Synthetic Lease Obligation" means the monetary obligation of a Person
under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or
(b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that
do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency
or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such
Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

         "Term B Commitment" means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a
Term B Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.02, in aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on
Schedule 2.01 (collectively, the "Aggregate Term B Commitments").

         "Term B Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.

         "Term B Loan Borrowing" means a borrowing by the Borrower consisting of
Term B Loans of the same Type and having the same Interest Period made by each
of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.02.

         "Term B Loan Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in
favor of a Lender evidencing Term B Loans made by such Lender, substantially in
the form of Exhibit E.

         "Term B Loan Notice" means a notice of (a) a Term B Loan Borrowing, (b)
a conversion of Term B Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation
of Term B Loans as the same Type, pursuant to Section 2.03(a), which, if in
writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

         "Term B Maturity Date" means (a) September 15, 2008 or (b) such earlier
date as (i) the Obligations become due and payable pursuant to this Agreement
(whether by acceleration, prepayment in full, scheduled reduction or otherwise)
or (ii) there shall exist an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) of this
Agreement.

         "Term B Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to each Lender at any time,
a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place),
the numerator of which is the amount of the Term B Commitment of such Lender at
such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Term B
Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make
Term B Loans have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the Term B Pro
Rata Share of each Lender shall be a fraction (expressed as a percentage,
carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the
Outstanding Amount of Term B Loans owed to such Lender and the denominator of
which is the Outstanding Amount of Term B Loans owed to all Lenders. The initial
Term B Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such
Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which
such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

         "Total Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all
Loans and L/C Obligations.

         "Total Revolving Outstandings" means the aggregate Outstanding Amount
of all Revolving Loans and all L/C Obligations.

                                       23
<PAGE>

         "Treasury Stock Purchase" means any purchase, redemption, retirement,
defeasance or other acquisition (including any sinking fund or similar deposit
for such purpose) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of its Stock or any
warrants, rights or options to acquire such Stock.

         "Type" means, with respect to a Revolving Loan or a Term B Loan, its
character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

         "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code of Texas or, where applicable
to specific Collateral, any other relevant state.

         "Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of a Pension Plan's
benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value
of that Pension Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions
used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the
applicable plan year.

         "United States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America.

         "Unreimbursed Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c)(i).

         "Voting Stock" of any Person means Stock of any class or classes having
ordinary voting power for the election of at least a majority of the members of
the board of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent governing
body of such Person, irrespective of whether, at the time, Stock of any other
class or classes or such entity shall have or might have voting power by reason
of the happening of any contingency.

         "Working Capital" means as of any date of determination, for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the remainder of (a)
accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses minus (b) accounts payable
and other accrued expenses including compensation, benefits and taxes.

         1.02 OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS. With reference to this Agreement
and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other
Loan Document:

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

         (b) (i) The words "herein," "hereto," "hereof" and "hereunder" and
words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan
Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

             (ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the
         Loan Document in which such reference appears, unless the context
         indicates otherwise.

             (iii) The term "including" is by way of example and not limitation.

             (iv) The term "documents" includes any and all instruments,
         documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial
         statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical
         or electronic form.

                                       24
<PAGE>

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

         (d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are
included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

         1.03 ACCOUNTING TERMS.

         (a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein
shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including
financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted
pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on
a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner
consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except
as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

         (b) If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of
any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either
the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio
or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change
in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until
so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall
provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and
other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested
hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or
requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

         1.04 ROUNDING. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the
appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place
more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and
rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if
there is no nearest number).

         1.05 REFERENCES TO AGREEMENTS AND LAWS. Unless otherwise expressly
provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including
the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include
all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other
modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments,
restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited
by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory
and regulatory provisions and rulings consolidating, amending, replacing,
supplementing or interpreting such Law.

         1.06 TIMES OF DAY. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to
times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as
applicable).

         1.07 LETTER OF CREDIT AMOUNTS. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be
deemed to mean the maximum face amount

                                       25
<PAGE>

of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof
contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application
therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

                                   ARTICLE II.
                      THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

         2.01 REVOLVING LOANS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, each Lender with a Revolving Commitment severally agrees to make loans
(each such loan, a "Revolving Loan") to the Borrower from time to time, on any
Business Day during the Revolving Availability Period, in an aggregate amount
not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender's Revolving
Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving
Borrowing, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings and the Outstanding Amount of
all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and
(ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus
such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C
Obligations, plus such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding
Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's Revolving
Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender's Revolving Commitment, and subject
to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.
Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans and/or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further
provided herein.

         2.02 TERM B LOANS. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, each Lender with a Term B Commitment severally agrees to make a Term B
Loan on the Closing Date in the amount of its Term B Commitment. Term B Loans
may not be repaid and then reborrowed.

         2.03 BORROWINGS, CONVERSIONS AND CONTINUATIONS OF LOANS.

         (a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the
other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the
Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not
later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any
Borrowing of or conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (ii)
on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic
notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.03(a) must be confirmed
promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Revolving Loan
Notice or Term B Loan Notice, as applicable, appropriately completed and signed
by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as
provided in Sections 2.04(c) and 2.05(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to
Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple
of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice or Term B Loan Notice,
as applicable (whether telephonic or written), shall specify (i) whether the
Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the
other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of
the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a
Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or
continued, (iv) the Type of

                                       26
<PAGE>

Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if
applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the
Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Revolving Loan Notice or Term B
Loan Notice, as applicable, or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice
requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made
as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate
Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in
effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower
requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans
in any such Revolving Loan Notice or Term B Loan Notice, as applicable, but
fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an
Interest Period of one month.

         (b) Following receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice or Term B Loan Notice,
as applicable, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the
amount of its Revolving Pro Rata Share or Term B Pro Rata Share of the
applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is
provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of
the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the
preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing or the Term B
Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative
Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the
applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth
in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section
4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to
the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i)
crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the
amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in
accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the
Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date
the Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the
Borrower, there are Swing Line Loans or L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the
proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of
any such L/C Borrowings, second, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line
Loans, and third, to the Borrower as provided above.

         (c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be
continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be
requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the
consent of the Required Lenders.

         (d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar
Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the
Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence
of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in
Bank of America's prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly
following the public announcement of such change.

         (e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans
from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type,
there shall not be more than fifteen Interest Periods in effect with respect to
all Loans.

                                       27
<PAGE>

         2.04 LETTERS OF CREDIT.

         (a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

                  (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A)
         the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other
         Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, (1) from time to time on any
         Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter
         of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account
         of the Borrower or certain Subsidiaries, and to amend or renew Letters
         of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b)
         below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letter of Credit; and (B) the
         Lenders with Revolving Commitments severally agree to participate in
         Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower; provided that
         the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension
         with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated
         to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C
         Credit Extension, (x) the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the
         Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount
         of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender's Revolving Pro
         Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such
         Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all
         Swing Line Loans would exceed such Lender's Revolving Commitment, or
         (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the
         Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to
         the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower's ability to obtain
         Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the
         Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to
         replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn
         upon and reimbursed. The Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to
         have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date
         shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

                  (ii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any
         Letter of Credit if:

                           (A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental
                  Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin
                  or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit,
                  or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or
                  directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any
                  Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer
                  shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from,
                  the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of
                  Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with
                  respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or
                  capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise
                  compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or
                  shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost
                  or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and
                  which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

                           (B) subject to Section 2.04(b)(iii), the expiry date
                  of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than
                  twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal,
                  unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

                                       28
<PAGE>

                           (C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of
                  Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date,
                  unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date;

                           (D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would
                  violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer; or

                           (E) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a
                  currency other than Dollars.

                  (iii) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any
         Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such
         time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms
         hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept
         the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

         (b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit;
Auto-Renewal Letters of Credit.

                  (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the
         case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C
         Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a
         Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by an
         Authorized Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application
         must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not
         later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date
         and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its
         sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of
         amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial
         issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall
         specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the
         proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall
         be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date
         thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the
         documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing
         thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by
         such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other
         matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an
         amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit
         Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C
         Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of
         amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of
         the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer
         may require.

                  (ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit
         Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent
         (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received
         a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if
         not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy
         thereof. Upon receipt by the L/C Issuer of confirmation from the
         Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is
         permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the
         terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested
         date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter
         into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in
         accordance with the L/C

                                       29
<PAGE>

         Issuer's usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the
         issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender with a Revolving
         Commitment shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
         unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk
         participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the
         product of such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share times the amount of
         such Letter of Credit.

                  (iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of
         Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute
         discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic
         renewal provisions (each, an "Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit"); provided
         that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer
         to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period
         (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by
         giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day
         (the "Nonrenewal Notice Date") in each such twelve-month period to be
         agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless
         otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be
         required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such
         renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the
         Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the
         L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time
         to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date;
         provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such
         renewal if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no
         obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed
         form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section
         2.04(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be
         by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is two Business
         Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative
         Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal
         or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that
         one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is
         not then satisfied.

                  (iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or
         any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect
         thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver
         to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy
         of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

         (c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

                  (i) Promptly upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter
         of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the
         L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
         thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the
         L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an "Honor Date"),
         the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative
         Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower
         fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative
         Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount
         of the unreimbursed drawing (the "Unreimbursed Amount"), and the amount
         of such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the
         Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate
         Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the
         Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples
         specified in Section 2.01 for the principal amount of Base Rate

                                       30
<PAGE>

         Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the
         Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or
         the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.04(c)(i) may be
         given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that
         the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the
         conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

                  (ii) Each Lender with a Revolving Commitment (including the
         Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section
         2.04(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the
         account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent's Office in an
         amount equal to its Revolving Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount
         not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice
         by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of
         Section 2.04(c)(iii), each such Lender that so makes funds available
         shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such
         amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to
         the L/C Issuer.

                  (iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not
         fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because
         the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any
         other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the
         L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount
         that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable
         on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the
         Default Rate. In such event, each such Lender's payment to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to
         Section 2.04(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its
         participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance
         from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under
         this Section 2.04.

                  (iv) Until each such Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C
         Advance pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer
         for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of
         such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely
         for the account of the L/C Issuer.

                  (v) Each such Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or
         L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under
         Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.04(c), shall be
         absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
         circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
         defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C
         Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B)
         the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other
         occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the
         foregoing; provided, however, that each such Lender's obligation to
         make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the
         conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the
         Borrower of a Revolving Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance
         shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to
         reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C
         Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided
         herein.

                                       31
<PAGE>

                  (vi) If any such Lender fails to make available to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount
         required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions
         of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(ii),
         the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting
         through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest
         thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the
         date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer
         at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time
         in effect. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender
         (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing
         under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

         (d) Repayment of Participations.

                  (i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under
         any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender's L/C
         Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.04(c),
         if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer
         any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest
         thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including
         proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative
         Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its
         Revolving Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case
         of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such
         Lender's L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those
         received by the Administrative Agent.

                  (ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for
         the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) is
         required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in
         Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the
         L/C Issuer in its discretion), each such Lender shall pay to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Revolving
         Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus
         interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount
         is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal
         Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

         (e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse
the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each
L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be
paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances, including the following:

                  (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of
         Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating
         thereto;

                  (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off,
         defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against
         any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any
         Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be
         acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with
         this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter
         of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any
         unrelated transaction;

                                       32
<PAGE>

                  (iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document
         presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent,
         invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being
         untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the
         transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a
         drawing under such Letter of Credit;

                  (iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit
         against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly
         comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by
         the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to
         be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the
         benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of
         or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of
         Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under
         any Debtor Relief Law; or

                  (v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or
         not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance
         that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge
         of, the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

         The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and
each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of
noncompliance with the Borrower's instructions or other irregularity, the
Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be
conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its
correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

         (f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender with a Revolving Commitment and the
Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C
Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any
sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of
Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such
document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such
document. None of the L/C Issuer, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the
respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer shall be
liable to any such Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection
herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required
Revolving Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the
absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution,
effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related
to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby
assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with
respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this
assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower's pursuing
such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at
law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, any Agent-Related
Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of
the L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described
in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.04(e); provided, however, that anything
in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim
against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the
extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or
exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were
caused by the L/C Issuer's willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C
Issuer's willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the

                                       33
<PAGE>

presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s)
strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept
documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for
further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary,
and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of
any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a
Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in
whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

         (g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i)
if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of
Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain
outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash
Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount
equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such Event of
Default or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be). For
purposes hereof, "Cash Collateralize" means to pledge and deposit with or
deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the
Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances
pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to
by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The
Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C
Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts
and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash collateral
shall be initially maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts
at Bank of America (the "L/C Cash Collateral Account"). The Borrower, no more
than once in any calendar month, may direct the Administrative Agent to invest
the funds held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account (so long as the aggregate
amount of such funds exceeds any relevant minimum investment requirement) in (i)
direct obligations of the United States or any agency thereof, or obligations
guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof and (ii) one or more other
types of investments permitted by the Administrative Agent, in each case with
such maturities as the Borrower, with the consent of the Administrative Agent,
may specify, pending application of such funds on account of the L/C Obligations
or on account of other Obligations, as the case may be. In the absence of any
such direction form the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall invest the
funds held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account (so long as the aggregate amount
of such funds exceeds any relevant minimum investment requirement) in one or
more types of investments with such maturities as the Administrative Agent may
specify, pending application of such funds on account of the L/C Obligations or
on account of other Obligations, as the case may be. All such investments shall
be made in the Administrative Agent's name for the account of the Lenders,
subject to the ownership interest therein of the Borrower. The Borrower
recognizes that any losses or taxes with respect to such investments shall be
borne solely by the Borrower, and the Borrower agrees to hold the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders harmless from any and all such losses and taxes. The
Administrative Agent may liquidate any investment held in the L/C Cash
Collateral Account in order to apply the proceeds of such investment on account
of the L/C Obligations (or on account of any other Obligation then due and
payable, as the case may be) without regard to whether such investment has
matured and without liability for any penalty or other fee incurred (with
respect to which the Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse the Administrative
Agent) as a result of such application.

                                       34
<PAGE>

         (h) Applicability of ISP98 and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed
by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including
any such agreement applicable to the Existing Letters of Credit), (i) the rules
of the "International Standby Practices 1998" published by the Institute of
International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in
effect at the time of issuance) shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit,
and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits,
as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC")
at the time of issuance (including the ICC decision published by the Commission
on Banking Technique and Practice on April 6, 1998 regarding the European single
currency (euro)) shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

         (i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Revolving Pro Rata
Share a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable
Rate times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in
arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable on the first
Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December,
commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter
of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If
there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum
amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the
Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such
Applicable Rate was in effect.

         (j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C
Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a
fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit at a per annum rate equal to
0.125% times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit. Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in
arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable on the first
Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December,
commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter
of Credit, or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. In
addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account
the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and
other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of
credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs
and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

         (k) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event of any
conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit
Application, the terms hereof shall control.

         2.05 SWING LINE LOANS.

         (a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Swing
Line Loan") to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the
Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time
outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that
such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Revolving Pro Rata Share of the
Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender

                                       35
<PAGE>

acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender's Revolving
Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan,
(i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of
any Lender, plus such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding
Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of
the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender's
Revolving Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the
proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan.
Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions
hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.05, prepay under Section
2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.05. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base
Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender with a
Revolving Commitment shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk
participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such
Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

         (b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon
the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be
received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than
1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to
be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested
borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must
be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately
completed and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after
receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the
Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in
writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan
Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent
(by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line
Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative
Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of
the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to
make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the
proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.05(a), or (B) that one or more of the
applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not
later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan
Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its
office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line
Lender in immediately available funds.

         (c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

                  (i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute
         discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby
         irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its
         behalf), that each Lender with a Revolving Commitment make a Base Rate
         Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of
         the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be
         made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a
         Revolving Loan Notice for purposes

                                       36
<PAGE>

         hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03,
         without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the
         principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized
         portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the conditions set
         forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower
         with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering
         such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each such Lender shall make an
         amount equal to its Revolving Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in
         such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately
         available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the
         Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day
         specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section
         2.05(c)(ii), each such Lender that so makes funds available shall be
         deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.
         The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing
         Line Lender.

                  (ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be
         refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(i),
         the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as
         set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line
         Lender that each of the Lenders with a Revolving Commitment fund its
         risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each such
         Lender's payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
         Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(i) shall be deemed
         payment in respect of such participation.

                  (iii) If any such Lender fails to make available to the
         Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any
         amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing
         provisions of this Section 2.05(c) by the time specified in Section
         2.05(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from
         such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such
         amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment
         is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available
         to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds
         Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the Swing Line
         Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with
         respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be
         conclusive absent manifest error.

                  (iv) Each such Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or
         to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant
         to this Section 2.05(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall
         not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off,
         counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may
         have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person
         for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a
         Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or
         not similar to any of the foregoing. No such funding of risk
         participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the
         Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided
         herein.

         (d) Repayment of Participations.

                  (i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a
         risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender
         receives any payment on account of such

                                       37
<PAGE>

         Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender
         its Revolving Pro Rata Share of such payment (appropriately adjusted,
         in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during
         which such Lender's risk participation was funded) in the same funds as
         those received by the Swing Line Lender.

                  (ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in
         respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to
         be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances
         described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement
         entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender
         shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Revolving Pro Rata Share thereof
         on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the
         date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per
         annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will
         make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

         (e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender
shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line
Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant
to this Section 2.05 to refinance such Lender's Revolving Pro Rata Share of any
Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for
the account of the Swing Line Lender.

         (f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all
payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly
to the Swing Line Lender.

         2.06 PREPAYMENTS.

         (a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any
time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans or Term B Loans in
whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must
be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three
Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B)
on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall
be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess
thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then
outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such
prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and whether such Loan is a
Revolving Loan or a Term B Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify
each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such
Lender's Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the
Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount
specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued
interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to
Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans or
the Term B Loans, as the case may be, of the Lenders in accordance with their
respective Pro Rata Shares of such Loan. Any voluntary prepayments of the Term B
Loans shall be applied to the next immediately following four scheduled
installment payments of the Term B Loan, with any excess being applied to the
unpaid scheduled installment payments of the Term B Loans in inverse order of
maturity.

                                       38
<PAGE>

         (b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy
to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily
prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided
that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and
(ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.
Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such
notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the
payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein.

         (c) If for any reason the Total Revolving Outstandings at any time
exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall
immediately prepay Revolving Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations
in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the
Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations
pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the
Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect.

         (d) To the extent that an amount equivalent to the amount of any Net
Cash Proceeds from the Disposition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
pursuant to Section 7.05(h) is not reinvested within 180 days of such
Disposition to purchase assets (including assets acquired by way of an
Acquisition) useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the
Borrower shall prepay on the first Business Day after the expiration of such
180-day period Term B Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of
the amount by which such Net Cash Proceeds exceeds the aggregate of the amounts
so reinvested by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries during such 180-day
period. At such time, if any, as the Term B Loans are paid in full, the Borrower
shall prepay outstanding Revolving Loans, if any, pursuant to this Section 2.06
in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds which
are not reinvested as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, to the
extent available after prepayment of the Term B Loans. Each such mandatory
prepayment shall be made and applied as provided in Section 2.06(i) and shall,
to the extent required to prepay Revolving Loans, reduce the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments as provided in Section 2.07.

         (e) Commencing on the 90th day after the end of fiscal year 2003 and on
the 90th day after the end of each fiscal year thereafter (collectively, the
"Excess Cash Flow Payment Date") in which the Leverage Ratio calculated as of
the fourth fiscal quarter for the fiscal year-end immediately preceding each
such Excess Cash Flow Payment Date is greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00, the
Borrower shall prepay Term B Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to 50%
of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for such immediately preceding fiscal year. At such
time, if any, as the Term B Loans are paid in full, the Borrower shall prepay
outstanding Revolving Loans, if any, pursuant to this Section 2.06 in an
aggregate principal amount equal to 50% of such Excess Cash Flow, to the extent
available after prepayment of the Term B Loans. Each such mandatory prepayment
shall be made and applied as provided in Section 2.06(i) and shall, to the
extent required to prepay Revolving Loans, reduce the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments as provided in Section 2.07.

         (f) Concurrently with the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds from any Stock
Issuance of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries other than a Permitted Stock
Issuance, the Borrower shall

                                       39
<PAGE>

prepay Term B Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 50% of such Net Cash
Proceeds. At such time, if any, as the Term B Loans are paid in full, the
Borrower shall prepay outstanding Revolving Loans, if any, pursuant to this
Section 2.06 in an aggregate principal amount equal to 50% of such Net Cash
Proceeds received, to the extent available after prepayment of the Term B Loans.
Each such mandatory prepayment shall be made and applied as provided in Section
2.06(i) and shall, to the extent required to prepay Revolving Loans, reduce the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments as provided in Section 2.07.

         (g) Concurrently with the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds from the
issuance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Subordinated Debt
(other than the Additional Subordinated Debt), the Borrower shall prepay Term B
Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds.
At such time, if any, as the Term B Loans are paid in full, the Borrower shall
prepay outstanding Revolving Loans, if any, pursuant to this Section 2.06 in an
aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds, to the
extent available after prepayment to the Term B Loans. Each such mandatory
prepayment shall be applied as permitted in Section 2.06(i) and shall, to the
extent required to prepay Revolving Loans, reduce the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments as provided in Section 2.07.

         (h) Concurrently with the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds from the
issuance of the Additional Subordinated Debt, the Borrower shall prepay
outstanding Revolving Loans, if any, pursuant to this Section 2.06 in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the lesser of (i) $25,000,000 or (ii) the
outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans on the date of such
prepayment. Such mandatory prepayment shall be made as provided in Section
2.06(i) and, irrespective of the amount actually paid, shall reduce the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments by $25,000,000 as provided in Section 2.07.

         (i) Any mandatory prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.06(d), (e),
(f), (g) or (h) shall (i) include and be applied to interest to the date of such
prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and include any additional amounts
required pursuant to Section 3.05, and (ii) not be subject to any notice and
minimum payment provisions. Any mandatory prepayment of Term B Loans pursuant to
Section 2.06(d), (e), (f) or (g) shall be applied in inverse order of the unpaid
scheduled installment payments of the Term B Loans.

         2.07 TERMINATION OR REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS. The Borrower may, upon
notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the
date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an
aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent
prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings and Outstanding Amount
of Swing Line Loans would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and (iv)
if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments,
the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of
the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically
reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly
notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the
Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Aggregate

                                       40
<PAGE>

Revolving Commitments shall be reduced by the amount of Revolving Loans required
to be prepaid pursuant to Sections 2.06(d), (e), (f), (g) or (h), whether or not
such amount of Revolving Loans are outstanding. Any reduction of the Aggregate
Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving Commitment of each
Lender according to its Revolving Pro Rata Share. All Revolving Commitment Fees
accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. If the
Additional Subordinated Debt has not been issued by the last day of fiscal year
2005, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall automatically be reduced by an
amount equal to the remainder of (i) $25,000,000 minus (ii) any voluntary
reductions of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments prior to such date.

         2.08 REPAYMENT OF LOANS.

         (a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Revolving Maturity
Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.

         (b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to
occur of (i) demand by the Swing Line Lender and (ii) the Revolving Maturity
Date.

         (c) To the extent not otherwise required to be paid earlier as provided
herein, the Borrower shall repay the principal of the Term B Loans on each
payment date and on the Term B Maturity Date in such amounts as set forth next
to each such date set forth below (subject to reduction after taking into
account any prepayment of the Term B Loans pursuant to Section 2.06):

<Table>
<Caption>
                Payment Date                                     Installment Amount
                ------------                                     ------------------
<S>                                                              <C>

Last Business Day of December 2002                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2003                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2003                                       $1,562,500
Last Business Day of September 2003                                  $1,562,500
Last Business Day of December 2003                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2004                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2004                                       $1,562,500
Last Business Day of September 2004                                  $1,562,500
Last Business Day of December 2004                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2005                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2005                                       $1,562,500
</Table>

                                       41
<PAGE>

<Table>
<Caption>
                Payment Date                                     Installment Amount
                ------------                                     ------------------
<S>                                                              <C>

Last Business Day of September 2005                                  $1,562,500
Last Business Day of December 2005                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2006                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2006                                       $1,562,500
Last Business Day of September 2006                                  $1,562,500
Last Business Day of December 2006                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2007                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2007                                       $1,562,500
Last Business Day of September 2007                                  $1,562,500
Last Business Day of December 2007                                   $1,562,500
Last Business Day of March 2008                                      $1,562,500
Last Business Day of June 2008                                       $1,562,500
September 15, 2008                                      $89,062,500 or such other amount of
                                                         the Term B Loans then outstanding
</Table>

         2.09 INTEREST.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (y)
the Highest Lawful Rate or (z) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus
the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable
borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (y) the Highest Lawful
Rate or (z) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans; and
(iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to
the lesser of (y) the Highest Lawful Rate or (z) the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans.

         (b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is
not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear
interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the
Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws. Furthermore,
upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the
Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding
Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times
equal to the Default Rate to the

                                       42
<PAGE>

fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past
due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable
upon demand.

         (c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each
Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be
specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with
the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the
commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

         2.10 FEES. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and
(j) of Section 2.04:

         (a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of each Lender with a Revolving Commitment in accordance with its Revolving Pro
Rata Share, a commitment fee (the "Revolving Commitment Fee") equal to the
Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving
Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and
(ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The Revolving Commitment Fee
shall accrue at all times during the Revolving Availability Period, including at
any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met,
and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to
occur after the Closing Date, and on the Revolving Maturity Date. The Revolving
Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any
change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall
be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period
during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

         (b) (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Co-Arrangers and the
Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and
at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when
paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

         (ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been
separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.
Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any
reason whatsoever, unless otherwise provided in the applicable fee letters.

         2.11 COMPUTATION OF INTEREST AND FEES. All computations of interest for
Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America's "prime
rate" shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may
be, and actual days elapsed. Subject to Section 10.10, all other computations of
fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days
elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than
if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan
for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any
portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided
that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject
to Section 2.13(a), bear interest for one day.

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<PAGE>

         2.12 EVIDENCE OF DEBT.

         (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one
or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative
Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by
the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest
error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower
and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in
doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the
Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In
the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any
Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of
such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control
in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through
the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender
(through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Loan Note, Term B Loan Note
and/or a Swing Line Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender's
Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules
to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and
maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

         (b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection
(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with
its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by
such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the
event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the
Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of
such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control
in the absence of manifest error.

         2.13 PAYMENTS GENERALLY.

         (a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without
condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower
hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the
respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent's
Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on
the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to
each Lender its applicable Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided
herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such
Lender's Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after
2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any
applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

         (b) Subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, if
any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a
Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case
may be.

         (c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative
Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the
Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case
may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative

                                       44
<PAGE>

Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has
timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance
thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto.
If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:

                  (i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender
         shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion
         of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in
         immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect
         of each day from and including the date such amount was made available
         by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is
         repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at
         the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and

                  (ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender
         shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount
         thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon
         for the period from the date such amount was made available by the
         Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is
         recovered by the Administrative Agent (the "Compensation Period") at a
         rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in
         effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent,
         then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan included in the
         applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith
         upon the Administrative Agent's demand therefor, the Administrative
         Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower
         shall pay such principal amount to the Administrative Agent, together
         with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum
         equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing.
         Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its
         obligation to fulfill its Revolving Commitment, Term B Commitment or
         Term C Commitment, as applicable, or to prejudice any rights which the
         Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a
         result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

         A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with
respect to any amount owing under this subsection (c) shall be conclusive,
absent manifest error.

         (d) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for
any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of
this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension
set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms
hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as
received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

         (e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund
participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not
joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such
participation on any date required hereunder to be made by it shall not relieve
any other Lender so required of its corresponding obligation to do so on such
date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to
so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

                                       45
<PAGE>

         (f) Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the
funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a
representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for
any Loan in any particular place or manner.

         2.14 SHARING OF PAYMENTS. If, other than as expressly provided
elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of any Loans made by it, or
the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it, any
payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of
set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its applicable Pro Rata Share (or other
share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify
the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders
such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in
the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the
case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the
excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may
be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of
such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any
of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such
purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to
the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount
equal to such paying Lender's applicable Pro Rata Share (according to the
proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender's required repayment to (ii)
the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or
other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total
amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that
any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right
of set-off, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as
fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall
be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations
purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following
any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation
pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to
give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under
this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the
same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the
Obligations purchased.

         2.15 INCREMENTAL FACILITY.

         (a) Subject to the terms of this Section 2.15, upon notice to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower
may, on a one-time basis, request either (i) an increase in the Term B
Commitment by a principal amount not exceeding $100,000,000 or (ii) an
additional term commitment in a principal amount not in excess of $100,000,000
(either of such increase or additional term commitment being the "Incremental
Facility"). At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation
with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each
Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten
Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders). Each
Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or
not it agrees to participate in the Incremental Facility and, if so, in what
amount. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to
have declined to participate in the Incremental

                                       46
<PAGE>

Facility. No Lender shall have any obligation to participate in the Incremental
Facility. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of
the Lender's responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full
amount of the Incremental Facility, the Borrower may also invite additional
Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

         (b) The Incremental Facility will only be available under the following
conditions:

                  (i) there shall exist no Default under this Agreement
         immediately prior to and after giving effect to the Incremental
         Facility;

                  (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
         Agent a Compliance Certificate, completed on a pro forma basis, giving
         effect to the Incremental Facility;

                  (iii) the proceeds of the Incremental Facility may only be
         used to fund permitted Acquisitions;

                  (iv) the final maturity of the Incremental Facility shall
         occur no earlier than the Term B Maturity Date;

                  (v) the amortization of principal of the Incremental Facility
         shall not occur any earlier than the amortization of the Term B Loan;
         and

                  (vi) an administrative amendment of the Agreement is executed
         to account for the Incremental Facility, provided such amendment shall
         not require revisions to Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X of this
         Agreement.

         (c) If the Incremental Facility is extended in accordance with this
Section 2.15, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the
effective date (the "Incremental Facility Effective Date") and the final
allocation of the Incremental Facility. The Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of the Incremental
Facility and the Incremental Facility Effective Date. As a further condition
precedent to the Incremental Facility, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the
Incremental Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a
Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the
resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to the
Incremental Facility and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that,
before and after giving effect to the Incremental Facility, (A) the
representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan
Documents are true and correct on and as of the Extension Effective Date, except
to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an
earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date,
and except that for purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and
warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed
to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and
(b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists.

         (d) This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.01 to the
contrary.

                                       47
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III.
                     TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

         3.01 TAXES.

         (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes,
duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar
charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its
overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction (or
any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending
office (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions,
assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by any
Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan
Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be
increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including
deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), each of
the Administrative Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it
would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall
make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to
the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with Applicable
Laws, and (iv) within 30 days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall
furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such
Lender) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment
thereof.

         (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees and shall be obligated to pay any
and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise
or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made
under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance,
enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document,
except that the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any such taxes, charges
or similar levies that are incurred or payable by any Person in connection with
any assignment referred to in Section 10.07(b), any participation referred to in
Section 10.07(d) or any pledge or security interest referred to in Section
10.07(f) (such taxes, charges and similar levies with respect to which the
Borrower is obligated to pay are hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").

         (c) If the Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or
Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the
Administrative Agent or to such Lender, as the case may be, at the time interest
is paid, such additional amount that the Administrative Agent or such Lender
specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all
taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) that the
Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other
Taxes had not been imposed.

         (d) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under
this Section) paid by the Administrative

                                       48
<PAGE>

Agent and such Lender, (ii) amounts payable under Section 3.01(c) and (iii) any
liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising
therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or
Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant
Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within
30 days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a demand
therefor.

         (e) To the extent the Borrower pays sums pursuant to this Section 3.01
and any Lender or the Administrative Agent receives a refund or any or all of
such sums, the party receiving such refund shall promptly pay over all such
refunded sums to the Borrower, provided that no Default is in existence at such
time.

         (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.01 to the contrary, the
demand by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of Taxes or
Other Taxes under this Section 3.01 shall not include any Taxes or Other Taxes
that occurred 180 days prior to the date that the Administrative Agent or such
Lender had knowledge or should have had knowledge of such Taxes or Other Taxes
unless the Administrative Agent or such Lender notifies the Borrower of such
Taxes or Other Taxes no later than 180 days after the date that the
Administrative Agent or such Lender had knowledge or should have had knowledge
of such Taxes or Other Taxes.

         3.02 ILLEGALITY. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it
unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful,
for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund
Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the
Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through
the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue
Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans
shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer
exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such
Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable,
convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on
the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully
continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if
such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans.
Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued
interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate
a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such
notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be
materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

         3.03 INABILITY TO DETERMINE RATES. If the Required Lenders determine
that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining
the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed
Eurodollar Rate Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest
Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and
fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative
Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the
obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be
suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required
Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may
revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or

                                       49
<PAGE>

continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have
converted such request into a request for a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate
Loans in the amount specified therein.

         3.04 INCREASED COST AND REDUCED RETURN; CAPITAL ADEQUACY; RESERVES ON
EURODOLLAR RATE LOANS.

         (a) If any Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or
any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or such Lender's compliance
therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to
make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or (as the case may
be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount
received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing
(excluding for purposes of this subsection (a) any such increased costs or
reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section
3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income
or overall gross income by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any
political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is
organized or has its Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements contemplated
by Section 3.04(c)), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a
copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such
Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased
cost or reduction.

         (b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding
capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or
compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of
reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender's obligations hereunder
(taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and
such Lender's desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of
such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the
Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate
such Lender for such reduction.

         (c) The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall
be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as
"Eurocurrency liabilities"), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount
of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves
allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good
faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable
on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower
shall have received at least 15 days' prior notice (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender
fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such
additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such
notice.

         3.05 FUNDING LOSSES. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate
such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense
incurred by it as a result of:

                                       50
<PAGE>

         (a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan
other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest
Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of
acceleration, or otherwise);

         (b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of
such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan
other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the
Borrower; or

         (c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the
last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 10.16 or as a result of one or more assignments by
Bank of America of a portion of its Term B Commitment within ten Business Days
of the Closing Date;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of
funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the
deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any
customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the
foregoing.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under
this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar
Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit
or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable
amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was
in fact so funded.

         3.06 MATTERS APPLICABLE TO ALL REQUESTS FOR COMPENSATION.

         (a) A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming
compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or
amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such
Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

         (b) Upon any Lender's making a claim for compensation under Section
3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section
10.16.

         3.07 SURVIVAL. All of the Borrower's obligations under this Article III
shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all
other Obligations hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IV.
                    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

         4.01 CONDITIONS OF INITIAL CREDIT EXTENSION. The obligation of each
Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction
of the following conditions precedent in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent:

         (a) The Administrative Agent's receipt of the following, each of which
shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless
otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the
signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in

                                       51
<PAGE>

the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the
Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and its legal counsel:

                  (i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Guaranty and
         the Security Agreements (together with related UCC-1 financing
         statements, stock certificates for all Stock of each Domestic
         Subsidiary and for 65% of all Stock of each Foreign Subsidiary (other
         than Building Systems de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.), insurance certificates
         naming the Administrative Agent as loss payee/mortgagee and additional
         insured, Landlord Waivers for leased property on which Collateral of
         the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries is located), and all such
         other related documents, sufficient in number for distribution to the
         Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

                  (ii) Revolving Loan Notes executed by the Borrower in favor of
         each Lender, each in a principal amount equal to such Lender's
         Revolving Commitment;

                  (iii) a Swing Line Note executed by the Borrower in favor of
         the Swing Line Lender in the principal amount of the Swing Line
         Sublimit;

                  (iv) Term B Loan Notes executed by the Borrower in favor of
         each Lender, each in a principal amount equal to such Lender's Term
         Commitment;

                  (v) such certificates of resolutions or other action,
         incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible
         Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require
         evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible
         Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in
         connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which
         such Loan Party is a party;

                  (vi) such documents and certifications as the Administrative
         Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly
         organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in
         good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction
         where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of
         its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that
         failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
         Adverse Effect;

                  (vii) a favorable opinion of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, counsel
         to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each
         Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit K and such other matters
         concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required
         Lenders may reasonably request;

                  (viii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan
         Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and
         approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and
         performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party
         of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents,
         licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B)
         stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

                  (ix) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the
         Borrower (A) certifying (y) that the conditions specified in Sections
         4.02(a) and (b) have been

                                       52
<PAGE>

         satisfied, and (z) that there has been no event or circumstance since
         the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be
         reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
         Material Adverse Effect; and (B) containing a calculation of the
         Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower
         most recently ended prior to the Closing Date;

                  (x) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained
         pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

                  (xi) evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or
         concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and all
         obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or
         concurrently with the Closing Date are being paid or satisfied in full;
         and

                  (xii) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents
         or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line
         Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

         (b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall
have been paid, and the Fee Letter shall be in full force and effect.

         (c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have
paid all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior
to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as
shall constitute its reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be
incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate
shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent).

         (d) There has occurred no event or circumstances since October 31, 2001
(other than as may be reflected in Schedule 4.01) that has resulted in or could
be reasonably expected to result in, either individually or in the aggregate, a
material adverse change in the operations, business, properties, liabilities
(actual or contingent), conditional (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

         (e) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before September 15,
2002.

         4.02 CONDITIONS TO ALL CREDIT EXTENSIONS. The obligation of each Lender
to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice
requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type, or a
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions
precedent:

         (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other
Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are
contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith
or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit
Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties
specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and
correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section
4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of
Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the

                                       53
<PAGE>

most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b),
respectively, of Section 6.01.

         (b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit
Extension.

         (c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the
Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in
accordance with the requirements hereof.

         Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting
only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar
Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been
satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

                                   ARTICLE V.
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders that:

         5.01 EXISTENCE, QUALIFICATION AND POWER; COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each
Loan Party (a) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly
organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent
applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its
assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly
qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each
jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each
case referred to in subsection (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do
so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.02 AUTHORIZATION; NO CONTRAVENTION. The execution, delivery and
performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is
party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other
organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any
of such Person's Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any
breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, (i) any
Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party, the result of which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any
order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral
award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

         5.03 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION; OTHER CONSENTS. No approval, consent,
exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement
against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than
Persons in respect of Liens granted in immaterial portions of Collateral, the
result of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

                                       54
<PAGE>

         5.04 BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan
Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered
by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each
other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that
is party thereto in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement to any
Debtor Relief Laws and to general equitable principles.

         5.05 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NO MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT.

         (a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as
otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date
thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby,
except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material
indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes,
material commitments and Indebtedness.

         (b) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries dated May 4, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of
income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter
ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly
noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their
results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of
clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit
adjustments.

         (c) Schedule 5.05 sets forth all material indebtedness and other
liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries not reflected on the financial statements referred to in Section
5.05(b) immediately preceding as of the date set forth in Schedule 5.05,
including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

         (d) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, except as
reflected in Schedule 4.01, there has been no event or circumstance, either
individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.06 LITIGATION. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there is no
Litigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, at law, in
equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or
revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either
individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened before
any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purports to
affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, or

                                       55
<PAGE>

(b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.07 NO DEFAULT. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default
under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could, either
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other
Loan Document.

         5.08 OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY; LIENS. Each of the Borrower and each
Subsidiary has good record and indefeasible title in fee simple to, or valid
leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary
conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to
no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

         5.09 ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries
conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing
Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for
violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations
and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded
that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         5.10 INSURANCE. The properties and businesses of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect
to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such
deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies of
similar size engaged in similar businesses.

         5.11 TAXES. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal,
state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have
paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other
governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or
assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate
reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax
assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         5.12 ERISA COMPLIANCE.

         (a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each
Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter
is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best
knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause
the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made
all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and
no application for a funding

                                       56
<PAGE>

waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the
Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

         (b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority,
with respect to any Plan that could be reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the
fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

         (c) Except where the occurrence or existence could not, individually or
in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i)
no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (ii) no Pension
Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability, (iii) neither the Borrower nor any
ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability
under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums
due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA), (iv) neither the Borrower
nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any
liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under
Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or
4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, and (v) neither the Borrower
nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to
Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

         5.13 SUBSIDIARIES. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no
Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule
5.13 and has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than
those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13.

         5.14 MARGIN REGULATIONS; INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT; PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING
COMPANY ACT.

         (a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as
one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying
margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or
extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under
each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of
the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to
any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower
and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and
within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

         (b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any
Subsidiary (i) 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, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

         5.15 DISCLOSURE. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions
to which it or any of its

                                       57
<PAGE>

Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually
or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information
furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder
(as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any
material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading in any material respect; provided that, with respect
to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such
information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be
reasonable at the time such information was stated or certified.

         5.16 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is
in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all
orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties,
except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ,
injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually
or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.

         5.17 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; LICENSES, ETC. The Borrower and its
Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the material trademarks,
service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises,
licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, "IP Rights") that
are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict
with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no
slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or
other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person which,
either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No claim or Litigation regarding any of the foregoing
is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         5.18 BUSINESSES. The Borrower is presently engaged directly or through
wholly-owned Subsidiaries in the business of design, manufacture and marketing
(at wholesale, retail and through other channels) of metal construction products
for agricultural, industrial, commercial, governmental, residential and other
uses, including pre-engineered metal building systems, metal building components
(including metal coil coating and painting services) and roll-up doors.

         5.19 COMMON ENTERPRISE. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged
in the businesses set forth in Section 5.18 as of the Closing Date, as well as
in certain other businesses. These operations require financing on a basis such
that the credit supplied can be made available from time to time to the Borrower
and various of its Subsidiaries, as required for the continued successful
operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole. The Borrower has
requested the Lender to make credit available hereunder primarily for the
purposes set forth in Section 6.11 and generally for the purposes of financing
the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower and each of
its Subsidiaries expects to derive benefit (and the Board

                                       58
<PAGE>

of Directors of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has determined that
such Subsidiary may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly or
indirectly, from a portion of the credit extended by the Lenders hereunder, both
in its separate capacity and as a member of the group of companies, since the
successful operation and condition of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries
is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the
group as a whole. The Borrower acknowledges that, but for the agreement by each
of the Guarantors to execute and deliver the Guaranty, the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders would not have made available the credit facilities established
hereby on the terms set forth herein.

         5.20 SOLVENT. The Borrower is, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
are on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

         5.21 SENIOR DEBT. All Obligations under this Agreement are and will
continue to be Senior Debt under the terms of all Subordinated Debt of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE VI.
                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or
other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of
Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the
case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.11) cause
each Subsidiary to:

         6.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form
and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

         (a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated and consolidating balance
sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, a
consolidated and consolidating statement of income or operations, and the
related consolidated shareholders' equity and cash flows for such fiscal year,
setting forth in the case of each consolidated statement in comparative form the
figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in
accordance with GAAP, audited (excluding the consolidating balance sheet and
consolidating statement of income or operations) and accompanied by a report and
opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized
standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any "going
concern" or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as
to the scope of such audit; and

         (b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end
of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal
quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and
cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal
year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the
corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and
certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations

                                       59
<PAGE>

and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP,
subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section
6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such
information under subsection (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in
derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and
materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified
therein.

         6.02 CERTIFICATES; OTHER INFORMATION. Deliver to the Administrative
Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

         (a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred
to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate
(provided that with respect to the Compliance Certificate delivered for the
fourth quarter of each fiscal year, only the Leverage Ratio set forth in
Schedule 2 thereof shall be required to be calculated) signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower;

         (b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of
any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to
the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the
Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

         (c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual
report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to
the stockholders of the Borrower generally, and copies of all annual, regular,
periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may
file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to
the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

         (d) promptly after the same are available, copies of any management
letters submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board
of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the
annual audit of the accounts and books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

         (e) promptly after preparation, and no later than 30 days after the
last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, copies of all Phase I
Environmental Site Assessments Reports obtained by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary in connection with acquisitions of interests in real property (or
Acquisitions of Persons owning interests in real property) closed during such
fiscal quarter; and

         (f) promptly, such additional information regarding the business,
financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance
with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent may from time
to time reasonably request.

         Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b)
or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials
otherwise filed with the SEC) may

                                       60
<PAGE>

be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or
provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the website
address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on
the Borrower's behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if
any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a
commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative
Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such
documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower
to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper
copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower
shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative
Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents and provide to the
Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies)
of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, (A) the Borrower
shall be entitled to deliver the Compliance Certificate required by Section
6.02(a) by electronic mail and if so delivered shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date transmitted by the Borrower via internet transmission to
the then effective electronic mail address of the Administrative Agent, and (B)
whether or not delivery of any Compliance Certificate required by Section
6.02(a) is effected pursuant to the preceding clause (A), the Borrower shall be
required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by
Section 6.02(c) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance
Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the
delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any
event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with
any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for
requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

         6.03 NOTICES. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent (and, in any
event, within five (5) Business Days) after any Responsible Officer of the
Borrower knows or has reason to know:

         (a) of the occurrence of any Default;

         (b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) any breach or non-performance
of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or could
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) any dispute,
Litigation, or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any
Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii)
the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or
proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any
applicable Environmental Laws that, individually or in the aggregate, has
resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

         (c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and

         (d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial
reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is not to be reported
in the first periodic report or registration statement of the Borrower required
to be filed with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 following adoption of such change.

                                       61
<PAGE>

         Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a
statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details known
to the Borrower of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action
the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice
pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all
provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been
breached.

         6.04 PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. Pay, discharge, renew or extend as the
same shall become due and payable, all its material obligations and liabilities,
including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or
levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such
Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien
(other than a Lien permitted under Section 7.01) upon its property; and (c) all
Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination
provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such
Indebtedness.

         6.05 PRESERVATION OF EXISTENCE, ETC. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain
in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of
the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by
Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights,
privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the
normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve
or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service
marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

         6.06 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all
of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its
business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, and,
subject to Section 6.06(b), damage by casualty, excepted; (b) make all necessary
repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure
to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and
maintenance of its facilities.

         6.07 MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. Maintain with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower (or self-insure
with respect to workers compensation, health and other insurance, including
deductible and loss retention provisions, compatible with the following
standards), insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss
or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the
same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily
carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for such
other provisions required in the Security Agreement; it being acknowledged by
the Lenders that the Borrower maintains self-insurance with respect to workers
compensation and health insurance which the Borrower has represented pursuant to
Section 5.10 is compatible with the standards set forth herein.

         6.08 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Comply in all material respects with the
requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees
applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in
which (a) such requirement of Law or order, write,

                                       62
<PAGE>

injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         6.09 BOOKS AND RECORDS. Maintain proper books of record and account, in
which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently
applied shall be made of all material financial transactions and matters
involving the material assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
as the case may be.

         6.10 INSPECTION RIGHTS. Permit representatives and independent
contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any
of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records,
and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs,
finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public
accountants (provided an officer of the Borrower is present during any
discussions with the Borrower's independent public accountants), at such
reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably
desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, (a)
other than inspections conducted during the existence and continuance of an
Event of Default, no more than two such inspections may be conducted during any
fiscal year, one of which may be by the Administrative Agent, and the Borrower
shall only be liable for the expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection
with any such inspection (but excluding expenses of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender with respect to discussions with the Borrower's independent
accountants, and provided the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall pay any
fees of such independent accountants incurred with respect to such discussions)
and (b) that when an Event of Default exists and while the same is continuing
the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective
representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the
expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without
advance notice and without limit as to number.

         6.11 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions to
repay all obligations in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement and for
general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan
Document.

         6.12 FURTHER ASSURANCES. At any time or from time to time upon
reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall or shall
cause any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries to execute and deliver such further
documents and do such other acts and things as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents and to provide for payment of the Obligations in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         6.13 SUBSIDIARIES. Within ten days after the time that any Person
becomes a Domestic Subsidiary with assets in excess of $10,000 (or unless such
Domestic Subsidiary with assets of $10,000 or less is required to execute a
Guarantee of any Indebtedness) as a result of the creation of such Subsidiary or
an Acquisition or otherwise, then, unless such Domestic Subsidiary is merged
into the Borrower or a Guarantor (with the Borrower or such Guarantor being the
surviving Person) prior to the expiration of such ten-day period, (a) such
Subsidiary shall execute a Guaranty of the Obligations and Collateral Documents
granting a first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted pursuant to Section
7.01) in all inventory, accounts, equipment and related

                                       63
<PAGE>

collateral of such Subsidiary, to secure the Obligations, (b) 100% of such
Subsidiary's Stock shall be pledged to secure the Obligations, and (c) the
Lenders shall receive such board resolutions, officer's certificates, corporate
and other documents and opinions of counsel as the Administrative Agent shall
reasonably request in connection with the actions described in subsections (a)
and (b) above. Within thirty days after the time that any Person becomes a
Foreign Subsidiary with assets in excess of $10,000 as a result of the creation
of such Subsidiary or an Acquisition or otherwise, (a) 65% of such Subsidiary's
Stock shall be pledged to secure the Obligations and (b) the Lenders shall
receive such board resolutions, officer's certificates, corporate and other
documents and opinions of counsel as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably
request in connection with such pledge.

                                  ARTICLE VII.
                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or
other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of
Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

         7.01 LIENS. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any
of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
other than the following:

         (a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

         (b) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, Liens securing Indebtedness
permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time
encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and
(ii) Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of the property being
acquired on the date of acquisition;

         (c) pledges or deposits made to secure payment of group health
insurance claims and workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or other
forms of governmental insurance or benefits or to participate in any fund in
connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, pensions, or
other social security programs, excluding any Lien imposed by ERISA;

         (d) good-faith pledges or deposits made to secure performance of bids,
tenders, contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), or leases,
or to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, or indemnity,
performance, or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of business;

         (e) the types of Liens listed below, if (i) no amounts are past due and
no Lien has been filed (or agreed to), or (ii)(A) the validity or amount secured
thereby is being contested in good faith by lawful proceedings diligently
conducted, (B) reserves or other provisions required by GAAP has been made, and
(C) levy and execution thereon have been (and continue to be) stayed or payment
thereof is covered in full (subject to the customary deductible) by insurance,
or (iii) such Liens secure amounts which, in the aggregate, do not exceed
$1,000,000 at any time, and neither the value nor use of the property in the
Company's business in question are materially affected:

                                       64
<PAGE>

                  (x) Liens for Taxes;

                  (y) Liens upon property, including any attachment of property
         or other legal process prior to adjudication of a dispute on the
         merits; and

                  (z) Liens imposed by operation of law (including, without
         limitation, Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, carriers and
         landlords and similar Liens);

         (f) any interest or title of a lessor in assets being leased to the
Borrower or a Subsidiary;

         (g) easements (including reciprocal easement agreements and utility
agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments,
variations and zoning and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether
or not recorded), which do not interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of
the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and which do not materially
detract from the value of the property to which they attach or materially impair
the use thereof to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

         (h) Liens on the assets of any entity existing at the time such assets
are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether by merger,
consolidation, purchase of assets or otherwise so long as (i) such Liens (A) are
not created, incurred or assumed in contemplation of such assets being acquired
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (B) do not extend to any other assets of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and (ii) the amount of Indebtedness secured by
such Liens shall not exceed $15,000,000 in aggregate principal amount; and

         (i) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01; and

         (j) any renewals or extensions of Liens described in Section 7.01(b),
Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(i), provided that the property covered thereby
is not increased and any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or
benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(a).

         7.02 INVESTMENTS. Make any Investments, except:

         (a) Investments other than those permitted by subsections (b) through
(k) below and existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.02;

         (b) Investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;

         (c) Investments of the Borrower in any Guarantor, Investments of the
Borrower in any Domestic Subsidiary so long as the date on which such Domestic
Subsidiary is required, under Section 6.13, to satisfy the requirements of
Section 6.13(a) shall not have occurred, and Investments of any Subsidiary in
the Borrower or a Guarantor;

         (d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of
accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods
or services in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in
satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account
debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

                                       65
<PAGE>

         (e) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

         (f) Investments permitted by Section 7.04;

         (g) Investments as a result of an Acquisition, if (i) immediately
before and immediately after giving effect to such proposed Acquisition, no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Leverage Ratio
calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the proposed Acquisition
is equal to or less than the lesser of (A) 3.50 to 1 or (B) 0.25 below the
maximum Leverage Ratio permitted pursuant to Section 7.11(c) immediately prior
to such proposed Acquisition, (iii) immediately after giving effect to the
proposed Acquisition the Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is equal to or
greater than 2.50 to 1, the (A) aggregate Acquisition Consideration for all
Acquisitions, including such proposed Acquisition, during the fiscal year of the
proposed Acquisition shall not exceed $50,000,000, and (B) the aggregate
Acquisition Consideration for any single Acquisition (whether in one transaction
or a series of related transactions) shall not exceed $25,000,000, (iv) such
Acquisition shall not be opposed by the board of directors of the Person being
acquired, (v) the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice
thereof at least 30 days prior to the date of such Acquisition, (vi) the
Administrative Agent shall have received at least ten Business Days prior to the
date of such Acquisition a Compliance Certificate (A) setting forth the covenant
calculations both on or prior to and after giving effect to the proposed
Acquisition, and (B) certifying that no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing after giving effect to such Acquisition, (vii) the assets, property
or business acquired shall be in the business described in Section 5.18, (viii)
if such Acquisition results in a Domestic Subsidiary, (A) such Subsidiary shall
execute a Guaranty and a Security Agreement granting a first priority Lien
(except for Liens permitted under Section 7.01) in the Collateral and to secure
the Obligations, (B) 100% of such Subsidiary's Stock shall be pledged to secure
the Obligations and (C) the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders shall
have received such board resolutions, officer's certificates and opinions of
counsel as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with
the actions described in clauses (A) and (B) above, and (ix) if such Acquisition
results in a Foreign Subsidiary which has the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary
as its direct parent, (A) 65% of such Subsidiary's Stock shall be pledged to
secure the Obligations and (B) the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders
shall have received such board resolutions, officer's certificates and opinions
of counsel as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection
with clause (A) immediately preceding;

         (h) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Investments
constituting Capital Expenditures, to the extent otherwise permitted hereunder;

         (i) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Investments under any
Swap Contract meeting the requirements of Swap Contracts set forth in Section
7.03(d);

         (j) Investments in the nature of pledges or deposits with respect to
leases or utilities provided to third parties in the ordinary course of business
or otherwise described in the description of any of the Liens permitted under
Section 7.01; and

                                       66
<PAGE>

         (k) Investments in Metallic de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and Building
Systems de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. not to exceed $12,000,000 in the aggregate at
any one time outstanding; and

         (l) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Investments not
otherwise permitted by subsections (a) through (k) above not to exceed $
5,000,000 in aggregate amount at any time outstanding.

         7.03 INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness, except:

         (a) Indebtedness other than that permitted by subsections (b) through
(l) below and outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03 and
any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the
amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing,
refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable
premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably
incurred, in connection with such refinancing plus an amount equal to any
existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

         (b) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

         (c) Guarantees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of
Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

         (d) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, obligations (contingent
or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any
Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by
such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly
mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets,
or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the
value of securities issued by such Person and not for purposes of speculation;
and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the
non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding
transactions to the defaulting party;

         (e) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Indebtedness in respect
of Capital Leases and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets in
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;

         (f) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Indebtedness of a
Person which becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof or Indebtedness of a
Person that is assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with an
Acquisition, provided that (i) such Indebtedness existed at the time such Person
became a Subsidiary or such Acquisition was consummated, as the case may be,
and, in either case, was not created in anticipation thereof, (ii) immediately
after giving effect to such Person's becoming a Subsidiary or to the
consummation of such Acquisition by the Borrower no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) such Indebtedness shall not
exceed $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;

                                       67
<PAGE>

         (g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a check, draft or similar
instrument drawn against insufficient funds, provided, that the amount of such
Indebtedness that remains outstanding for more than five Business Days after
receipt of notice from the affected depository institution of its incurrence
shall not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time;

         (h) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Guarantor or of any Guarantor
to the Borrower or any Guarantor, or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not
a Guarantor to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of its shareholders;

         (i) Indebtedness arising under commercial letters of credit and surety
bonds;

         (j) Indebtedness consisting of trade payables incurred in the ordinary
course of business or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business and Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under Section 7.01(c),
7.01(d) or 7.01(e);

         (k) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, unsecured Indebtedness
not otherwise permitted pursuant to subsections (a) through (j) above in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

         (l) Additional Subordinated Debt, the requisite portion of the Net Cash
Proceeds of which are applied in accordance with Section 2.06(h) and any other
Subordinated Debt, the Net Cash Proceeds of which are applied in accordance with
Section 2.06(g).

         7.04 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES. Merge, consolidate with or into, or convey,
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a
series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now
owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long
as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom:

         (a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the
Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, (ii) any Guarantor or
(iii) in the case of any such Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, any
Subsidiary;

         (b) any Subsidiary may sell all or substantially all of its assets
(upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to a Guarantor and
any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may sell all or substantially all of its
assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any
Subsidiary;

         (c) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make Dispositions permitted
pursuant to Section 7.05; and

         (d) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make Acquisitions pursuant to
Section 7.02(g), including by means of a merger or consolidation if the Borrower
or a Subsidiary is the surviving or resulting Person.

         7.05 DISPOSITIONS. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to
make any Disposition, except:

                                       68
<PAGE>

         (a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

         (b) Dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

         (c) Dispositions of Cash and Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of
business;

         (d) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions (i)
between the Borrower and the Guarantors and among the Guarantors and (ii) from
any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

         (e) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.13;

         (f) the sale or discount without recourse of accounts receivable or
notes receivable or the conversion or exchange of accounts receivable into or
for notes receivable, in each case in the ordinary course of business and in
connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

         (g) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions not
otherwise permitted in subsections (a) through (f) above during any fiscal year,
the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds which do not exceed $1,000,000; and

         (h) so long as there exists no Default both immediately before and
immediately after giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions of assets
not otherwise permitted in subsections (a) through (g) above, the Net Cash
Proceeds of which are applied (to the extent required) in accordance with
Section 2.06(d);

provided, however, (x) that any Disposition pursuant to (A) Sections 7.05(c) or
7.05(e) (but only if the Disposition is other than a Permitted Stock Issuance)
shall be for reasonably equivalent value, (B) Sections 7.05(f) or 7.05(g) shall
be on reasonable and customary terms and (C) Section 7.05(h) of any asset having
a book value (1) less than $1,000,000 shall be for reasonably equivalent value
and (2) greater than or equal to $1,000,000 shall be for Fair Market Value, and
(y) notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.05 to the contrary, in no event
shall (A) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on
Section 7.05(h) above exceed (1) $20,000,000 in aggregate amount during any
fiscal year and (2) $40,000,000 in aggregate amount during the term of this
Agreement, (B) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Dispose of any stock of any
Subsidiary which is Collateral except by way of a transaction permitted under
Section 7.04(a) or 7.04(b) and (C) any consideration for any Disposition
pursuant to subsection (h) above be for other than cash unless the aggregate
consideration received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of
Dispositions pursuant to subsection (h) above and held by them at any time which
is not cash does not exceed $10,000,000. As to any Collateral that is subject to
a Disposition permitted under this Section 7.05 or under any other provision of
this Agreement or of any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall have the right
to obtain the release of such Collateral from the Liens securing the Obligations
concurrently with the consummation of such Disposition, at the Borrower's sole
cost and expense and upon not less than ten (10) Business Days' prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent. As to any Guarantor that ceases to be a
Subsidiary as a result of any transaction permitted under any provision of this
Agreement or any

                                       69
<PAGE>

other Loan Document, the Borrower (and such Guarantor) shall have the right to
obtain the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and
the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor from the Liens securing
the Obligations, in each case at the Borrower's (or such Guarantor's) sole cost
and expense and upon not less than ten (10) Business Days' prior written notice
to the Administrative Agent.

         7.06 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. Declare or make or incur any obligation
(contingent or otherwise) to declare or make, directly or indirectly, any
Restricted Payment, except (a) Dividends payable by a Subsidiary to the Borrower
or a Domestic Subsidiary or by a Foreign Subsidiary to a Foreign Subsidiary
owned directly by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary; (b) Treasury Stock
Purchases in respect of employee benefit plans and stock options not to exceed
$5,000,000 in aggregate amount during any fiscal year, (c) regularly scheduled
payment of interest on Subordinated Debt, (d) during such time as the Leverage
Ratio calculated on a pro forma basis is greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1 but
less than 3.00 to 1, Dividends not to exceed in aggregate amount (including
Dividends made pursuant to clause (b) immediately preceding) 25% of cumulative
net income (pursuant to GAAP, but excluding any charges taken in respect of FASB
142) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries earned after fiscal year-end 2001, and
(e) during such time as the Leverage Ratio calculated on a pro forma basis is
less than 2.50 to 1, Dividends not to exceed in aggregate amount (including
Dividends made pursuant to clauses (b) and (d) immediately preceding), 50% of
cumulative net income (pursuant to GAAP, but excluding any charges taken in
respect of FASB 142) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries earned after fiscal
year-end 2001; provided that immediately before and immediately after any such
Restricted Payment otherwise permitted in clauses (a) through (e) above no
Default exists or would result therefrom.

         7.07 CHANGE IN NATURE OF BUSINESS. Engage in any material line of
business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially
related or incidental thereto.

         7.08 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. Except as set forth on Schedule
7.08, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower,
whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and
reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary
as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.

         7.09 BURDENSOME AGREEMENTS. Enter into any Contractual Obligation
(other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the
ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any
Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower
or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist Liens on property of such Person or to transfer such Person's property;
provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any restriction on
transfer or negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of
Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e) or secured by a Lien permitted
under Section 7.01(b), 7.01(h), 7.01(i) or 7.01(j), in each case solely to the
extent any such restriction on transfer or negative pledge relates to the
property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the
grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to
secure another obligation of such Person.

                                       70
<PAGE>

         7.10 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether
directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to
purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB)
or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin
stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

         7.11 FINANCIAL COVENANTS.

         (a) Net Worth. Permit Net Worth, at all times, to be less than the sum
of (a) $ 235,800,000, (b) an amount equal to 50% of net income (calculated
pursuant to GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries earned after May 4, 2002
(with no deduction for a net loss during any such period), (c) an amount equal
to 100% of Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary from the
Disposition or issuance of any Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
after May 4, 2002, and (d) 100% of the net worth of any Person that becomes a
Subsidiary or substantially all of the assets of which are acquired by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to the extent the purchase price therefore is paid in
Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or pursuant to the conversion or
exchange of any convertible subordinated debt or redeemable preferred stock into
Stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

         (b) Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio at any
time during any period set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below
opposite such period:

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                            Minimum Interest
                          Period                             Coverage Ratio
                          ------                            ----------------
<S>                                                         <C>

    Closing Date until but not including the last day         2.50 to 1.00
    of third fiscal quarter 2003

    From and including the last day of the third              3.00 to 1.00
    fiscal quarter 2003 until but not including the
    last day of fourth fiscal quarter 2004

    From the last day of fourth fiscal quarter 2004           3.50 to 1.00
    and thereafter
</Table>

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                            Maximum Leverage
                        Period                                   Ratio
                        ------                              ----------------
<S>                                                        <C>

    Closing Date until but not including the last day         4.00 to 1.00
    of fourth fiscal quarter 2003

    From and including the last day of fourth fiscal          3.50 to 1.00
    quarter 2003 until but not including last day of
    second fiscal quarter 2004
</Table>

                                       71
<PAGE>

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                       Maximum Leverage
                    Period                                  Ratio
                    ------                             ----------------
<S>                                                    <C>

    From and including last day of second fiscal         3.25 to 1.00
    quarter of 2004 until but not including last day
    of second fiscal quarter 2005

    From and including last day of second fiscal         3.00 to 1.00
    quarter 2005 and thereafter
</Table>

         (d) Senior Leverage Ratio. Permit the Senior Leverage Ratio at any time
during any period set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below
opposite such period:

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                             Maximum
                    Period                             Senior Leverage Ratio
                    ------                             ---------------------
<S>                                                    <C>

    Closing Date until but not including last day of        2.50 to 1.0
    second fiscal quarter 2003

    From and including last day of second fiscal            2.25 to 1.0
    quarter 2003 until but not including last day of
    fourth fiscal quarter 2003

    From and including last day of fourth fiscal            2.00 to 1.0
    quarter 2003 and thereafter
</Table>

         7.12 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Make or become legally obligated to make any
Capital Expenditures for the Borrower and it Subsidiaries during each fiscal
year set forth below, in an aggregate amount in excess of the amount set forth
opposite such fiscal year:

<Table>
<Caption>
              Fiscal Year                             Amount
              -----------                             ------
<S>                                             <C>

                  2002                             $20,000,000
                  2003                             $30,000,000
                  2004                             $35,000,000
          2005 and thereafter                      $40,000,000
</Table>

         7.13 ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Issue, sell or otherwise dispose of, any
shares of its Stock or other securities, or rights, warrants or options to
purchase or acquire any shares or securities except:

         (a) Permitted Stock Issuances; or

         (b) if the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance thereof are applied as
required pursuant to Section 2.06(f).

         7.14 FISCAL YEAR AND ACCOUNTING METHODS. Change its fiscal year or its
method of accounting other than (a) immaterial changes in methods, (b) changes
as required by GAAP, (c) changes required by Applicable Law and (d) a change in
its fiscal year approved by the

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<PAGE>

Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent, which approval will not be
unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed.

         7.15 AMENDMENT AND WAIVERS OF SUBORDINATED DEBT. Change or permit any
Subsidiary to change or amend (or take any action or fail to take any action the
result of which is an effective amendment or change) or accept any waiver or
consent with respect to, any document, instrument or agreement relating to any
Subordinated Debt that would result in (a) an increase in the principal,
interest, overdue interest, fees or other amounts payable under any Subordinated
Debt (excluding any increase in principal and interest or other amount as a
result of the issuance of the Additional Subordinated Debt), (b) an acceleration
of any date fixed for payment or prepayment of principal, interest, fees or
other amounts payable under any Subordinated Debt (including, without
limitation, as a result of any redemption), (c) a change in any of the
subordination provisions of any Subordinated Debt, or (d) any other change in
any term or provision of any Subordinated Debt (other than such changes as are
necessary to reflect the increase in the principal amount of Subordinated Debt
as a result of the issuance of the Additional Subordinated Debt) that could
reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the interest of the Lenders.

                                  ARTICLE VIII.
                         EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

         8.01 EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Any of the following shall constitute an Event
of Default:

         (a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i)
when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or
any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any
interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any commitment or other fee
due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other
amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

         (b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to perform
or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03,
6.05, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII required to be performed or observed by it; or

         (c) Other Defaults. The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to perform or
observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b)
above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed
and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date upon
which a Responsible Officer knew or should have known of such failure or (ii)
the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

         (d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty,
certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the
Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any
document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or
misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

         (e) Cross-Default. (i)(A) The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to make
any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
acceleration, demand, or

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<PAGE>

otherwise, but only after the giving of any required notice and expiration of
any applicable grace period) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other
than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an
aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and
including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit
arrangement) of more than $2,500,000, or (B) the Borrower or any Subsidiary
fails to observe or perform, after the giving of any required notice and the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any other agreement or condition
relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or
agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or (C) any other event
occurs and continues to exist after the giving of any required notice and the
expiration of any applicable grace period, and the effect of such failure or
continuance or occurrence and continuance is to cause, or to permit the holder
or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such
Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or
beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required,
such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid,
defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase,
prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated
maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect
thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early
Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event
of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary
is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any
Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either
event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a
result thereof is greater than $2,500,000; or

         (f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any Subsidiary
institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor
Relief Law in which such Person is the debtor, or makes an assignment for the
benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any
receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar
officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver,
trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is
appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment
continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part
of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues
undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered
in any such proceeding; or

         (g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any
Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally
to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment
or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material
part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully
bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

         (h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary
(i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount
exceeding $1,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party
insurance or surety bond as to which the insurer or surety does not dispute
coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or
could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a

                                       74
<PAGE>

Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are
commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order and a stay of such
enforcement proceedings, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not
effected within 30 days of the commencement of such enforcement proceedings, (B)
there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of
such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect, or
(C) such judgment is not paid or discharged within 30 days after the order
awarding such judgment becomes final and no longer subject to appeal; or

         (i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result
in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan,
Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000,
or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect
to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer
Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000; or

         (j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after
its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted
hereunder or under such other Loan Documents or satisfaction in full of all the
Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect in any material respect; or
any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or
further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke,
terminate or rescind any Loan Document other than in accordance with its terms;
or

         (k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control with respect
to the Borrower; or

         (l) Lien Failure. Any Collateral Document shall for any reason (other
than as expressly provided or pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a
valid or first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01) in
any material portion of the Collateral.

         8.02 REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. If any Event of Default occurs and
is continuing:

         (a) the Administrative Agent shall, (i) at the request of, or may, with
the consent of the Required Revolving Lenders, declare the commitment of the
Lenders to make Revolving Loans to be terminated, whereupon such Revolving
Commitment shall be terminated, and/or (ii) at the request of, or may, with the
consent of the Required Lenders, declare the commitment of each Lender to make
Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be
terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

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

                                       75
<PAGE>

         (c) the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the
consent of, the Required Lenders, require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize
the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof);
and

         (d) the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the
consent of, the Required Lenders, exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders
all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents
or Applicable Law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the
United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of
the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the
unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other
amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the
obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as
aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

         8.03 APPLICATION OF FUNDS. After the exercise of remedies provided for
in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due
and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash
Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts
received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative
Agent in the following order:

         First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees,
indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs and amounts
payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity
as such;

         Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting
fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable
to the Lenders (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III),
ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second
payable to them;

         Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting
accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the
Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third
payable to them;

         Fourth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer,
to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate
undrawn amount of Letters of Credit;

         Fifth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting
unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings (and to the extent any such
amounts are proceeds of Collateral or payments under any Guaranty, Obligations
in respect of Swap Contracts), ratably among the Lenders (and to the extent
proceeds of Collateral or payments under any Guaranty, to the Guarantied Parties
and the Secured Lenders, as defined in each Guaranty and each Security
Agreement, respectively) in proportion to the respective amounts described in
this clause Fifth held by them; and

                                       76
<PAGE>

         Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been
indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.04(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate
undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be
applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any
amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have
either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to
the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above, and the balance, if
any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, shall be
paid to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

                                   ARTICLE IX.
                              ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

         9.01 APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

         (a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes
the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions
of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and
perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative
Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set
forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the
Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence,
the use of the term "agent" herein and in the other Loan Documents with
reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary
or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any
Applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom,
and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between
independent contracting parties.

         (b) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to
any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and
the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the
Administrative Agent in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or
omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued
by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for
letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term
"Administrative Agent" as used in this Article IX and in the definition of
"Agent-Related Person" included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or
omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C
Issuer.

         9.02 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. The Administrative Agent may execute any of
its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents,
employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and
other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.
The Administrative Agent shall not be

                                       77
<PAGE>

responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact
that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         9.03 LIABILITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. No Agent-Related Person shall
(a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under
or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be
responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital,
statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer
thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate,
report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received
by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure
of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its
obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any
obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the
observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions
of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties,
books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.

         9.04 RELIANCE BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

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

         (b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions
specified in Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be
deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each
document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by
or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date
specifying its objection thereto.

         9.05 NOTICE OF DEFAULT. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to
have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect
to defaults in the

                                       78
<PAGE>

payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative
Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring
to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a
"notice of default." The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its
receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with
respect to such Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance
with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative
Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall
not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with
respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of
the Lenders.

         9.06 CREDIT DECISION; DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION BY ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any
representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent
hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or
review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be
deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person
to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have
disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to
the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon
any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all
applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and
to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each
Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any
Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall
deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis,
appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary
to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial
and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan
Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to
be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects,
operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any
of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into
the possession of any Agent-Related Person; provided, however, the
Administrative Agent shall request the Borrower to deliver to the Administrative
Agent any documents or information referred to in Sections 6.02(b) and 6.02(f)
that any Lender, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, requests. All
documents and information delivered pursuant to Section 6.02 shall also be in
form and substance satisfactory to the Required Lenders, and the Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to assume that such documents and information are
satisfactory to the Required Lenders unless the Administrative Agent shall have
received notice from the Required Lenders specifying their objection thereto.

         9.07 INDEMNIFICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. WHETHER OR NOT THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY ARE CONSUMMATED, THE LENDERS SHALL INDEMNIFY
UPON DEMAND EACH AGENT-RELATED PERSON (TO THE

                                       79
<PAGE>

EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY LOAN PARTY AND WITHOUT LIMITING THE
OBLIGATION OF ANY LOAN PARTY TO DO SO), PRO RATA, AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH
AGENT-RELATED PERSON FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES
INCURRED BY IT (WHETHER OR NOT ARISING OUT OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH
AGENT-RELATED PERSON); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO LENDER SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE
PAYMENT TO ANY AGENT-RELATED PERSON OF ANY PORTION OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES TO THE EXTENT DETERMINED IN A FINAL, NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A
COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED FROM SUCH AGENT-RELATED
PERSON'S OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO
ACTION TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIONS OF THE REQUIRED LENDERS SHALL BE
DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION. WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING, EACH LENDER SHALL REIMBURSE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UPON DEMAND FOR ITS RATABLE SHARE OF ANY COSTS OR
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY COSTS) INCURRED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREPARATION, EXECUTION, DELIVERY, ADMINISTRATION,
MODIFICATION, AMENDMENT OR ENFORCEMENT (WHETHER THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE) OF, OR LEGAL ADVICE IN RESPECT OF RIGHTS OR
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER, THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY DOCUMENT
CONTEMPLATED BY OR REFERRED TO HEREIN, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT IS NOT REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EXPENSES BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE BORROWER. THE
UNDERTAKING IN THIS SECTION SHALL SURVIVE TERMINATION OF THE AGGREGATE
COMMITMENTS, THE PAYMENT OF ALL OTHER OBLIGATIONS AND THE RESIGNATION OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.

         9.08 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. Bank of America
and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account
of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in
any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business
with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of
America were not the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer hereunder and
without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that,
pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive
information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including information
that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party
or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under
no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans,
Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as
any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not
the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders"
include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

         9.09 SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. The Administrative Agent may
resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders; provided
that any such resignation by Bank of America shall also constitute its
resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If the Administrative Agent
resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the
Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders, which successor

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<PAGE>

administrative agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other
than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Borrower
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor administrative
agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the
Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting
with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor administrative agent from among
the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative
agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor administrative agent shall
succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative
Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender and the respective terms "Administrative
Agent," "L/C Issuer" and "Swing Line Lender" shall mean such successor
administrative agent, Letter of Credit issuer and swing line lender, and the
retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers and duties as Administrative
Agent shall be terminated and the retiring L/C Issuer's and Swing Line Lender's
rights, powers and duties as such shall be terminated, without any other or
further act or deed on the part of such retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender
or any other Lender, other than the obligation of the successor L/C Issuer to
issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any,
outstanding at the time of such succession or to make other arrangements
satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of
the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit. After any
retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent,
the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor administrative agent
has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days
following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring
Administrative Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective
and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent
hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
agent as provided for above.

         9.10 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. In case of the
pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of
whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and
payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower)
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

         (a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and
interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other
Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be
necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent
and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders
and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.04(i) and (j), 2.10 and 10.04)
allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

         (b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event
that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Administrative Agent under Sections 2.10 and 10.04.

         Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the
Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of
any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the
Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such
proceeding.

         9.11 COLLATERAL AND GUARANTY MATTERS. The Lenders irrevocably authorize
the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

         (a) to release on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under
any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment
in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations)
and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or
otherwise conveyed or to be sold or otherwise conveyed as part of or in
connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified
in writing by the Lenders required for such action;

         (b) to subordinate on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent
under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is
permitted by Section 7.01(e); and

         (c) to release on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty and under the other Loan
Documents (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full
of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the
expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) if such Person ceases
to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or (iii)
subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing, by the
Lenders required for such action.

         Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required
Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent's authority to release
or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to
release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this
Section 9.11.

         9.12 OTHER AGENTS; ARRANGERS AND MANAGERS. None of the Lenders or other
Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a
"syndication agent," "documentation agent," "co-agent," "book manager," "co-book
manager," "arranger," co-lead arranger" or "co-arranger" shall have any right,
power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty

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under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable
to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or
other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied,
and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in
deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action
hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE X.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         10.01 AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the
Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing
signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as
the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment,
waiver or consent shall:

         (a) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender to
assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of
Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Credit Exposures then in effect
within each of the following classes of commitments, Loans and other Credit
Extensions: (i) the class consisting of the Revolving Commitments and (ii) the
class consisting of the Term B Commitments. For purposes of this clause, the
aggregate amount of each Lender's risk participation and funded participation in
L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be deemed to be held by such Lender.

         (b) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the
written consent of each Lender;

         (c) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any
Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of
such Lender;

         (d) postpone any scheduled date fixed by this Agreement, it being
understood that the mandatory prepayment section does not provide for a
scheduled date fixed for payment, or any other Loan Document for any payment of
principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them)
hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each
Lender directly affected thereby;

         (e) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein
on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso
to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall
be necessary (i) to amend the definition of "Default Rate" or to waive any
obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend
the Leverage Ratio (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such
amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing
or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

         (f) change Section 2.14 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter
the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of
each Lender;

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         (g) change any provision of this Section, the definition of "Required
Lenders" or "Required Revolving Lenders" or any other provision hereof
specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or
otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any
consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

         (h) release any Guarantor from the Guaranty without the written consent
of each Lender, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to clause (i) of Section
9.11(c); or

         (i) release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the
written consent of each Lender, unless otherwise permitted by clause (i) or (ii)
of Section 9.11(a);

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above,
affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter
of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by
it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by
the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the
rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no
amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the
Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the
rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges
thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have
any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder,
except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended
without the consent of such Lender.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.01 or elsewhere in this Agreement to
the contrary, each Lender agrees to execute an amendment to this Agreement to
provide for the Incremental Facility, subject to the provisions of Section 2.15.

         10.02 NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS; FACSIMILE COPIES.

         (a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices
and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including
by facsimile transmission). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or
delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection
(c) below) electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications
expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the
applicable telephone number, as follows:

                  (i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C
         Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number,
         electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person
         on Schedule 10.02 or to such other address, facsimile number,
         electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by
         such party in a notice to the other parties; and

                  (ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number,
         electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Lender
         (A) on Schedule 10.02 or (B) with respect to any Person becoming a
         Lender by reason of an Assignment and Assumption, in

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         such Assignment and Assumption, or, in either case, to such other
         address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number
         as shall be designated by such Lender in a notice to the Borrower, the
         Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made
upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and
(ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of
the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four Business Days after
deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent
and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic
mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (c)
below), when delivered; provided, however, that notices and other communications
to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant
to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In
no event shall a voicemail message be effective as a notice, communication or
confirmation hereunder.

         (b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents
may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such
documents and signatures shall, subject to Applicable Law, have the same force
and effect as manually-signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan
Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may
also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a
manually-signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request
or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document
or signature.

         (c) Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and Internet and
intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as
financial statements, certificates and other information as provided in Section
6.02, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and
may not be used for any other purpose.

         (d) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative
Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices
(including telephonic Revolving Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices)
purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were
not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or
followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms
thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.
The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all
losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such
Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All
telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may
be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby
consents to such recording.

         10.03 NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure by any Lender or the
Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising,
any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights,

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<PAGE>

remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive
of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

         10.04 ATTORNEY COSTS, EXPENSES AND TAXES. The Borrower agrees (a) to
pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and
execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment,
waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are
consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs, and (b) to pay or
reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or
preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout"
or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding,
including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney
Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing,
recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related
thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent
and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts
retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this
Section 10.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor.
The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate
Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Section 10.04 or elsewhere in any of the Loan
Documents, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be obligated to pay or
reimburse any Person for any costs, expenses, fees, taxes or other charges of
any nature whatsoever that are incurred or payable by any Person in connection
with any assignment referred to in Section 10.07(b), any participation referred
to in Section 10.07(d) or any pledge or security interest referred to in Section
10.07(f).

         10.05 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE BORROWER. WHETHER OR NOT THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY ARE CONSUMMATED, THE BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD
HARMLESS EACH AGENT-RELATED PERSON, EACH LENDER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES,
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, COUNSEL, AGENTS AND ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT
(COLLECTIVELY THE "INDEMNITEES") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES,
OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS,
SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS (INCLUDING ATTORNEY COSTS) OF ANY KIND
OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WHICH MAY AT ANY TIME BE IMPOSED ON, INCURRED BY OR
ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH INDEMNITEE IN ANY WAY RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF OR
IN CONNECTION WITH (A) THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY, ENFORCEMENT, PERFORMANCE OR
ADMINISTRATION OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT, LETTER OR INSTRUMENT
DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR THE
CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, (B) ANY COMMITMENT, LOAN
OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OR PROPOSED USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREFROM
(INCLUDING ANY REFUSAL BY THE L/C ISSUER TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A
LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO
NOT

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<PAGE>

STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT), OR (C) ANY ACTUAL OR
ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY
CURRENTLY OR FORMERLY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE BORROWER, ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY
OTHER LOAN PARTY, OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE
BORROWER, ANY SUBSIDIARY OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY, OR (D) ANY ACTUAL OR
PROSPECTIVE CLAIM, LITIGATION, INVESTIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY OF
THE FOREGOING, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY (INCLUDING
ANY INVESTIGATION OF, PREPARATION FOR, OR DEFENSE OF ANY PENDING OR THREATENED
CLAIM, INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING) AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY
INDEMNITEE IS A PARTY THERETO (ALL THE FOREGOING, COLLECTIVELY, THE "INDEMNIFIED
LIABILITIES"), IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, OUT OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY
SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNITEE, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH
LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS,
JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR DISBURSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF
COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM
THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNITEE. NO INDEMNITEE
SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY OTHERS OF ANY
INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS OBTAINED THROUGH INTRALINKS OR OTHER SIMILAR
INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, NOR SHALL
ANY INDEMNITEE HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ARISING OUT OF ITS
ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH (WHETHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE
CLOSING DATE). ALL AMOUNTS DUE UNDER THIS SECTION 10.05 SHALL BE PAYABLE WITHIN
TEN BUSINESS DAYS AFTER DEMAND THEREFOR. THE AGREEMENTS IN THIS SECTION SHALL
SURVIVE THE RESIGNATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE REPLACEMENT OF ANY
LENDER, THE TERMINATION OF THE AGGREGATE COMMITMENTS AND THE REPAYMENT,
SATISFACTION OR DISCHARGE OF ALL THE OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

         10.06 PAYMENTS SET ASIDE. To the extent that any payment by or on
behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the
Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such
payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required
(including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent
or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or
otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part
thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in
full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had
not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative
Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid
by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand
to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds
Rate from time to time in effect.

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<PAGE>

         10.07 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

         (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by
way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions
of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or
transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement,
expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than
the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby,
Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to
the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

         (b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees
all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including
all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans (including for purposes of
this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans)
at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment
of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitments and the
Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this
Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitments
(which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each
such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with
respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if
"Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade
Date, shall not be less than $2,500,000 of the Revolving Commitment and/or
$1,000,000 of the Term B Commitment unless each of the Administrative Agent and,
so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower
otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed); (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitments assigned, except
that this clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of Swing Line Loans;
(iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative
Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender unless the Person that is the
proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would
otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (iv) the parties to each
assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment
and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (for
which neither the Borrower, nor any Subsidiary, nor any Guarantor shall have any
obligation for payment or reimbursement). Subject to acceptance and recording
thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section,
from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption,
the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the
extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the
rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning
Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning
Lender's rights

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and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party
hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04,
3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to
the effective date of such assignment). Promptly after its acceptance and
recording thereof, the Administrative Agent shall furnish a copy, as executed
and delivered to the Administrative Agent, of each such Assignment and
Assumption. Upon request, the Borrower (at no expense to the Borrower) shall
execute and deliver such new Notes as are appropriate to reflect such assignment
to the assignee Lender, subject to the Borrower's prior or concurrent receipt
for cancellation of each Note for which a new Note is to be executed and
delivered. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under
this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for
purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such
rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

         (c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an
agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a
copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of,
and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register
pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

         (d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to,
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person
(other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates
or Subsidiaries) (each, a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's
rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of
its Commitments and/or the Loans (including such Lender's participations in L/C
Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such
Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a
participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to
enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may
provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree
to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to
Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e)
of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to
the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a
Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of
this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be
entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided
such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14 as though it were a
Lender.

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         (e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled
to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless
the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's
prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a
Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower
is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant
agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 10.15 as though
it were a Lender.

         (f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in
all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its
Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or
assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no
such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party
hereto.

         (g) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

                  "Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a
         Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a
         natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, the L/C
         Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default
         has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to
         be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the
         foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall not include the Borrower or any of
         the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

                  "Fund" means any Person (other than a natural person) that is
         (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise
         investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the
         ordinary course of its business.

                  "Approved Fund" means any Fund that is administered or managed
         by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an
         Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

         (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at
any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitments and Loans pursuant to
subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days' notice to the
Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days' notice
to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such
resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled
to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender
hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any
such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or
Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer,
it shall retain all the rights and obligations of the L/C Issuer hereunder with
respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its
resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto
(including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Revolving Loans or
fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.04(c)).
If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights
of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect

                                       90
<PAGE>

to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such
resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate
Revolving Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans
pursuant to Section 2.05(c).

         10.08 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below),
except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure
is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and
instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested
by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party
to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of
or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in,
any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or
indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such
contractual counterparty's or prospective counterparty's professional advisor)
to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the Loan
Parties; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such
Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of
this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; or (i) to the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar
organization. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose
the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market
data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service
providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the
administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the
Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section,
"Information" means all information received from any Loan Party relating to any
Loan Party or its business, other than any such information that is available to
the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
disclosure by any Loan Party; provided that, in the case of information received
from a Loan Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified
in writing at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to
maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be
considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

         10.09 SET-OFF. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders
provided by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without
prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being
waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to
the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits
(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by,
and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or
the account of the respective Loan Parties against any and all Obligations owing
to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter
existing, irrespective of whether or not the

                                       91
<PAGE>

Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or
unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable
deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such
Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect
the validity of such set-off and application.

         10.10 INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid
under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the
Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that
exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the
principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the
Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or
received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Highest Lawful
Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a)
characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium
rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof,
and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the
total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations
hereunder.

         10.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A counterpart hereof (or
signature page thereto) signed and transmitted by any Person party hereto to the
Administrative Agent (or its counsel) by facsimile machine, telecopier or
electronic mail is to be treated as an original. The signature of such Person
thereon, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and
the counterpart (or signature page thereto) so transmitted is to be considered
to have the same binding effect as an original signature on an original
document.

         10.12 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written
or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the
provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of
supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this
Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the
respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor
of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

         10.13 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All representations
and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document
delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith
shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such
representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding
that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of
any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full
force and effect as long as any Loan or

                                       92
<PAGE>

any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter
of Credit shall remain outstanding.

         10.14 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the
legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby
and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic
effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or
unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

         10.15 TAX FORMS. (a) (i) Each Lender that is not a "United States
person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a "Foreign
Lender") shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any
payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment
of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form
W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling
it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be
made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS
Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to
such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other
evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such
Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S.
withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code.
Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly
submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed
copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from
time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be
available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or
such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of
any available exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in
respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any
change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed
exemption or reduction, and (C) take such steps as shall not be materially
disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be
reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to
avoid any requirement of Applicable Laws that the Borrower make any deduction or
withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender.

         (ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to
act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable
to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a
typical participation by such Lender), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with
respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times
as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent (in the
reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of
the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth
above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to
which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to U.S.
withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-

                                       93
<PAGE>

8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Lender
chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of
exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting
for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such
Lender.

         (iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount
to any Foreign Lender under Section 3.01 (A) with respect to any Taxes required
to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or
statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant
to this Section 10.15(a) or (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the
foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a); provided that if such Lender
shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) on the date such
Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any
payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) shall
relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section
3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any Applicable Law, treaty
or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation,
administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly
entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date
establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which
such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not
subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate.

         (iv) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any
Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the
Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay
additional amounts under this Section 10.15(a).

         (b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Lender that is a
"United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of
IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the
Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an
amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Code,
without reduction.

         (c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent
did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or
other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Lender, such Lender
shall indemnify the Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and
interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent under this Section, and costs and expenses (including
Attorney Costs) of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Lenders under
this Section shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments,
repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the
Administrative Agent.

         10.16 REPLACEMENT OF LENDERS. Under any circumstances set forth herein
providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party
to this Agreement, the Borrower may, upon notice to such Lender and the
Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its
Commitment (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance)
pursuant to Section 10.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees
procured by the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower elects to
exercise such right with respect to any Lender pursuant to Section 3.06(b), it
shall be obligated to replace

                                       94
<PAGE>

all Lenders that have made similar requests for compensation pursuant to Section
3.01 or 3.04. The Borrower shall (x) pay in full all principal, interest, fees
and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement
(including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05), (y) provide
appropriate assurances and indemnities (which may include letters of credit) to
the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender as each may reasonably require with
respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any L/C
Obligations or any Swing Line Loans then outstanding, and (z) release such
Lender from its obligations under the Loan Documents. Any Lender being replaced
shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such
Lender's Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations
and Swing Line Loans.

         10.17 EXCEPTIONS TO COVENANTS. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
shall be deemed to be permitted to take any action or fail to take any action
which is permitted as an exception to any of the covenants contained herein or
which is within the permissible limits of any of the covenants contained herein
if such action or omission would result in the breach of any other covenant
contained herein.

         10.18 GOVERNING LAW.

         (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, the LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS applicable to agreements made and to be
performed entirely within such State; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE Agent AND
EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

         (b) The parties hereto agree that Chapter 346 (other than Section
346.004) of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit
accounts and revolving tri-party accounts) shall not apply to the Loans or the
other Obligations.

         (c) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS OR OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (DALLAS DIVISION), AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF
THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE Agent AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS,
FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF
THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE Agent AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON
THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE
BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN
DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE
Agent AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER
PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH
STATE.

                                       95
<PAGE>

         10.19 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT
HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION
OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH
OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM
WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH
CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT
OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH
CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT
A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR
A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE
SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

         10.20 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE
PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

                   REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

                                       96
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                    NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.

                                    By: /s/ ROBERT J. MEDLOCK
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Robert J. Medlock
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
                                           Financial Officer
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       97
<PAGE>

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

                                    By: /s/ BRIAN D. CORUM
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Brian D. Corum
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Managing Director
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       98
<PAGE>

                                    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C
                                    Issuer and Swing Line Lender

                                    By: /s/ BRIAN D. CORUM
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Brian D. Corum
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Managing Director
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       99
<PAGE>

                                    WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                    Syndication Agent

                                    By: /s/ MEG BEVERIDGE
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Meg Beveridge
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Vice President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      100
<PAGE>

                                    WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a
                                    Lender

                                    By: /s/ MEG BEVERIDGE
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Meg Beveridge
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Vice President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      101
<PAGE>

                                  CREDIT INDUSTRIEL ET COMMERCIAL, as a Lender

                                  By: /s/ ANTHONY ROCK        /s/ SEAN MOUNIER
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                  Name: Anthony Rock           Sean Mounier
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                  Title: Vice President     First Vice President
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                      102
<PAGE>

                                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as a
                                    Lender

                                    By: /s/ GREGORY HONG
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: GREGORY HONG
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: DULY AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      103
<PAGE>

                                    SUNTRUST BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ W. JOHN WENDLER
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: W. John Wendler
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Director
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      104
<PAGE>

                                    NATIONAL CITY BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ STEPHEN BASSETT
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Stephen Bassett
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: [ILLEGIBLE]
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      105
<PAGE>

                                    SOUTHWEST BANK OF TEXAS, N.A., as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ GARY TOLBERT
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Gary Tolbert
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: SVP
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      106
<PAGE>

                                    MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL, A DIVISION OF MERRILL
                                    LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., as
                                    a Lender

                                    By: /s/ JULIA F. MASLANKA
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Julia F. Maslanka
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Vice President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      107
<PAGE>

                                    GUARANTY BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ ROBERT S. HAYS
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: Robert S. Hays
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Senior Vice President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      108
<PAGE>

                                    COMERICA BANK, as a Lender

                                    By: /s/ WILLIAM S. ROGERS
                                        ----------------------------------------

                                    Name: William S. Rogers
                                          --------------------------------------

                                    Title: Vice President
                                           -------------------------------------

                                      109

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