Document:

EXECUTION COPY

                          REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                 dated as of

                               August 10, 2000

                                   among

                           NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                       COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION,

                           THE BANKS LISTED HEREIN,

                               BANK ONE, N.A.
                           as DOCUMENTATION AGENT,

                                   and

                           THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
                           as ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                                 Arranged by
                           THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

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                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        PAGE
                                  ARTICLE 1
                                 DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions                                                  1
SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations                         15
SECTION 1.03. Types of Borrowings                                         15

                                  ARTICLE 2
                                 THE CREDITS

SECTION 2.01. Commitments to Lend                                         15
SECTION 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowings                              16
SECTION 2.03. Money Market Borrowings                                     17
SECTION 2.04. Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans                           21
SECTION 2.05. Notes                                                       22
SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans                                           23
SECTION 2.07. Interest Rates                                              23
SECTION 2.08. Method of Electing Interest Rates                           27
SECTION 2.09. Fees                                                        29
SECTION 2.10. Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments            30
SECTION 2.11. Mandatory Termination of Commitments                        30
SECTION 2.12. Optional Prepayments                                        30
SECTION 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments                           31
SECTION 2.14. Funding Losses                                              32
SECTION 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees                            32
SECTION 2.16. Withholding Tax Exemption                                   32
SECTION 2.17. Increase of Commitments                                     33

                                  ARTICLE 3
                                  CONDITIONS

SECTION 3.01. Effectiveness                                               34
SECTION 3.02. Borrowings                                                  35

                                  ARTICLE 4
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence, Power and Authority                    36
SECTION 4.02. Financial Statements                                        37

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                                                                        PAGE

SECTION 4.03. Litigations                                                 38
SECTION 4.04. Governmental Authorizations                                 38
SECTION 4.05. Capital Term Certificates                                   38
SECTION 4.06. No Violation of Agreements                                  38
SECTION 4.07. No Event of Default under the Indentures                    39
SECTION 4.08. Compliance with ERISA                                       39
SECTION 4.09. Compliance with Other Laws                                  40
SECTION 4.10. Tax Status                                                  40
SECTION 4.11. Investment Company Act                                      40
SECTION 4.12. Public Utility Holding Company Act                          40
SECTION 4.13. Disclosure                                                  40
SECTION 4.14. Subsidiaries                                                40
SECTION 4.15. Environmental Matters                                       41

                                  ARTICLE 5
                                  COVENANTS

SECTION 5.01. Corporate Existence                                         41
SECTION 5.02. Disposition of Assets; Merger, Character of Business; etc   42
SECTION 5.03. Financial Information                                       42
SECTION 5.04. Default Certificates                                        43
SECTION 5.05. Notice of Litigation, Legislative Developments and Defaults 44
SECTION 5.06. ERISA                                                       45
SECTION 5.07. Payment of Charges                                          45
SECTION 5.08. Inspection of Books and Assets                              45
SECTION 5.09. Indebtedness                                                46
SECTION 5.10. Liens                                                       46
SECTION 5.11. Maintenance of Insurance                                    47
SECTION 5.12. Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures                             47
SECTION 5.13. Minimum TIER                                                48
SECTION 5.14. Retirement of Patronage Capital                             48
SECTION 5.15. Use of Proceeds                                             48

                                  ARTICLE 6
                                  DEFAULTS

SECTION 6.01. Events of Defaults                                          48
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default                                           51

                                      ii

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                                                                        PAGE

                                  ARTICLE 7
                                  THE AGENT

SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization                               51
SECTION 7.02. Agent and Affiliates                                        51
SECTION 7.03. Action by Agent                                             51
SECTION 7.04. Consultation with Experts                                   51
SECTION 7.05. Liability of Agent                                          52
SECTION 7.06. Indemnification                                             52
SECTION 7.07. Credit Decision                                             52
SECTION 7.08. Successor Agent                                             52
SECTION 7.09. Co-Documentation Agents Not Liable                          53

                                  ARTICLE 8
                           CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair    53
SECTION 8.02. Illegality                                                  54
SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return                           54
SECTION 8.04. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate Loans   56

                                  ARTICLE 9
                               MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.01. Notices                                                     57
SECTION 9.02. No Waivers                                                  57
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification                57
SECTION 9.04. Sharing of Set-offs                                         58
SECTION 9.05. Amendments and Waivers                                      59
SECTION 9.06. Successors and Assigns                                      59
SECTION 9.07. Collateral                                                  60
SECTION 9.08. Governing Law                                               61
SECTION 9.09. Counterparts; Integration                                   61
SECTION 9.10. Several Obligations                                         61
SECTION 9.11. Severability                                                61
SECTION 9.12. Notice                                                      61

                                     iii

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Exhibit A - Note
Exhibit B - RUS Guarantee
Exhibit C - Money Market Quote Request
Exhibit D - Invitation for Money Market Quotes
Exhibit E - Money Market Quote
Exhibit F - Opinion of General Counsel for the Borrower
            Annex A to Exhibit F - Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures
Exhibit G - Opinion of Special Counsel for the Agent
Exhibit H - Extension Agreement
Exhibit I - Assignment and Assumption Agreement

                                      iv

<PAGE>

                          REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

     REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of August 10, 2000 among NATIONAL
RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION, a not-for-profit
cooperative association incorporated under the laws of the District of
Columbia, as Borrower, the BANKS listed on the signature pages hereof, BANK
ONE, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as
Administrative Agent.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

                                  ARTICLE 1
                                 DEFINITIONS

     SECTION 1.01. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have
the following meanings:

     "Absolute Rate Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes
setting forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.03.

     "Adjusted CD Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

     "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth
in Section 2.07(c).

     "Administrative Questionnaire" means, with respect to each Bank, the
administrative questionnaire in the form submitted to such Bank by the
Agent and submitted to the Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) duly
completed by such Bank.

     "Agent" means The Bank of Nova Scotia in its capacity as administrative
agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.

     "Agreement" means this Revolving Credit Agreement, as the same may
be amended from time to time.

     "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in
the case of its Domestic Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the
case of its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in
the case of its Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.

<PAGE>

     "Assessment Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

     "Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(c).

     "Bank" means each bank listed on the signature pages hereof, each
Assignee which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c), and their
Respective successors.

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

     "Base Rate Loan" means a Committed Loan that bears interest at the
Base Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election or the last sentence of Section 2.08(a) or
Article 8.

     "Bonds" means any bonds issued pursuant to either Indenture or both, as
the context may require.

     "Borrower" means the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation, a not-for-profit cooperative association incorporated under the
laws of the District of Columbia, and its successors.

     "Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

     "Capital Term Certificate" means a note of the Borrower substantially
in the form of the membership subscription certificates and the loan and
guarantee certificates outstanding on the date of the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Borrower having
substantially similar provisions as to subordination as those contained in
said outstanding membership subscription certificates and loan and guarantee
certificates.

     "CD Base Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(b).

     "CD Loan" means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a CD Rate
pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice of
Interest Rate Election.

     "CD Margin" means .290%.

     "CD Reference Banks" means The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of
America, N.A.

                                        2
<PAGE>

     "Commitment" means (i) with respect to each Bank listed on the
signature pages hereof, the amount set forth opposite the name of such
Bank on the signature pages hereof and (ii) with respect to any Assignee
that becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.06(c), the amount of the
transferor Bank's Commitment assigned to it pursuant to Section 9.06(c),
in each case as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to
Sections 2.10 and 2.11; provided that, if the context so requires, the
term "Commitment" means the obligation of a Bank to extend credit up to
such amount to the Borrower hereunder.

     "Committed Loan" means a Revolving Loan or a Term Loan; provided
that, if any such loan or loans (or portions thereof) are combined or
subdivided pursuant to a Notice of Interest Rate Election, the term
"Committed Loan" shall refer to the combined principal amount resulting
from such combination or to each of the separate principal amounts
resulting from such subdivision, as the case may be.

     "Commitment Termination Date" means August 9, 2001 or such later
date to which this Agreement shall have been extended pursuant to Section
2.01(c), or, if either such day is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the next
preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.

     "Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or other
entity the accounts of which would be combined or consolidated with those
of the Borrower in its combined or consolidated financial statements if
such statements were prepared as of such date.

     "Documentation Agent" means The Bank of Nova Scotia, in its capacity
as documentation agent for the Banks hereunder, and their successors in such
capacity.

     "Default" means any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both (as
specified in Section 6.01) would, unless cured or waived, become an Event
of Default.

     "Derivatives Obligations" of any Person means all obligations of such
Person in respect of any rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate
transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap,
equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign
exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar
transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap
transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including
any option with respect to any of the foregoing transactions) or any
combination of the foregoing transactions.

                                        3
<PAGE>

     "Determination Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 5.09.

     "Domestic Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law
to close.

     "Domestic Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office located at
its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in
its Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such
other office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending
Office by notice to the Borrower and the Agent; provided that any Bank may
so designate separate Domestic Lending Offices for its Base Rate Loans, on
the one hand, and its CD Loans, on the other hand, in which case all
references herein to the Domestic Lending Office of such Bank shall be
deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the context may
require.

     "Domestic Loans" means CD Loans or Base Rate Loans or both.

     "Domestic Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(b).

     "Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 3.01.

     "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions,
grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and governmental restrictions
relating to the environment, the effect of the environment on human health
or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants,
Hazardous Substances or wastes into the environment including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants,
Hazardous Substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, or any successor statute.

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

                                        4
<PAGE>

     "Euro-Dollar Business Day" means any Domestic Business Day on
which commercial banks are open for international business (including
dealings in dollar deposits) in London.

     "Euro-Dollar Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office,
branch or affiliate located at its address set forth in its
Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative
Questionnaire as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) or such other office,
branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may hereafter designate
as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the Agent.

     "Euro-Dollar Loan" means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a
Euro-Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election.

     "Euro-Dollar Margin" means .165%.

     "Euro-Dollar Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of
The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of America, N.A.

     "Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(c).

     "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

     "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of
the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business
Day next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if such day is not a
Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such
rate on such transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so
published on the next succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (ii) if no such
rate is so published on such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the
Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to The Bank
of Nova Scotia on such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.

     "Fixed Rate Loans" means CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or Money
Market Loans (excluding Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the
Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) or any combination of the foregoing.

     "Group of Loans" means, at any time, a group of Loans consisting of (i)
all Committed Loans which are Base Rate Loans at such time, (ii) all Euro-
Dollar

                                        5
<PAGE>

Loans having the same Interest Period at such time or (iii) all CD Loans
having the same Interest Period at such time; provided that, if a Committed
Loan of any particular Bank is converted to or made as a Base Rate Loan
pursuant to Article 8, such Loan shall be included in the same Group or
Groups of Loans from time to time as it would have been in if it had not
been so converted or made.

     "Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any
Indebtedness or lease payments of any other Person or otherwise in any
manner assuring the holder of any Indebtedness of, or the obligee under any
lease of, any other Person through an agreement, contingent or otherwise,
to purchase Indebtedness or the property subject to such lease, or to
purchase goods, supplies or services primarily for the purpose of enabling
the debtor or obligor to make payment of the Indebtedness or under such
lease or of assuring such Person against loss, or to supply funds to or in
any other manner invest in the debtor or obligor, or otherwise; provided
that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term "Guarantee" when used
as a verb has a correlative meaning.

     "Hazardous Substances" means any toxic, radioactive, caustic or
otherwise hazardous substance, including petroleum, its derivatives, by-
products and other hydrocarbons, or any substance having any constituent
elements displaying any of the foregoing characteristics.

     "Indebtedness" with respect to any Person means:

     (1) all indebtedness which would appear as indebtedness on a balance
sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (i) for money borrowed, (ii) which is evidenced by
securities sold for money or (iii) which constitutes purchase money
indebtedness;

     (2) all indebtedness of others Guaranteed by such Person;

     (3) all indebtedness secured by any Lien upon property owned by such
Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the
payment of such indebtedness; and

     (4) all indebtedness of such Person created or arising under any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement (including any lease in
the nature of a title retention agreement) with respect to property acquired
by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender
under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession of
such property), but only if such property is included as an asset on the
balance sheet of such Person;

                                        6
<PAGE>

provided that, in computing the "Indebtedness" of such Person, there shall
be excluded any particular indebtedness if, upon or prior to the maturity
thereof, there shall have been deposited with the proper depositary in
trust money (or evidences of such indebtedness) in the amount necessary to
pay, redeem or satisfy such indebtedness, and thereafter such money and
evidences of indebtedness so deposited shall not be included in any
computation of the assets of such Person; and provided further that no
provision of this definition shall be construed to include as
"Indebtedness" of the Borrower any indebtedness by virtue of any
agreement by the Borrower to advance or supply funds to Members.

     "Indenture" means either the 1972 Indenture or the 1994 Indenture,
and "Indentures" means both such Indentures.

     "Interest Period" means: (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending
one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect in the
applicable Notice of Borrowing; provided that:

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

          (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
     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, subject to clause (c) below, end on the
     last Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month;

          (c) any Interest Period which begins before the Commitment
     Termination Date and would otherwise end after the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the Commitment Termination Date; and

          (d) any Interest Period which begins before the first
     anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date and would
     otherwise end after the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date,

                                        7
<PAGE>

     (2) with respect to each CD Borrowing, the period commencing on the
date of such Borrowing and ending 30, 60, 90 or 180 days thereafter, as the
Borrower may elect in the applicable Notice of Borrowing; provided that:

          (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
     which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
     succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day;

          (b) any Interest Period which begins before the
     Commitment Termination Date and would otherwise end after the
     Commitment Termination Date shall end on the Commitment
     Termination Date; and

          (c) any Interest Period which begins before the first
     anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date and would
     otherwise end after the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date;

     (3) with respect to each Base Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on
the date of such Borrowing and ending 30 days thereafter; provided that:

          (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
     which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
     succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day;

          (b) any Interest Period which begins before the
     Commitment Termination Date and would otherwise end after the
     Commitment Termination Date shall end on the Commitment
     Termination Date; and

          (c) any Interest Period which begins before the first
     anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date and would
     otherwise end after the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date;

     (4) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending any whole number of
months thereafter (but not less than one month) as the Borrower may elect
in accordance with Section 2.03; provided that:

                                        8
<PAGE>
          (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
     which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
     succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar
     Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
     Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business
     Day;

          (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
     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, subject to clause (c) below, end on the
     last Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month;

          (c) any Interest Period which begins before the
     Commitment Termination Date and would otherwise end after the
     Commitment Termination Date shall end on the Commitment
     Termination Date; and

          (d) any Interest Period which begins before the first
     anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date and would
     otherwise end after the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the first anniversary of the
     Commitment Termination Date;

     (5) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such number of
days thereafter (but not less than 30 days) as the Borrower may elect in
accordance with Section 2.03; provided that:

          (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
     which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
     succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day;

          (b) any Interest Period which begins before the
     Commitment Termination Date and would otherwise end after the
     Commitment Termination Date shall end on the Commitment
     Termination Date; and

          (c) any Interest Period which begins before the first
     anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date and would
     otherwise end after the first anniversary of the Commitment
     Termination Date shall end on the first anniversary of the
     Commitment Termination Date;

                                        9
<PAGE>

     "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute.

     "Joint Venture" means any corporation, partnership, association, joint
venture or other entity in which the Borrower, directly or indirectly
through Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures, has an equity interest at the time
of 10% or more but which is not a Subsidiary; provided that no Person whose
only assets are RUS Guaranteed Loans and investments incidental thereto
shall be deemed a Joint Venture.

     "LIBOR Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting
forth Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate
pursuant to Section 2.03.

     "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or
holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional
sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to
such asset.

     "Loan" means a Domestic Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money
Market Loan and "Loans" means Domestic Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or
Money Market Loans or any combination of the foregoing.

     "London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07(c).

     "Member" means any Person which is a member or a patron of the
Borrower.

     "Money Market Absolute Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.03(d).

     "Money Market Absolute Rate Loan" means a loan to be made by a
Bank pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.

     "Money Market Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic
Lending Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as
it may hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice
to the Borrower and the Agent; provided that any Bank may from time to
time by notice to the Borrower and the Agent designate separate Money
Market Lending Offices for its Money Market LIBOR Loans, on the one hand,
and its Money Market Absolute

                                       10
<PAGE>

Rate Loans, on the other hand, in which case all references herein to the
Money Market Lending Office of such Bank shall be deemed to refer to
either or both of such offices, as the context may require.

     "Money Market LIBOR Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank
pursuant to a LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at
the Prime Rate pursuant to Section 8.01(a)).

     "Money Market Loan" means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money
Market Absolute Rate Loan.

     "Money Market Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

     "Money Market Quote" means an offer by a Bank to make a Money
Market Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.

     "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

     "Net Margins" means operating and non-operating income of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or consolidated
basis (excluding income on Guaranteed Portions of RUS Guaranteed Loans)
less, without duplication, operating and non-operating costs and expenses of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or consolidated
basis (excluding costs and expenses relating to Guaranteed Portions of RUS
Guaranteed Loans).

     "1994 Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of February 15, 1994 and
as amended as of September 16, 1994 between the Borrower and U.S. Bank
National Association, as trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to
time, providing for the issuance in series of certain collateral trust
bonds of the Borrower.

     "1972 Indenture" means the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated
as of March 1, 1987, amending and restating in full the Indenture dated as
of December 1, 1972, by and between the Borrower and U.S. Bank Trust
National Association, as trustee.

     "Notes" means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to
repay the Loans,
and "Note" means any one of such promissory notes issued hereunder.

                                       11
<PAGE>
     "Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing (as
defined in Section 2.02) or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined
in Section 2.03(f)).

     "Parent" means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such
Bank.

     "Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.06(b).

     "Patronage Capital Certificates" means those certificates that evidence
the allocation of Net Margins by the Borrower among its Members in
proportion to interest earned by the Borrower from such Members.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

     "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an
association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a
government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

     "Plan" means any multiemployer plan or single employer plan, as defined
in Section 4001 and subject to Title IV of ERISA, which is maintained, or at
any time during the five calendar years preceding the date of this Agreement
was maintained, for employees of the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group.

     "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest publicly announced by The Bank
of Nova Scotia in New York City from time to time as its Prime Rate.

     "Prior Credit Agreement" means the Revolving Credit and Term Loan
Agreement dated as of September 29, 1999 among the Borrower, the banks
Listed on the signature pages thereof, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation
Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent.

      "Qualified Subordinated Indebtedness" means the Borrower's (i) 8%
Quarterly Income Capital Securities (Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures Due 2045), (ii) Member Subordinated Capital Securities issued
pursuant to the Borrower's Prospectus Supplement dated May 2, 2000
supplementing the Borrower's Prospectus dated February 22, 2000 and having a
maturity of not less than 40 years from the date of issuance thereof and
(ii) any other Indebtedness of the Borrower having substantially similar
terms as those contained in the instruments and documents relating to the
foregoing Indebtedness.

                                       12
<PAGE>
     "Reference Banks" means the CD Reference Banks or the Euro-Dollar
Reference Banks, as the context may require, and "Reference Bank" means any
one of such Reference Banks.

      "Regulation U" means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

      "Regulation X" means Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

      "Reportable Event" means an event described in Section 4043(c) of
ERISA or regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor thereunder (with
respect to which the 30 day notice requirement has not been waived by the
PBGC).

     "Required Banks" means at any time Banks having at least 51% of the
sum of the aggregate amount of the unused Commitments and the aggregate
principal outstanding amount of the Loans.

     "Revolving Credit Period" means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Commitment Termination Date.

     "Revolving Loan" means a loan made by a Bank pursuant to
Section 2.01(a).

     "RUS" means the Rural Utilities Service of the Department of
Agriculture of the United States of America (as successor to the Rural
Electrification Administration of the Department of Agriculture of the
United States of America) or any other regulatory body which succeeds to
its functions.

     "RUS Guaranteed Loan" means any loan made by any Person, which
loan (x) bears interest at least equal to such Person's cost of funds and
(y) is guaranteed, in whole or in part, as to principal and interest by
the United States of America through the RUS pursuant to a guarantee,
which guarantee contains provisions no less favorable to the holder
thereof than the provisions set forth in the form of Exhibit B-1 or
Exhibit B-2 hereto; and "Guaranteed Portion" of any RUS Guaranteed Loan
means that portion of principal of, and interest on, such RUS Guaranteed
Loan which is guaranteed by the United States of America through the RUS
as provided in clause (y).

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

                                       13
<PAGE>
     "Subsidiary" of any Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of
whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes
of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person directly
or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, and (ii) any other Person in which
such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50%
voting and equity interest, provided that no Person whose only assets are
RUS Guaranteed Loans and investments incidental thereto shall be deemed a
Subsidiary. Neither the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative nor the
Guaranty Funding Cooperative is on the date of this Agreement a
"Subsidiary", except that the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative
and, but only so long as the Borrower maintains control of the Board of
Directors of the Guaranty Funding Cooperative (including, without
limitation, the ability to appoint a majority of such Board of Directors),
the Guaranty Funding Cooperative shall each be considered a "Subsidiary" for
purposes of the definitions of "Net Margins" and "TIER".

     "Superior Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness of the Borrower (other
than Capital Term Certificates and Qualified Subordinated Indebtedness) and
its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or consolidated basis, but
excluding (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the
extent that the proceeds of such Indebtedness are used to fund Guaranteed
Portions of RUS Guaranteed Loans and (ii) any indebtedness of any Member
Guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries ("Guaranteed
Indebtedness"), to the extent that either (x) the long-term unsecured debt
of such Member is rated at least BBB+ by S&P or Baa1 by Moody's or (ii) the
payment of principal and interest by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
in respect of such Guaranteed Indebtedness is covered by insurance or
reinsurance provided by an insurer having an insurance financial strength
rating of AAA by S&P or a financial strength rating of Aaa by Moody's.

     "Term Loan" means a loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

     "TIER" means, for any period, the ratio of (x) Net Margins plus
interest on Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries determined on a
combined or consolidated basis (but excluding Indebtedness of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent that the proceeds of such
Indebtedness are used to fund Guaranteed Portions of RUS Guaranteed Loans)
plus amortization of bond discount and amortization of bond issuance costs
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or
consolidated basis for such period (but excluding such amortization of
discount and issuance costs with respect to Indebtedness referred to in the
preceding parenthetical phrase) to (y) interest on

                                       14
<PAGE>
Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or
consolidated basis (but excluding Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to the extent that the proceeds of such Indebtedness are used
to fund Guaranteed Portions of RUS Guaranteed Loans) plus amortization of
bond discount and amortization of bond issuance costs of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries determined on a combined or consolidated basis for such
period (but excluding such amortization of discount and issuance costs with
respect to Indebtedness referred to in the preceding parenthetical phrase).

     SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made and all financial
statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from
time to time, applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in
by the Borrower's independent public accountants) with the most recent
audited combined financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks.

     SECTION 1.03. Types of Borrowings. The term "Borrowing" denotes the
aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower
pursuant to Article 2 on a single date and for a single Interest Period.
Borrowings are classified for purposes of this Agreement either by
reference to the pricing of Loans comprising such Borrowing (e.g., a "Euro-
Dollar Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Euro-Dollar Loans) or by
reference to the provisions of Article 2 under which participation therein
is determined (i.e., a "Revolving Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section
2.01(a) in which all Banks participate in proportion to their Commitments,
while a "Money Market Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.03 in which
the Bank participants are determined on the basis of their bids in
accordance therewith).

                                  ARTICLE 2
                                 THE CREDITS

     SECTION 2.01. Commitments to Lend. (a) Revolving Loans. During the
Revolving Credit Period each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make loans to the Borrower
pursuant to this Section from time to time in amounts such that the
aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans by such Bank at any one
time outstanding shall not exceed the amount of its Commitment. Each
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount

                                       15
<PAGE>

of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000 (except that any such
Borrowing may be in the maximum aggregate amount available in accordance
with Section 3.02(c) or 3.02(d)) and shall be made from the several
Banks ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments. Within the
foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section, repay or, to
the extent permitted by Section 2.12, prepay Loans and reborrow at any time
during the Revolving Credit Period under this Section.

     (b) Term Loans. Each Bank severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make a Term Loan to the Borrower
on the Commitment Termination Date in an amount up to but not exceeding the
amount of its Commitment, as then in effect.

     (c) Extension of Commitments. The Commitment Termination Date
may be extended from time to time in the manner set forth in this
subsection (c), in each case for a period of up to 364 days from the date
on which Banks having 51% of the Commitments shall have notified the Agent
of their agreement so to extend. If the Borrower wishes to request an
extension of the Commitment Termination Date, it shall give written notice
to that effect (such notice to state the date to which the Commitment
Termination Date then in effect is requested to be extended, subject to the
provisions of the preceding sentence) to the Agent not less than 60 nor more
than 90 days prior to the Commitment Termination Date then in effect,
whereupon the Agent shall promptly notify each of the Banks of such request
and send a copy of the Extension Agreement referred to below to each Bank.
Each Bank will use its best efforts to respond to such request, whether
affirmatively or negatively, as it may elect in its discretion, within 30
days of such notice to the Agent. If less than all Banks respond
affirmatively to such request within 30 days, then the Borrower may request
the Banks that do not elect to extend the Commitment Termination Date to
assign their Commitments in their entirety, no later than 15 days prior to
the Commitment Termination Date then in effect, to one or more Assignees
pursuant to Section 9.06(c) which Assignees will agree to extend the
Commitment Termination Date. If Banks having at least 51% of the
Commitments (including such Assignees and excluding their respective
transferor Banks) respond affirmatively, then, subject to receipt by
the Agent of counterparts of an Extension Agreement in substantially the
form of Exhibit I hereto duly completed and signed by all of the parties
thereto, the Commitment Termination Date shall be extended for the period
specified above. The Commitment of any Bank that elects not to extend the
Commitment Termination Date shall terminate on the Commitment Termination
Date in effect immediately prior to giving effect to any such extension.

     SECTION 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowings. The Borrower shall give
the Agent notice (a "Notice of Committed Borrowing") not later than 11:00

                                       16
<PAGE>

A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the date of each Base Rate Borrowing, (y)
the second Domestic Business Day before each CD Borrowing and (z) the third
Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing, specifying:

     (a) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day
in the case of a Domestic Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the
case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,

     (b) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,

     (c) whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to bear interest
initially at the Base Rate, a CD Rate or a Euro-Dollar Rate, and

     (d) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, the duration of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the definition of
Interest Period.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, no more than 15 Fixed Rate Borrowings
shall be outstanding at any one time, and any Borrowing which would exceed
such limitation shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.03. Money Market Borrowings. (a) In addition to Committed
Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01, the Borrower may, as set forth in this
Section, request the Banks during the Revolving Credit Period to make offers
To make Money Market Loans to the Borrower. The Banks may, but shall have no
obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no
obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this
Section.

     (b) Money Market Quote Request. When the Borrower wishes to request
offers to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to
the Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market Quote Request
substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto so as to be received no later
than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fifth Euro-Dollar Business
Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR
Auction or (y) the Domestic Business Day next preceding the date of borrowing
proposed therein, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case,
such other time or date as the Borrower and the Agent shall have mutually
agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of the
Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate
Auction for which such change is to be effective) specifying:

                                       17
<PAGE>

          (i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar
     Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day
     in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,

          (ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be
     $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000,

          (iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
     subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and

          (iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a
     Money Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.

     The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more
than one Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money
Market Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days
(or such other number of days as the Borrower and the Agent may agree) of
any other Money Market Quote Request.

     (c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Promptly upon receipt of a
Money Market Quote Request, the Agent shall send to the Banks by telex or
facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially
in the form of Exhibit D hereto, which shall constitute an invitation by the
Borrower to each Bank to submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the
Money Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote Request relates in
accordance with this Section.

     (d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes. (i) Each Bank
may submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money
Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each
Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d)
and must be submitted to the Agent by telex or facsimile transmission at its
offices specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01 not later than (x) 2:00
P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to
the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 9:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of
an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or date as the
Borrower and the Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to
the Banks not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the
first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be
effective); provided that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Agent (or any
affiliate of the Agent) in the capacity of a Bank may be submitted, and may
only be submitted, if the Agent or such affiliate notifies the Borrower of
the terms of the offer or offers contained

                                       18
<PAGE>

therein not later than (x) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth
Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the
case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 8:45 A.M. (New York City time) on the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction.
Subject to Articles 3 and 6, any Money Market Quote so made shall be
irrevocable except with the written consent of the Agent given on the
instructions of the Borrower.

          (ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form
     of Exhibit E hereto and shall in any case specify:

               (A) the proposed date of Borrowing,

               (B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for
          which each such offer is being made, which principal amount
          (w) may be greater than or less than the Commitment of the
          quoting Bank, (x) must be $1,000,000 or any larger multiple
          thereof, (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Money Market
          Loans for which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to
          an aggregate limitation as to principal amount of Money Market
          Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Bank may be
          accepted,

               (C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or
          below the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "Money
          Market Margin") offered for each such Money Market Loan,
          expressed as a percentage (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th of
          1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate,

               (D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of
          interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the
          "Money Market Absolute Rate") offered for each such Money
          Market Loan, and

               (E) the identity of the quoting Bank.

     A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the
quoting Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related
Invitation for Money Market Quotes.

          (iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:

                                       19
<PAGE>

               (A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit E
          hereto or does not specify all of the information required by
          subsection (d)(ii),

               (B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language,

               (C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set
     forth in the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes, or

               (D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection (d)(i).

     (e) Notice to Borrower. The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower
of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote submitted by a Bank that is in
accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any Money Market Quote that
amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market
Quote submitted by such Bank with respect to the same Money Market Quote
Request.  Any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the
Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to
correct a manifest error in such former Money Market Quote. The Agent's
notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of
Money Market Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest
Period specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the
respective principal amounts and Money Market Margins or Money Market
Absolute Rates, as the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable,
limitations on the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for
which offers in any single Money Market Quote may be accepted.

     (f) Acceptance and Notice by Borrower. Not later than 10:00 A.M.
(New York City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the
proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in
either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Agent shall
have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the
date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or
Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective), the
Borrower shall notify the Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the
offers so notified to it pursuant to subsection (e). In the case of
acceptance, such notice (a "Notice of Money Market Borrowing") shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are
accepted. The Borrower may accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in
part; provided that:

                                       20
<PAGE>

               (i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market
          Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the
          related Money Market Quote Request,

               (ii) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market
          Borrowing must be $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of
          $1,000,000,

               (iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of
          ascending Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as
          the case may be, and

               (iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described
          in subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the
          requirements of this Agreement.

     (g) Allocation by Agent. If offers are made by two or more Banks with
the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case
may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect
of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the
principal amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are
accepted shall be allocated by the Agent among such Banks as nearly as
possible (in such multiples, not greater than $100,000, as the Agent may
deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such
offers. Determinations by the Agent of the amounts of Money Market Loans
shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     SECTION 2.04. Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing, the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the
contents thereof and of such Bank's share (if any) of such Borrowing and
such Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

     (b) Not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each
Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall (except as provided in
Subsection (c) of this Section) make available its share of such Borrowing,
in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the
Agent at its address specified in or pursuant to Section 9.01. Unless the
Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in Article 3 has
not been satisfied, the Agent will make the funds so received from the Banks
available to the Borrower at the Agent's aforesaid address.

     (c) If any Bank makes a new Loan hereunder on a day on which the
Borrower is to repay all or any part of an outstanding Loan from such Bank,
such Bank shall apply the proceeds of its new Loan to make such repayment
and only

                                       21
<PAGE>

an amount equal to the difference (if any) between the amount being borrowed
and the amount being repaid shall be made available by such Bank to the
Agent as provided in subsection (b), or remitted by the Borrower to the
Agent as provided in Section 2.13, as the case may be.

     (d) Unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Bank prior to the
date of Borrowing (or prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of
Borrowing in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing) that such Bank does not
intend to make available to the Agent such Bank's portion of the Borrowing
to be made on such date, the Agent may assume that such Bank has made such
amount available to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount,
subject to the provisions of subsection (c). If such corresponding amount is
not in fact made available to the Agent by such Bank, the Agent shall be
entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Bank. If
such Bank does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Agent's
demand therefor, the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the
Borrower shall promptly pay such corresponding amount to the Agent. The
Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Bank or the Borrower
interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date
such corresponding amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to
the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Agent, at a rate per
annum equal to (x) in the case of a Bank, the Federal Funds Rate for each
such day and (y) in the case of the Borrower, the then applicable rate for
Base Rate Loans, CD Loans, Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans, as
appropriate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Bank from its
obligation to fulfill its Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights
which the Borrower may have against any Bank as a result of any default by
such Bank hereunder. For purposes of this subsection (d), no amount paid to
the Agent hereunder shall be considered to have been recovered by the Agent
on the date of payment unless such amount shall have been received by the
Agent by 2:30 P.M. (New York City time) on such date.

     SECTION 2.05. Notes. (a) The Loans of each Bank shall be evidenced by a
single Note payable to the order of such Bank for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of such Bank's Loans.

     (b) Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent, request
that its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by a separate Note in an
amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Loans. Each
such Note shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto with
appropriate modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences solely
Loans of the relevant type.

                                       22
<PAGE>

Each reference in this Agreement to the "Note" of such Bank shall be deemed
to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as the context may
require.

     (c) Upon receipt of each Bank's Note pursuant to Section 3.01(b), the
Agent shall forward such Note to such Bank. Each Bank shall record the date,
amount, type and maturity of each Loan made by it and the date and amount of
each payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect thereto, and
may, if such Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement
of its Note, endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof appropriate
notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such
Loan then outstanding; provided that the failure of any Bank to make any
such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the
Borrower hereunder or under the Notes. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably
authorized by the Borrower so to endorse its Note and to attach to and
make a part of its Note a continuation of any such schedule as and when
required.

     SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans. (a) The Revolving Loans shall mature,
and the principal amount thereof shall be due and payable, on the last day
of the Revolving Credit Period.

     (b) Each Money Market Loan shall mature, and the principal amount
thereof shall be due and payable, on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable to such Borrowing.

     (c) The Term Loans shall mature on the first anniversary of the
Commitment Termination Date.

     SECTION 2.07. Interest Rates. (a) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear
Interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the
date such Loan is made until it becomes due, at a rate per annum equal to
the Base Rate for such day. Such interest shall be payable for each
Interest Period on the last day thereof and, with respect to the principal
amount of any Base Rate Loan that is prepaid or converted to a CD Loan or
Euro-Dollar Loan, on the date of such prepayment or conversion. Any overdue
principal of or interest on any Base Rate Loan shall bear interest, payable
on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day.

     (b) Each CD Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per
annum equal to the sum of the CD Margin plus the applicable Adjusted CD
Rate; provided that if any CD Loan shall, as a result of clause (2)(b) of
the definition of Interest Period, have an Interest Period of less than 30
days, such Loan shall bear interest during such Interest Period at the rate
applicable to Base Rate Loans

                                       23
<PAGE>

during such period. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period
on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than 90 days,
90 days after the first day thereof and, with respect to the principal
amount of any CD Loan that is prepaid or converted to a Base Rate Loan or
Euro-Dollar Loan, on the date of such prepayment or conversion. Any overdue
principal of or interest on any CD Loan shall bear interest, payable on
demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2%
plus the higher of (i) the sum of the CD Margin plus the Adjusted CD Rate
applicable to such Loan and (ii) the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for
such day.

     The "Adjusted CD Rate" applicable to any Interest Period means a rate
per annum determined pursuant to the following formula:
                        [ CDBR ]*

                 ACDR = [ ----- ] + AR

                        [ 1.00 - DRP ]

                 ACDR  = Adjusted CD Rate
                 CDBR  = CD Base Rate
                 DRP   = Domestic Reserve Percentage
                 AR    = Assessment Rate
__________
* The amount in brackets being rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next
higher 1/100 of 1%

     The "CD Base Rate" applicable to any Interest Period is the rate of
interest determined by the Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) of the prevailing rates per
annum bid at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) (or as soon thereafter as
practicable) on the first day of such Interest Period by two or more New
York certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing for the purchase
at face value from each CD Reference Bank of its certificates of deposit in
an amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the CD Loan of such
CD Reference Bank to which such Interest Period applies and having a
maturity comparable to such Interest Period.

     "Domestic Reserve Percentage" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor)
for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including without
limitation any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) for a member bank
of the Federal

                                       24
<PAGE>

Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five
billion dollars in respect of new non-personal time deposits in dollars in
New York City having a maturity comparable to the related Interest Period
and in an amount of $100,000 or more. The Adjusted CD Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Domestic
Reserve Percentage.

     "Assessment Rate" means for any day the annual assessment rate in
effect on such day which is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund
classified as adequately capitalized and within supervisory subgroup "A" (or
a comparable successor assessment risk classification) within the meaning of
12 C.F.R. Section 327.4(a) (or any successor provision) to the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for such Corporation's (or
such successor's) insuring time deposits at offices of such institution in
the United States. The Adjusted CD Rate shall be adjusted automatically on
and as of the effective date of any change in the Assessment Rate.

     (c) Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a
rate per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin plus the
applicable Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate. Such interest shall be
payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such
Interest Period is longer than three months, three months after the first
day thereof and, with respect to the principal amount of any Euro-Dollar
Loan that is prepaid or converted to a Base Rate Loan or CD Loan, on the
date of such prepayment or conversion.

     The "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any
Interest Period means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained
(rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing
(i) the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate by (ii) 1.00 minus the
Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.

     The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest Period
means the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of
1%) of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are
offered to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the London interbank
market at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar Business
Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount
approximately equal to the principal amount of the Euro-Dollar Loan of such
Euro-Dollar Reference Bank to which such Interest Period is to apply and
for a period of time comparable to such Interest Period.

     "Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by
the

                                       25
<PAGE>

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars
In respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" (or in respect of any other
category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the
interest rate on Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of
extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United
States office of any Bank to United States residents). The Adjusted London
Interbank Offered Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the
effective date of any change in the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.

     (d) Any overdue principal of or interest on any Euro-Dollar Loan s hall
bear interest, payable on demand, for each day from and including the date
payment thereof was due to but excluding the date of actual payment, at a
rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the higher of (i) the sum of the
Euro-Dollar Margin plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate
applicable to such Loan and (ii) the Euro-Dollar Margin plus the quotient
obtained (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by
dividing (x) the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher
1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one day (or, if such
amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Dollar Business Days, then
for such other period of time not longer than six months as the Agent may
select) deposits in dollars in an amount approximately equal to such overdue
payment due to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks are offered to such
Euro-Dollar Reference Bank in the London interbank market for the applicable
period determined as provided above by (y) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage (or, if the circumstances described in clause (a)
or (b) of Section 8.01 shall exist, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
2% plus the rate applicable to Base Rate Loans for such day).

     (e) Subject to Section 8.01(a), each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest
Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the
London Interbank Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in
accordance with Section 2.07(c) as if each Euro-Dollar Reference Bank were
to participate in the related Money Market LIBOR Borrowing ratably in
proportion to its Commitment) plus (or minus) the Money Market Margin quoted
by the Bank making such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03. Each Money
Market Absolute Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per
annum equal to the Money Market Absolute Rate quoted by the Bank making such
Loan in accordance with Section 2.03. Such interest shall be payable for
each Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is
longer than three months, at intervals of three months after the first day
thereof. Any overdue principal of or interest on any Money Market

                                       26
<PAGE>

Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid
at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Prime Rate for such day.

     (f) The Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the
Loans hereunder. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the
participating Banks of each rate of interest so determined, and its
determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     (g) Each Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to furnish
quotations to the Agent as contemplated by this Section. If any Reference
Bank does not furnish a timely quotation, the Agent shall determine the
relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation or quotations
furnished by the remaining Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of such
quotations is available on a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01
shall apply.

     SECTION 2.08. Method of Electing Interest Rates. (a) The Loans included
in each Committed Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of
rate specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Committed
Borrowing.  Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change
or continue the type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject
to Section 2.08(d) and the provisions of Article 8), as follows:

               (i) if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to
          convert such Loans to CD Loans as of any Domestic Business Day or to
          Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business Day;

               (ii) if such Loans are CD Loans, the Borrower may elect to
          convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans as of any Domestic Business
          Day, or convert such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-
          Dollar Business Day or continue such Loans as CD Loans, as of the
          end of any Interest Period applicable thereto, for an additional
          Interest Period, subject to Section 2.14 if any such conversion is
          effective on any day other than the last day of an Interest Period
          applicable to such Loans; and

               (iii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may
          elect to convert such Loans to Base Rate Loans as of any Domestic
          Business Day, or convert such Loans to CD Loans as of any Euro-
          Dollar Business Day or may elect to continue such Loans as Euro-
          Dollar Loans, as of the end of any Interest Period applicable
          thereto, for an additional Interest Period, subject to Section
          2.14 if any such conversion is effective on any day other than the
          last day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loans.

                                       27
<PAGE>

     Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a "Notice of
Interest Rate Election") to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30
A.M. (New York City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before the
conversion or continuation selected in such notice is to be effective
(unless the relevant Loans are to be converted from Domestic Loans of one
type to Domestic Loans of the other type or are CD Loans to be continued as
CD Loans for an additional Interest Period, in which case such notice shall
be delivered to the Agent not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on
the second Domestic Business Day before such conversion or continuation is
to be effective). A Notice of Interest Rate Election may, if it so
specifies, apply to only a portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
relevant Group of Loans; provided that (i) such portion is allocated ratably
among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii) the portion to which such
Notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it does not apply, are
each at least $10,000,000 (unless such portion is comprised of Base
Rate Loans). If no such notice is timely received before the end of an
Interest Period for any Group of CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower
shall be deemed to have elected that such Group of Loans be converted to
Base Rate Loans at the end of such Interest Period.

     (b) Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:

          (i) the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice
     applies;

          (ii) the date on which the conversion or continuation selected in
     such notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable
     clause of Section 2.08(a);

          (iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted, the
     new Type of Loans and, if the Loans resulting from such conversion are
     to be CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, the duration of the next
     succeeding Interest Period applicable thereto; and

          (iv) if such Loans are to be continued as CD Loans or Euro-Dollar
     Loans for an additional Interest Period, the duration of such
     additional Interest Period.

     Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election
shall comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

     (c) Promptly after receiving a Notice of Interest Rate Election from
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.08(a), the Agent shall notify each Bank
of the contents thereof and such notice shall not thereafter be revocable
by the Borrower.

                                       28
<PAGE>

     (d) The Borrower shall not be entitled to elect to convert any
Committed Loans to, or continue any Committed Loans for an additional
Interest Period as, CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans if (i) the aggregate
principal amount of any Group of CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans created or
continued as a result of such election would be less than $10,000,000 or
(ii) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing when the Borrower
delivers notice of such election to the Agent.

     (e) If any Committed Loan is converted to a different type of Loan,
the Borrower shall pay, on the date of such conversion, the interest
accrued to such date on the principal amount being converted.

     SECTION 2.09. Fees.

     (a) Facility Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account
of each Bank facility fees on the daily average amount of such Bank's
Commitment (whether used or unused), for the period from the Effective
Date to but excluding the earlier of the date the Commitments are terminated
or the Commitment Termination Date, at a rate of 0.085% per annum; provided
that, if such Bank continues to have any Committed Loans outstanding after
its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue
on the daily outstanding principal amount of such Bank's Committed Loans
from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but
excluding the date on which such Bank ceases to have any Committed Loans
outstanding. Accrued facility fees shall be payable on each January 1,
April 1, July 1, and October 1 and on the date the Commitments are
terminated (and, if later, on the date the Loans shall be repaid in their
entirety); provided that any facility fees accruing after the first
anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date shall be payable on demand.

     (b) Utilization Fees. (i) During any period when the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Loans exceeds 50% of the aggregate
amount of the Commitments or the Commitments have been terminated but Loans
are outstanding, the Borrower shall, unless Minimum Rating Status exists,
pay to the Agent for the account of each Bank utilization fees at a rate of
0.125% per annum.  Such utilization fee shall accrue on the average daily
aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Bank's Loans and shall be
payable on each January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 and on the date
the Commitments are terminated (and, if later, on the date the Loans shall
be repaid in their entirety); provided that any utilization fees accruing
after the first anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date shall be
payable on demand.

                                       29
<PAGE>

     (ii) For purposes of this Section, "Minimum Rating Status" exists at
any date if at such date the Borrower has outstanding senior unsecured long-
term debt and such debt, without third party enhancement, is rated (or, if
on such date the Borrower has no outstanding senior unsecured long-term
debt, evidence satisfactory to the Agent is provided to the effect that the
rating of senior unsecured long-term debt of the Borrower, assuming that it
had outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt, would be rated) at least
AA- (or any equivalent rating which is used in lieu thereof) or higher by
S&P or Aa3 (or any equivalent rating which is used in lieu thereof) or
higher by Moody's.

     (c) Agents' Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent and the Co-
Syndication Agents, each for its own account, one or more fees in such
Amounts and at such times as has been previously agreed between the Borrower
and each of them.

     SECTION 2.10. Optional Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
During the Revolving Credit Period, the Borrower may, upon at least three
Domestic Business Days' notice to the Agent (which notice the Agent will
promptly deliver to the Banks), (i) terminate the Commitments at any
time, if no Loans are outstanding at such time or (ii) ratably reduce from
time to time by an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of
$1,000,000, the aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans.

     SECTION 2.11. Mandatory Termination of Commitments. The Commitments
shall terminate on the Commitment Termination Date and any Loans then
outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) shall be due and
payable on such date.

     SECTION 2.12. Optional Prepayments. (a) Subject in the case of Fixed
Rate Loans to Section 2.14, the Borrower may (i) upon at least one
Domestic Business Day's notice to the Agent, prepay any Group of Domestic
Loans (or any Money Market Borrowing bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)) or (ii) upon at least three Euro-Dollar
Business Days' notice to the Agent, prepay any Group of Euro-Dollar Loans,
in each case in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in amounts
aggregating $10,000,000 or any larger multiple of $1,000,000, by paying the
principal amount to be prepaid together with accrued interest thereon to the
date of prepayment. Each such optional prepayment shall be applied to prepay
ratably the Loans of the several Banks included in such Group of Loans (or
such Money Market Borrowing).

                                       30
<PAGE>

     (b) Except as provided in Section 2.12(a), the Borrower may not prepay
all or any portion of the principal amount of any Money Market Loan prior
to the maturity thereof.

     (c) Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment pursuant to this Section,
the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and of
such Bank's ratable share (if any) of such prepayment and such notice shall
not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

     SECTION 2.13. General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The Borrower
shall make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and
of fees hereunder, not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date
when due, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City,
to the Agent at its address referred to in Section 9.01. The Agent will
promptly distribute to each Bank its ratable share of each such payment
received by the Agent for the account of the Banks. Whenever any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the Domestic Loans or of fees shall be due on
a day which is not a Domestic Business Day, the date for payment thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding Domestic Business Day. Whenever
any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Euro-Dollar Loans shall
be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for
payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar
Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in another calendar
month, in which case the date for payment thereof shall be the next
preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day. Whenever any payment of principal of,
or interest on, the Money Market Loans shall be due on a day which is not
a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended
to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day. If the date for any
payment of principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise,
interest thereon shall be payable for such extended time.

     (b) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower
prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Banks hereunder that
the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that
the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and
the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed
to each Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such
Bank. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such
payment, each Bank shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
amount distributed to such Bank together with interest thereon, for each
day from the date such amount is distributed to such Bank until the date
such Bank repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

                                       31
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.14. Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment of
principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan or any Fixed Rate Loan is
converted to a different type of Loan (whether such payment or conversion
is pursuant to Article 2, 6 or 8 or otherwise) on any day other than the
last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or the end of an
applicable period fixed pursuant to Section 2.07(d), or if the Borrower
fails to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any Fixed Rate Loans after
notice has been given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(a),
2.08(c) or 2.12(c) the Borrower shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days
after demand for any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an
existing or prospective Participant in the related Loan), including
(without limitation) any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or
employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of margin for
the period after any such payment or conversion or failure to borrow,
prepay, convert or continue; provided that such Bank shall have
delivered to the Borrower a certificate as to the amount of such
loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the absence
of manifest error.

                                       32
<PAGE>

     SECTION 2.15. Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest based on the
Prime Rate and fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of
365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of
days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All
other interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and
paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day).

     SECTION 2.16. Withholding Tax Exemption. At least five Domestic
Business Days prior to the first date on which interest or fees are payable
hereunder for the account of any Bank, each Bank that is not incorporated
under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof agrees
that it will deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent two duly
completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or
4224, certifying in either case that such Bank is entitled to receive
payments under this Agreement and its Note without deduction or withholding
of any United States federal income taxes.  Each Bank which so delivers a
Form 1001 or 4224 further undertakes to deliver to each of the Borrower and
the Agent two additional copies of such form (or a successor form) on or
before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete or after the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form so
delivered by it, and such amendments thereto or extensions or renewals
thereof as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, in
each case certifying that such Bank is entitled to receive payments under
this Agreement and its Note without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation
any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on
which any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such
forms inapplicable or which would

                                       32
<PAGE>

prevent such Bank from duly completing and delivering any such form with
respect to it and such Bank advises the Borrower and the Agent that it is
not capable of receiving payments without any deduction or withholding of
United States federal income tax.

     SECTION 2.17. Increase of Commitments. Upon at least 15 days' prior
notice to the Agent (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to each
of the Banks), the Borrower shall have the right, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth below and with the consent of the Banks as set forth
below, to increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments in multiples of
$5,000,000. Any such increase shall apply, at the option of the Borrower,
(x) to the Commitment of one or more Banks, provided that (i) the Required
Banks (including each Bank whose Commitment is to be increased) shall
consent to such increase, (ii) the amount set forth on the signature pages
hereof opposite the name of each Bank the Commitment of which is being so
increased shall be amended to reflect the increased Commitment of such Bank
and (iii) if any Committed Loans are outstanding at the time of such an
increase, the Borrower will, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, on the date of such increase incur and repay or
prepay one or more Committed Loans from the Banks in such amounts so that
after giving effect thereto, the Committed Loans shall be outstanding on a
pro rata basis (based on the Commitments of the Banks after giving effect to
the changes made pursuant hereto on such date) from all the Banks or (y) to
the creation of a new Commitment of an institution not then a Bank
hereunder, provided that (i) such institution becomes a party to this
Agreement as a Bank by execution and delivery to the Borrower and the Agent
of counterparts of this Agreement, (ii) the Required Banks shall consent to
the creation of such Commitment of such Bank, (iii) the signature pages
hereof shall be amended to reflect the Commitment of such new Bank, (iv) the
Borrower shall issue a Note to such new Bank in conformity with the
provisions of Section 2.05, (v) if any Committed Loans are outstanding at
the time of the creation of such Commitment of such Bank, the Borrower will,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on the
date of the creation of such Commitment incur and repay or prepay one or
more Committed Loans from the Banks in such amounts so that after giving
effect thereto, the Committed Loans shall be outstanding on a pro rata basis
(based on the Commitments of the Banks after giving effect to the changes
made pursuant hereto on such date) from all the Banks and (vi) if such
institution is neither a banking institution nor an affiliate of a Bank,
such institution must be consented to by the Agent; provided further
that any such increase or creation may apply, at the option of the Borrower,
as set forth in clause (x) or (y) above but without the consent of the
Required Banks so long as (i) the amount of such increase or the amount of
such new Commitment so created, as the case may be, when added to the
aggregate amount of all such prior increases in the Commitments and all such
prior creations of new Commitments,

                                       33
<PAGE>

in each case created after the Effective Date, does not exceed $150,000,000
and (ii) after giving effect to such increase or new Commitment, the amount
of the Commitment of any Bank shall not exceed 17.5% of the aggregate amount
of the Commitments (excluding, for purposes of this clause (ii), any
increase resulting solely from the merger or the acquisition of one Bank
into or by another Bank). It is understood that any increase in the amount
of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.17 shall not constitute an
amendment of this Agreement or the Notes.

                                  ARTICLE 3
                                  CONDITIONS

     SECTION 3.01. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on
the date (the "Effective Date") on which the Agent shall have received the
following documents or other items, each dated the Effective Date unless
otherwise indicated:

     (a) receipt by the Agent of counterparts hereof signed by each of the
parties hereto (or, in the case of any party as to which an executed
counterpart shall not have been received, receipt by the Agent in form
satisfactory to it of telegraphic, telex or other written confirmation from
such party of execution of a counterpart hereof by such party);

     (b) receipt by the Agent for the account of each Bank of a duly
executed Note dated on or before the Effective Date complying with the
provisions of Section 2.05;

     (c) receipt by the Agent of an opinion of John Jay List, Esq., General
Counsel of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto and
covering such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated
hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably request, such opinion to be in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

     (d) receipt by the Agent of an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell,
special counsel for the Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit G
hereto and covering such additional matters relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby as the Required Banks may reasonably request, such
opinion to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;

     (e) receipt by the Agent of a certificate signed by the Chief Financial
Officer or the Governor and an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer or the
Controller of the Borrower to the effect set forth in clauses (c) through
(g), inclusive, of Section

                                       34
<PAGE>

3.02 and, in the case of clauses (c), (e) and (g), setting forth in
reasonable detail the calculations required to establish such compliance;

     (f) receipt by the Agent, with a copy for each Bank, of a certificate
of an officer of the Borrower acceptable to the Agent stating that all
consents, authorizations, notices and filings required or advisable in
connection with this Agreement are in full force and effect, and the Agent
shall have received evidence thereof reasonably satisfactory to it;

     (g) evidence satisfactory to the Required Banks that the Commitments,
as defined in the Prior Credit Agreement, have been terminated (except
that Sections 2.14, 7.05, 7.06, 8.03 and 9.03 (and Section 2.13 and Article
9 insofar as such Section or Article relates to such Sections 2.14, 7.05,
7.06, 8.03 and 9.03, as applicable)) of the Prior Credit Agreement shall
survive the termination of such Commitments and shall remain in full force
and effect) and all amounts owed under the Prior Credit Agreement have been
paid in full; and

     (h) receipt by the Agent of all documents the Required Banks may
reasonably request relating to the existence of the Borrower, the corporate
authority for and the validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other
matters relevant hereto, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
The Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Banks of the Effective
Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

     SECTION 3.02. Borrowings. The obligation of any Bank to make a Loan
on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:

     (a) the fact that the Effective Date shall have occurred prior to
August 31, 2000;

     (b) receipt by the Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as required by
Section 2.02 or 2.03, as the case may be;

     (c) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the Borrower is
in compliance with Section 7.12(a) of the 1972 Indenture and Section 7.11
of the 1994 Indenture, as each Indenture is in effect as of the date hereof;

     (d) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Loans will not exceed the aggregate
amount of the Commitments;

                                       35
<PAGE>

     (e) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing;

     (f) the fact that the representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of such
Borrowing (it being understood and agreed that the representation and
warranty set forth in Section 4.13 shall be true and correct as to all
information furnished prior to the making of the respective Loan); and

     (g) the fact that, at the time of such Borrowing, (i) there shall be
no collateral securing Bonds issued pursuant to either Indenture of a type
other than the types of collateral permitted to secure Bonds issued
pursuant to such Indenture as of the date hereof and (ii) the Allowable
Amount of Eligible Collateral then pledged under either Indenture shall not
exceed 150% of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds then Outstanding
under such Indenture and no collateral shall secure Bonds other than the
Eligible Collateral under such Indenture, the Allowable Amount of which is
included within the prior computation or collateral previously so pledged
which ceases to be such Eligible Collateral not as a result of any acts or
omissions to act of the Borrower (other than the declaration of an "event
of default" as defined in a Mortgage which results in the exercise of any
right or remedy described in such Mortgage); each defined term used in this
clause (g) shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the applicable
Indenture.

     Each Borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts
specified in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section.

                                  ARTICLE 4
                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     The Borrower makes the following representations, warranties and
agreements, which shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Notes and the making of the Loans:

     SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence, Power and Authority. The Borrower
is a cooperative association duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the District of Columbia and has the
corporate power and authority and all material governmental licenses,
authorizations, consents and approvals required to own its property and
assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged. The Borrower is
duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation in good standing in
every jurisdiction in which the nature of the

                                       36
<PAGE>

business in which it is engaged makes such qualification or licensing
necessary, except in those jurisdictions in which the failure to be so
qualified or licensed would not (after qualification, assuming that the
Borrower could so qualify without the payment of any fee or penalty and
retain the rights as they existed prior to such qualification all to an
extent so that any fees or penalties required to be so paid or any rights
not so retained would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the
Borrower), individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect
upon the business or financial condition of the Borrower. The Borrower has
the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the
terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Notes. This Agreement has
been, and the Notes when executed and delivered will have been, duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower, and this
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower,
and the Notes, when executed and delivered by the Borrower in accordance
with this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

     SECTION 4.02. Financial Statements. (a) The combined balance sheets of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at May 31, 1999 and the
related combined statements of income, expenses and net margins, changes in
Members' equity and cash flows for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1999,
including the related notes, accompanied by the opinion and report thereon
of Arthur Andersen & Co., certified public accountants, heretofore delivered
to the Banks, present fairly in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (i) the combined financial position of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the date of said balance sheets and
(ii) the combined results of the operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for said fiscal year. The Borrower has no
material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) which are not disclosed
by or reserved against in the most recent audited financial statements or
in the notes thereto other than (i) Indebtedness incurred and (ii) loan and
guarantee commitments issued in each case by the Borrower in the ordinary
course of business since the date of such financial statements. All such
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with prior
periods, except as disclosed therein. The same representations as are set
forth in this Section 4.02 shall be deemed to have been made by the Borrower
in respect of the most recent annual and quarterly financial statements of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (except that the opinion and
report of Arthur Andersen & Co. may be replaced by an opinion and report of
another nationally recognized firm of independent certified public
accountants) furnished or required to be furnished to the Banks prior to
or

                                       37
<PAGE>

at the time of the making of each Loan hereunder, at the time the same are
furnished or required to be furnished.

     (b) The unaudited combined balance sheets of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of February 29, 2000 and the related
Unaudited combined statements of income, expenses and net margins, changes
in Members' equity and cash flows for the nine months then ended,
heretofore delivered to the Banks, present fairly in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with
the financial statements referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 4.02,
the combined financial position of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date and their combined results of operations and
changes in financial position for such nine-month period (subject to normal
year-end adjustments). The Borrower has no material liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) which are not disclosed by or reserved against
in such financial statements for such nine-month period other than
Indebtedness incurred and loan and guarantee commitments issued by the
Borrower in the ordinary course of business since the date of such financial
statements.

     SECTION 4.03. Litigations. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the Borrower's knowledge, threatened by or
before any court or any governmental authority, body or agency or any
arbitration board which are reasonably likely to materially adversely affect
the business, property, assets, financial position or results of operations
of the Borrower or the authority or ability of the Borrower to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or the Notes.

     SECTION 4.04. Governmental Authorizations. No authorization, consent,
approval or license of, or declaration, filing or registration with or
exemption by, any governmental authority, body or agency is required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of
this Agreement or the Notes.

     SECTION 4.05. Capital Term Certificates. The holders of the Borrower's
Capital Term Certificates are not and will not be entitled to receive any
Payments with respect to the principal thereof or interest thereon solely
because of withdrawing or being expelled from membership in the Borrower.

     SECTION 4.06. No Violation of Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any
Subsidiary is in default in any material respect under any material
agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it is
bound or its property or assets may be affected. No event or condition
exists which constitutes, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both would constitute, such a default under any such agreement or other
instrument. Neither the execution and delivery of

                                       38
<PAGE>

this Agreement or the Notes, nor the consummation of any of the transactions
herein or therein contemplated, nor compliance with the terms and provisions
hereof or thereof, will contravene any provision of law, statute, rule or
regulation to which the Borrower is subject or any judgment, decree, award,
franchise, order or permit applicable to the Borrower, or will conflict or
be inconsistent with, or will result in any breach of, any of the terms,
covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute (or with the giving of
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute) a default under (or
condition or event entitling any Person to require, whether by purchase,
redemption, acceleration or otherwise, the Borrower to perform any
obligations prior to the scheduled maturity thereof), or result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the property or assets of the
Borrower pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
agreement or other instrument to which it may be subject, or violate any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower is not a
party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any
instrument evidencing Indebtedness of the Borrower, any agreement or
indenture relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including
its certificate of incorporation and by-laws), which would be violated by
the incurring of the Indebtedness to be evidenced by the Notes.

     SECTION 4.07. No Event of Default under the Indentures. The Borrower
has complied fully with all of the material provisions of each Indenture.
No Event of Default (within the meaning of such term as defined in each
Indenture) and no event, act or condition (except for possible
non-compliance by the Borrower with any immaterial provision of such
Indenture which in itself is not such an Event of Default under such
Indenture) which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute
such an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under such
Indenture. The Borrowings by the Borrower contemplated by this Agreement
will not cause such an Event of Default under, or the violation of any
covenant contained in, either Indenture.

     SECTION 4.08. Compliance with ERISA. The Plans (other than Plans
consisting of mulitemployer plans (as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA))
are in substantial compliance with ERISA, no such Plan is insolvent or in
reorganization, and no such Plan has an accumulated or waived funding
deficiency within the meaning of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code.
No Plan consisting of a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 4001 of
ERISA) is in reorganization. Neither the Borrower nor a Subsidiary of the
Borrower nor any member of the ERISA Group has incurred any material
liability (including any material contingent liability) to or on account of
a Plan pursuant to Section 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA, no
proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan, and no condition
exists which presents a material risk to the

                                       39
<PAGE>

Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower of incurring a material liability
to or on account of a Plan pursuant to any of the foregoing Sections of
ERISA.

     SECTION 4.09. Compliance with Other Laws. The Borrower and each
Subsidiary is in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable
requirements of law and all applicable rules and regulations of each
Federal, State, municipal or other governmental department, agency or
authority, domestic or foreign.

     SECTION 4.10. Tax Status. The Borrower is exempt from payment of
Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     SECTION 4.11. Investment Company Act. The Borrower is not an
"investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.

     SECTION 4.12. Public Utility Holding Company Act. The Borrower is
not 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", as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.

     SECTION 4.13. Disclosure. To the best of the Borrower's knowledge,
information and belief, neither this Agreement nor any document,
certificate or financial statement furnished to any Bank by or on behalf of
the Borrower in connection herewith (all such documents, certificates and
financial statements, taken as a whole) contains any untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements contained herein and therein not misleading. There is
no fact (other than facts of a general economic or political nature) known
to the Borrower which in its judgment materially adversely affects or in
the future is likely to (so far as is now known to the Borrower) have a
material adverse effect upon the business, operations, prospects,
property, assets or financial condition of the Borrower which has not been
set forth in this Agreement or in other documents, certificates or
financial statements furnished to the Banks by or on behalf of the Borrower
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

     SECTION 4.14. Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower's corporate
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has
all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

                                       40
<PAGE>

     SECTION 4.15. Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its
business, the Borrower conducts reviews, to the extent appropriate given
the nature of its business operations, of the effect of Environmental Laws
on the business, operations and properties of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates
associated liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, any capital
or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties
presently or previously owned, any capital or operating expenditures required
to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection standards
imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any
related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or
permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in
the nature of operations conducted thereat, any costs or liabilities in
connection with off-site disposal of wastes or Hazardous Substances,
and any actual or potential liabilities to third parties, including
employees, and any related costs and expenses). On the basis of this review,
the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such associated liabilities and
costs, including the cost of compliance with Environmental Laws, are unlikely
to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition,
results of operations or prospects of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

                                       ARTICLE 5
                                       COVENANTS

     The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment
hereunder or any amount payable under any Note or any fee payable pursuant
to Section 2.09 or any other amount then due and payable hereunder remains
unpaid:

     SECTION 5.01. Corporate Existence. The Borrower, at its own cost and
expense, will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
corporate existence, material rights and franchises; provided, however,
that neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall be required to preserve
any right or franchise or, in the case of a Subsidiary, its corporate
existence, if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation
thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the
Borrower or such Subsidiary (provided that the termination of the corporate
existence of a Subsidiary shall be permitted if the Board of Directors of
the Borrower shall determine that its existence is not desirable in the
conduct of the business of the Borrower) and that the loss thereof is not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Banks.

                                       41
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.02. Disposition of Assets; Merger, Character of Business;
etc.  The Borrower will not wind up or liquidate its business or sell,
lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets as an entirety or in a series of related transactions and will not
consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person other than a merger
with a Subsidiary in which the Borrower is the surviving Person. The Borrower
will not engage in any business other than the business contemplated by its
certificate of incorporation and by-laws, each as in effect on the Effective
Date.

     SECTION 5.03. Financial Information. The Borrower will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, keep its books of account in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and the Borrower will furnish to the Banks
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the close of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, as at
the end of, and for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal
year and ending with, such quarter, unaudited combined balance sheets of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and the related unaudited
combined statements of income, expenses and net margins, changes in Members'
equity and cash flow of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for
such quarter and for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal year ended at the
end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the
Borrower's previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified
(subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and consistency
(except for changes concurred in by the Borrower's independent certified
public accountants) by the Chief Financial Officer, the Governor, an
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer or the Controller of the Borrower; (ii) as soon
as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal
year of the Borrower, as at the end of and for the fiscal year just closed,
combined balance sheets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and
the related combined statements of income, expenses and net margins, changes
in Members' equity and cash flow for such fiscal year for the Borrower and
its Consolidated Subsidiaries, all in reasonable detail and fully certified
(without any qualification as to the scope of the audit) by Arthur Andersen
& Co. or other independent certified public accountants of nationally
recognized standing selected by the Borrower, who shall have audited the
books and accounts of the Borrower for such fiscal year; (iii) together with
the financial statements referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, a
certificate signed by the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, an
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer or the Controller of the Borrower, in such
detail as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Banks, (x)
identifying (A) all Indebtedness outstanding as at the end of the fiscal
period covered by such financial statements extended by the Borrower or by
any other Person and Guaranteed by the Borrower to any of the forty Members
with the largest amount

                                       42
<PAGE>

of Indebtedness to (or Guaranteed by) the Borrower outstanding as at the
end of the fiscal period covered by such financial statements (the "Largest
Members") as to which, to the knowledge and information of the Borrower,
the Member is in default (whether in the payment of the principal thereof or
interest thereon or with respect to any material covenant or agreement
contained in any instrument, mortgage or agreement evidencing or relating
to such Indebtedness) and specifying whether such default has been waived
by the Borrower or such other Person and the nature and status of each such
default not so waived and (B) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness
outstanding as of the end of the fiscal period covered by such financial
statements as to which, to the knowledge and information of the Borrower,
Members other than the Largest Members are in default (whether in the
payment of the principal thereof or interest thereon or with respect to any
material covenant or agreement contained in any instrument, mortgage or
agreement evidencing or relating to such Indebtedness), (y) identifying the
ten Members with the largest amount of Indebtedness to (or Guaranteed by)
the Borrower outstanding as of the end of the fiscal period covered by such
financial statements, together with the principal amount of such
Indebtedness outstanding with respect to each such Member as of the end of
such fiscal period and (z) identifying all loans which are RUS Guaranteed
Loans and are outstanding as of the end  of the fiscal period covered by
such financial statements, together with (a) the principal amount of each
such RUS Guaranteed Loan as of the end of such fiscal period, (b) the
total amount of Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower and Subsidiaries of
the Borrower in order to fund such RUS Guaranteed Loan, (c) the total
interest expense incurred during such fiscal period by the Borrower and
Subsidiaries of the Borrower in connection with the Indebtedness referred
to in preceding clause (b) and (d) the amount of the Guaranteed Portion of
such RUS Guaranteed Loan; (iv) with reasonable promptness, copies of all
regular and periodical financial statements or other financial reports and
documents which the Borrower may make available to its Members or bondholders
or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (v) promptly after
obtaining knowledge or receiving notice of a change (whether an increase or
decrease) in any rating issued by S&P or Moody's pertaining to any
securities of, or guaranteed by, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
affiliates, a notice setting forth such change; and (vi) with reasonable
promptness, such other information respecting the business, operations,
prospects and financial condition of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or any Joint Venture as any Bank may, from time to time,
reasonably request, including, without limitation, with respect to the
performance and observance by the Borrower of the covenants and conditions
contained in this Agreement.

     SECTION 5.04. Default Certificates. Concurrently with each financial
statement delivered to the Banks pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of Section
5.03, the Borrower will furnish to the Banks a certificate signed by the
Governor, the

                                       43
<PAGE>

Chief Financial Officer, an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer or the Controller
of the Borrower to the effect that the review of the activities of the
Borrower during such year or the portion thereof covered by such financial
statement and of the performance of the Borrower under this Agreement has
been made under his supervision and that to the best of his knowledge, based
on such review, there exists no event which constitutes a Default or an Event
of Default under this Agreement or, if any such event exists, specifying the
nature thereof, the period of its existence and what action the Borrower has
taken and proposes to take with respect thereto, which certificate shall set
forth the calculations or other data required to establish compliance with
the provisions of Section 5.09 and Sections 5.12 through 5.14, inclusive, at
the end of such fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as the case may be. The
Borrower further covenants that upon any such officer of the Borrower
obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under this
Agreement, it will forthwith, and in no event later than the close of
business on the Business Day immediately after the day such knowledge is
obtained, deliver to the Banks a statement of any officer referred to above
specifying the nature and the period of existence thereof and what action the
Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

     SECTION 5.05. Notice of Litigation, Legislative Developments and
Defaults. The Borrower will promptly give written notice to each of the
Banks of (i) any action, proceeding or claim of which the Borrower may have
notice, which may be commenced or asserted against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary in which the amount involved is $1,000,000 or more and is not
covered in full by insurance or as to which any insurer has disclaimed
liability; (ii) any dispute which may exist between the Borrower or any
Subsidiary and any governmental body, which is likely to materially and
adversely affect the normal business operation of the Borrower or the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or any of the material
properties and assets of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; (iii) any legislation enacted by any governmental
body and any rulings and regulations promulgated by any governmental or
regulatory bodies, known or which should be known to the Borrower, affecting
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or generally affecting the Borrower's Members
which is likely to materially and adversely affect the present or future
operations of the Borrower, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or the Borrower's Members; and (iv) any default by the Borrower or
any Subsidiary or event or condition known or which should be known to the
Borrower which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute a default, with respect to any payment or payments in respect of
Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Subsidiary aggregating in excess of
$15,000,000 (whether in payment of principal thereof or interest thereon
or with respect to any material covenant or agreement contained in any
instrument, mortgage, deed of trust or agreement evidencing or relating
to such Indebtedness or otherwise).

                                       44
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.06. ERISA. As soon as possible and, in any event, within 10
days after the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower knows or has reason
to know that a Reportable Event has occurred, that an accumulated funding
deficiency has been incurred or an application may be or has been made to
the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver of the minimum funding standard
under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to a Plan, that
a Plan has been or may be terminated, that proceedings may be or have been
instituted to terminate a Plan, or that the Borrower, a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group will or may incur any liability to
or on account of a Plan under Section 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201 or 4204 of
ERISA, the Borrower will deliver to each of the Banks a certificate of the
Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth details as to such
occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is
required or proposes to take, together with any notices required to be
filed with or by the Borrower, such Subsidiary, such member of the ERISA
Group, the PBGC or the plan administrator with respect thereto. Upon the
request of any Bank, the Borrower will furnish to such Bank a copy of the
annual report of each Plan (Form 5500) required to be filed with the
Internal Revenue Service. Copies of annual reports or any notices
required to be delivered to the Banks hereunder shall be delivered no
later than 10 days after the later of the date such report or notice has
been filed with the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC or received by
the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

     SECTION 5.07. Payment of Charges. The Borrower will, and will cause
each Subsidiary to, duly pay and discharge (i) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon or against it or its property or
assets, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, unless and to
the extent only that such taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
levies are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and
(ii) all lawful claims, including, without limitation, claims for labor,
materials, supplies or services, which might or could, if unpaid, become a
Lien upon such property or assets, unless and to the extent only that the
validity of the amount thereof is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.

     SECTION 5.08. Inspection of Books and Assets. The Borrower will, and
will cause each Subsidiary to, permit any representative of any Bank (or
any agent or nominee of such Bank) to visit and inspect any of the
property of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, to examine the books of
record and account of the Borrower or such Subsidiary and to discuss the
affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower or such Subsidiary with the
officers and independent public accountants of the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, all at such reasonable times and as often as such Bank may
reasonably request.

                                       45
<PAGE>

     SECTION 5.09. Indebtedness. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur, assume or Guarantee any Superior
Indebtedness, or make any optional prepayment on any Capital Term
Certificate, provided that (i) subject to the provisions of Section 5.12,
any Subsidiary may incur Superior Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or
assume or Guarantee Indebtedness of any Person (other than the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries) owing to the Borrower and (ii) the Borrower may
incur, assume or Guarantee Superior Indebtedness or make optional
repayments on Capital Term Certificates if, after giving effect to any
such action specified above in this clause (ii), (x) on the date of such
incurrence, assumption or Guarantee or making of such optional prepayment
(the "Determination Date") the aggregate principal amount of Superior
Indebtedness then outstanding would not exceed ten times the sum of (a)
the aggregate principal amount of Capital Term Certificates outstanding
on the Determination Date, (b) the aggregate amount of Members' equity in
the Borrower, other than Capital Term Certificates, on the Determination
Date and (c) the aggregate principal amount of Qualified Subordinated
Indebtedness outstanding on the Determination Date and (y) on no given
future date would the aggregate principal amount of Superior Indebtedness
outstanding on the Determination Date which will remain outstanding on such
given future date exceed ten times the sum of (a) the aggregate principal
amount of Capital Term Certificates outstanding on the Determination Date
which will remain outstanding on such given future date, (b) the aggregate
amount of Members' equity in the Borrower, other than Capital Term
Certificates, on the Determination Date and (c) the aggregate principal
amount of Qualified Subordinated Indebtedness outstanding on the
Determination Date which will remain outstanding on such given future date.
The respective principal amounts of Superior Indebtedness, Capital Term
Certificates and Qualified Subordinated Indebtedness to be outstanding on
such given future date shall be determined after giving effect to mandatory
sinking fund payments, other mandatory prepayments and serial and other
maturity payments required to be made on or prior to said given future date
by the terms of such Superior Indebtedness, Capital Term Certificates,
Qualified Subordinated Indebtedness or any indenture or other instrument
pursuant to which they are respectively issued.

     (b) If any Loan is outstanding hereunder, the Borrower will not take
any action which would prevent it from then complying, or fail to take any
action which would enable it then to comply, with the provisions of Section
3.02(g), assuming for this purpose only that the Borrower then intended to
borrow from one or more of the Banks hereunder.

     SECTION 5.10. Liens. The Borrower will not create or permit to exist
any Lien on or with respect to any Indebtedness of any Member which is an
asset of the Borrower, now existing or hereafter created, or any collateral
securing any

                                       46
<PAGE>

such Indebtedness, and the Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to create
or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any of such Subsidiary's
assets, except Liens (i) granted by the Borrower to the trustee pursuant to
either Indenture, (ii) on any such Indebtedness granted by the Borrower to
secure any borrowing for the purpose of making loans to Member power supply
systems or loans to Members for bulk power supply projects or loans to
Members for the purpose of providing financing to telephone and related
systems eligible to borrow from the RUS, which borrowing or borrowings are
on terms (except as to terms of interest, premium, if any, and amortization)
not materially more disadvantageous to the Borrower's unsecured creditors
than the borrowings under either Indenture (it being understood that the
Borrower can not pledge such assets to an extent greater than 150% of the
aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness) and which Liens secure
amounts not exceeding $500,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time
outstanding, (iii) of current taxes not delinquent or a security for taxes
being contested in good faith, (iv) other than in favor of the PBGC,
created by or resulting from any legal proceedings (including legal
proceedings instituted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary) which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, including appeals of
judgments as to which a stay of execution shall have been issued, and
adequate reserves shall have been established, (v) created by the Borrower
to secure Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness, the interest on which
is excludable from the gross income of the recipient thereof for Federal
income tax purposes as provided in Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code or Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (x)
of a Member which is a state or political subdivision thereof or (y) of a
state or political subdivision thereof incurred to benefit a Member for one
of the purposes provided in Section 142(a)(2), (4), (5), (6), (8),
(9), (10) or (12) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 103(b)(4)(D),
(E), (F), (G), (H) or (J) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended,
and (vi) granted by any Subsidiary to the Borrower.

     SECTION 5.11. Maintenance of Insurance. The Borrower will maintain,
and will cause each Subsidiary to maintain, insurance in such amounts, on
such forms and with such companies as is necessary or appropriate for its
business.

     SECTION 5.12. Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures. The sum of the amount
of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower by all of its Subsidiaries and Joint
Ventures plus the amount paid by the Borrower in respect of the stock,
Obligations or securities of or any other interest in such Subsidiaries and
Joint Ventures plus any capital contributions by the Borrower to such
Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures plus the amount of assets otherwise sold or
transferred by the Borrower to such Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures (other
than sales at fair market value) shall not exceed at any time 10% of the sum
of (i) all accounts which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, constitute Members' equity in the

                                       47
<PAGE>

Borrower at such time, (ii) all Indebtedness of the Borrower shown in its
balance sheet dated as of May 31, 1999 as "Members' Subordinated
Certificates" as such Indebtedness shall be reduced from time to time and
any other Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred after May 31, 1999 having
substantially similar provisions as to subordination as those contained in
said outstanding certificates as such other Indebtedness shall be reduced
from time to time, in each case at such time and (iii) all Qualified
Subordinated Indebtedness outstanding at such time.

     SECTION 5.13. Minimum TIER. The Borrower shall at no time permit the
average of the TIERs for the six (6) immediately preceding fiscal quarters
of the Borrower to be less than 1.025:1.00.

     SECTION 5.14. Retirement of Patronage Capital. The Borrower shall not
make, or permit any Subsidiaries of the Borrower to make, any payments to
Members in respect of Patronage Capital Certificates unless (i) the TIER
for the immediately preceding fiscal year equals or exceeds 1.05:1.00 and
(ii) there exists (and would exist after giving effect to any such payment)
no Default or Event of Default under this Agreement.

     SECTION 5.15. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made hereunder
may be used by the Borrower for general corporate purposes. None of such
proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether
immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any "margin stock",
within the meaning of Regulation U. Neither the Borrower nor any agent
acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause
this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation U or Regulation X.

                                  ARTICLE 6
                                  DEFAULTS

     SECTION 6.01. Events of Defaults. If one or more of the following
Events ("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:

     (a) Principal and Interest. The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay when
due (whether upon stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any
principal of the Notes or (ii) fail, and such failure shall continue
uncured for one or more Business Days, to pay when due (whether upon
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any interest on the Notes;

                                       48
<PAGE>

     (b) Other Amounts. The Borrower shall fail to pay when due any fee or
other amount payable under this Agreement and such failure remains uncured
for five (5) days after the due date thereof;

     (c) Covenants Without Notice. The Borrower shall fail to observe or
perform any covenant or agreement on its part to be observed or performed
which is set forth in Section 5.01, 5.02, 5.09, 5.10, 5.12, 5.13, 5.14 or
5.15;

     (d) Covenants With 10 Days Grace. The Borrower shall fail to observe
or perform any covenant or agreement on its part to be observed or
performed, which is set forth in Section 5.05, 5.06, 5.07 or 5.08, and
such non-observance or non-performance shall continue unremedied for a
period of more than 10 days;

     (e) Other Covenants. The Borrower shall fail to observe or perform
any covenant, condition or agreement on its part to be observed or
performed, other than as referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d)
above, for a period of 30 days after written notice specifying such failure
and requesting that it be remedied is given by any Bank to the Borrower and
the other Banks; provided that, if the failure be such that it cannot be
corrected within the applicable period, but can be corrected within a
reasonable period of time thereafter, it shall not constitute a default if
corrective action is instituted by the Borrower within the applicable
period and diligently pursued until the failure is corrected;

     (f) Representations. Any representation, warranty, certification or
statement made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in this Agreement or in
any certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant
to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
respect when made or deemed to be made;

     (g) Non-Payments of Indebtedness and/or Derivatives Obligations. The
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail to make any payment or
payments aggregating for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of
$25,000,000 in respect of Indebtedness and/or Derivatives Obligations of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the Notes or any Indebtedness under
this Agreement) when due (whether upon stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) or within any applicable grace period;

     (h) Defaults Under Other Agreements. The Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall fail to observe or perform within any applicable grace period any
covenant or agreement contained in any agreement or instrument relating to
any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, aggregating for the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000 if the effect of
such failure is to accelerate,

                                       49
<PAGE>

or to permit the holder of such Indebtedness or any other Person to
accelerate, the maturity of such Indebtedness;

     (i) Bankruptcy. The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall generally not pay
its debts as they become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to
pay its debts generally or shall make a general assignment for the benefit
of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary seeking to adjudicate it bankrupt or insolvent,
or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
protection, conservation or proceeding in the nature thereof, relief or
composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization or relief or protection of debtors, or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver
(including state regulatory authorities acting in a similar capacity),
trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial
part of its property, and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted
against it (but not instituted by it) shall remain undismissed or unstayed
for a period of 60 days; or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall take any
action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection
(i);

     (j) ERISA. A Plan shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standard
required by Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code for any plan year or a
waiver of such standard is sought or granted under Section 412(d), or a
Plan is, shall have been or is likely to be terminated or the subject of
Termination proceedings under ERISA, or the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or any member of the ERISA Group has incurred or is likely to incur
a liability to or on account of a Plan under Section 4062, 4063, 4064, 4201
or 4204 of ERISA, and there shall result from any such event or events
either a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability to the PBGC
or a Plan, which in the opinion of the Required Banks, will have a material
dverse effect upon the business, operations or the financial condition of
the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower; or

     (k) Money Judgment. A final judgment or order for the payment of
money in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and in
effect for a period of 45 days during which execution shall not be
effectively stayed or deferred (whether by action of a court, by agreement
or otherwise); then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if
any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Agent, upon the request
of the Required Banks, shall by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of
the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Agent, any
Bank or the holder of any Note to enforce its claims against the Borrower:
(a) declare the Commitments terminated, whereupon the Commitment of each
Bank shall forthwith terminate immediately and any fee payable pursuant to
Section 2.09 shall forthwith become due and payable without

                                       50
<PAGE>

any other notice of any kind; or (b) declare the principal of and accrued
interest on the Loans, and all other obligations owing hereunder, to be,
whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that, if an Event of Default
specified in subsection (i) shall occur, the result which would occur upon
the giving of written notice by the Agent to the Borrower, as specified in
clauses (a) and (b) above, shall occur automatically without the giving of
any such notice.

     SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default. The Agent shall give notice to the
Borrower under Section 6.01(b) promptly upon being requested to do so by any
Bank and shall thereupon notify all the Banks thereof.

                                  ARTICLE 7
                                  THE AGENT

     SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank irrevocably
appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its
behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the Notes as
are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with
all such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

     SECTION 7.02. Agent and Affiliates. The Bank of Nova Scotia of New
York shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not
the Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia and its affiliates may accept deposits
from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Borrower as if it were not
the Agent hereunder.

     SECTION 7.03. Action by Agent. The obligations of the Agent hereunder
are only those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Agent shall not be required to take any action with
respect to any Default, except as expressly provided in Article 6.

     SECTION 7.04. Consultation with Experts. The Agent may consult with
legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent public
accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

                                       51
<PAGE>

     SECTION 7.05. Liability of Agent. Neither the Agent nor any of its
affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents, or
employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in
connection herewith (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required
Banks or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Neither the Agent nor any of its affiliates nor any of their
respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be
responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify (i)
any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with this
Agreement or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower; (iii) the
satisfaction of any condition specified in Article 3, except receipt of
items required to be delivered to the Agent; or (iv) the validity,
effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, the Notes or any other
instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith. The
Agent shall not incur any liability by acting in reliance upon any notice,
consent, certificate, statement, or other writing (which may be a bank
wire, telex or similar writing) reasonably believed by it to be genuine
or to be signed by the proper party or parties.

     SECTION 7.06. Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance
with its Commitment, indemnify the Agent, its affiliates and their
respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including counsel
fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except
such as result from such indemnitee's gross negligence or willful
misconduct) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with
this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees
hereunder.

     SECTION 7.07. Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Bank, and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each
Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance
upon the Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own credit decisions in taking or not taking any action under this
Agreement.

     SECTION 7.08. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by
giving written notice thereof to the Banks and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Banks shall have the right, with the consent of
the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, to appoint a
successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by
the Required Banks, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 15
days after the retiring Agent gives notice of resignation, then the
retiring Agent may, on behalf of the

                                       52
<PAGE>

Banks, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank
organized or licensed under the laws of the United States of America or
of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Agent hereunder by
a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the rights and duties of the retiring Agent, and the
retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the
provisions of this Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions
taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent.

     SECTION 7.09. Co-Documentation Agents Not Liable. Nothing in this
Agreement shall impose upon any Co-Documentation Agent, each in such
capacity, any duties or responsibilities whatsoever.

                                  ARTICLE 8
                           CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES

     SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.
If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Fixed Rate
Borrowing:

     (a) the Agent is advised by the Reference Banks that deposits in
dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to the Reference
Banks in the relevant market for such Interest Period, or

     (b) in the case of a Committed Borrowing, Banks having 50% or more
of the aggregate amount of the Commitments advise the Agent that the
Adjusted CD Rate or the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate, as the case
may be, as determined by the Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect
the cost to such Banks of funding their CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as
the case may be, for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith give
notice thereof to the Borrower and the Banks, whereupon until the Agent
notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension
no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Banks to make CD Loans or Euro-
Dollar Loans, as the case may be, or to continue or convert outstanding
Loans as or into CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may be, shall
be suspended and (ii) each outstanding CD Loan or Euro-Dollar Loan, as the
case may be, shall be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of
the then current Interest Period applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower
notifies the Agent at least two Domestic Business Days before the date
of any Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously
been given that it elects not to borrow on such date, (i) if such Fixed
Rate Borrowing is a Committed Borrowing, such Borrowing shall instead be
made as a

                                       53
<PAGE>

Base Rate Borrowing and (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Money Market
LIBOR Borrowing, the Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such Borrowing
shall bear interest for each day from and including the first day to but
excluding the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at the
Base Rate for such day.

     SECTION 8.02. Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Agreement,
the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change
therein, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by
any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with
the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or
its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or
not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund its Euro-Dollar Loans
and such Bank shall so notify the Agent, the Agent shall forthwith give
notice thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower, whereupon until such
Bank notifies the Borrower and the Agent that the circumstances giving rise
to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Bank to make Euro-
Dollar Loans or to convert outstanding Loans into Euro-Dollar Loans or
continue outstanding Loans as Euro-Dollar Loans, shall be suspended. Before
giving any notice to the Agent pursuant to this Section, such
Bank shall designate a different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if such
Designation will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in
the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. If
such Bank shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and
fund any of its outstanding Euro-Dollar Loans to maturity and shall so
specify in such notice, the Borrower shall immediately prepay in full the
then outstanding principal amount of each such Euro-Dollar Loan, together
with accrued interest thereon. Concurrently with prepaying each such Euro-
Dollar Loan, the Borrower shall borrow a Base Rate Loan in an equal
principal amount from such Bank (on which interest and principal shall be
payable contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other
Banks), and such Bank shall make such a Base Rate Loan.

     SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If on or after
(x) the date hereof, in the case of any Committed Loan or any obligation to
make Committed Loans or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in
the case of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule
or regulation, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof,
or compliance by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request
or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency:

                                       54
<PAGE>

          (i) shall subject any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) to
     any tax, duty or other charge with respect to its Fixed Rate Loans, its
     Notes or its obligation to make Fixed Rate Loans, or shall change the
     basis of taxation of payments to any Bank (or its Applicable Lending
     Office) of the principal of or interest on its Fixed Rate Loans or any
     other amounts due under this Agreement in respect of its Fixed Rate
     Loans or its obligation to make Fixed Rate Loans (except for changes
     in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Bank or its
     Applicable Lending Office imposed by the jurisdiction in which such
     Bank's principal executive office or Applicable Lending Office is
     located); or

          (ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
     (including, without limitation, any such requirement imposed by the
     Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but excluding (A)
     with respect to any CD Loan, any such requirement included in an
     applicable Domestic Reserve Percentage and (B) with respect to any
     Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement included in an applicable
     Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage), special deposit, insurance
     assessment (excluding, with respect to any CD Loan, any such
     requirement reflected in an applicable Assessment Rate) or similar
     requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account
     of, or credit extended by, any Bank (or its Applicable Lending
     Office) or shall impose on any Bank (or its Applicable Lending
     Office) or on the United States market for certificates of deposit
     or the London interbank market any other condition affecting its
     Fixed Rate Loans, its Notes or its obligation to make Fixed Rate
     Loans; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost
     to such Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making
     or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loan, or to reduce the amount of any
     sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its Applicable Lending
     Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with respect thereto,
     by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within 15
     days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), the
     Borrower shall pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts
     as will compensate such Bank for such increased cost or reduction
     (including any amount or amounts equal to any taxes on the overall
     net income of such Bank payable by such Bank with respect to the
     amount of payments required to be made pursuant to this
     Section 8.03(a)).

     (b) If any Bank determines that the adoption of any applicable law,
rule, regulation, guideline or request concerning capital adequacy, or
any change therein, or any change in interpretation or administration
thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency
(including, without limitation, any such adoption or change the effect of
which would be, for purposes of capital adequacy requirements, to treat
the Commitments hereunder as not

                                       55
<PAGE>

constituting commitments with an original maturity of one year or less),
occurring after the date hereof, will have the effect of increasing the
amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Bank based
on the existence of such Bank's Commitment hereunder or its obligations
hereunder, it will notify the Borrower. This determination will be made on
a Bank by Bank basis. The Borrower will pay to each Bank on demand such
additional amounts as are necessary to compensate for the increased cost to
such Bank as a result of the event described in the first sentence of this
Section 8.03(b). In determining such amount, such Bank will act reasonably
and in good faith and will use averaging and attribution methods which are
reasonable, and such Bank will pass such costs on to the Borrower only if
such costs are passed on in a similar manner by such Bank to similarly
situated borrowers (which are parties to credit or loan documentation
containing a provision similar to this Section 8.03(b)), as determined by
such Bank in its reasonable discretion. Each Bank's determination of
compensation shall be conclusive if made in accordance with this provision.
Each Bank, upon determining that any increased costs will be payable
pursuant to this Section 8.03(b), will give prompt written notice thereof
to the Borrower, which notice shall show the basis for calculation of such
increased costs, although the failure to give any such notice shall not
release or diminish any of the Borrower's obligations to pay increased
costs pursuant to this Section 8.03(b).

     (c) Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of any
event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which
will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section and will
designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will
avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will
not, in the judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Bank. A Bank claiming compensation under this Section shall furnish a
certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts
to be paid to it hereunder, which shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use any
reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

     SECTION 8.04. Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Fixed Rate
Loans. If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make, or to continue or
Convert outstanding Loans as or to, Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended
pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under
Section 8.03(a) and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-Dollar
Business Days' prior notice to such Bank through the Agent, have elected
that the provisions of this Section shall apply to such Bank, then, unless
and until such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise
to such suspension or demand for compensation no longer apply:

                                       56
<PAGE>

     (a) all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Bank as CD Loans
or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may be, shall be made instead as Base
Rate Loans (on which interest and principal shall be payable
Contemporaneously with the related Fixed Rate Loans of the other Banks),
and

     (b) after each of its CD Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, as the case may
be, has been repaid, all payments of principal which would otherwise be
applied to repay such Fixed Rate Loans shall be applied to repay its Base
Rate Loans instead.

                                  ARTICLE 9
                                MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 9.01. Notices. All notices, requests, directions, consents,
approvals and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing
(including bank wire, telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) and
shall be given to such party: (x) in the case of the Borrower or the Agent,
at its address or telex or telecopier number set forth on the signature
pages hereof, (y) in the case of any Bank, at its address or telex or
telecopier number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire or (z) in
the case of any other party, such other address or telex or telecopier
number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to
the Agent and the Borrower. Each such notice, request, direction, consent,
approval or other communication shall be effective (i) if given
by telex, when such telex is transmitted to the telex number specified in
this Section and the appropriate answerback is received or (ii) if given by
any other means, when delivered or received at the address specified in
this Section; provided that notices to the Agent under Article 2 or
Article 8 shall not be effective until received.

     SECTION 9.02. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Agent or any
Bank in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any
Note shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies
herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies provided by law.

     SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Documentary Taxes; Indemnification. (a) The
Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the
Agent, including reasonable fees and disbursements of special counsel for
the Agent, in connection with the preparation of this Agreement, any waiver
or consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any Default or alleged
Default hereunder and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses

                                       57
<PAGE>

incurred by the Agent or any Bank, including reasonable fees and
disbursements incurred by counsel or in-house counsel, in connection with
such Event of Default and collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and other
enforcement proceedings resulting therefrom. The Borrower shall indemnify
each Bank against any transfer taxes, documentary taxes, assessments or
charges made by any governmental authority by reason of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Notes and any and all liabilities with
respect to or resulting from any delay or omission (unless solely
attributable to such Bank) to pay such taxes.

     (b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank, their respective
affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents and employees of
the foregoing (each an "Indemnitee") and hold each Indemnitee harmless from
and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses of
any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel, which may be incurred by any Indemnitee (or by the
Agent in connection with its actions as Agent hereunder) in connection with
any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not
such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) relating to or arising
out of this Agreement or any actual or proposed use of proceeds of Loans
hereunder; provided that no Indemnitee shall have the right to be
indemnified hereunder for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct
or unlawful conduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     SECTION 9.04. Sharing of Set-offs. Each Bank agrees that if it shall,
by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive
payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest
then due with respect to any Note held by it which is greater than the
proportion received by any other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of
principal and interest due with respect to any Note held by such other Bank,
the Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment shall purchase such
participations in the Notes held by the other Banks, and such other
adjustments shall be made, as may be required so that all such payments of
principal and interest with respect to the Notes held by the Banks shall be
shared by the Banks pro rata; provided that nothing in this Section shall
impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right of set-off or
counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such exercise to
the payment of indebtedness of the Borrower other than its indebtedness
under the Notes. The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may
effectively do so under applicable law, that any holder of a participation
in a Note, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements,
may exercise rights of set-off or counterclaim and other rights with respect
to such participation as fully as if such holder of a participation were a
direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                                       58
<PAGE>

     SECTION 9.05. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement
or the Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or
waiver is in writing and is signed by the Borrower and the Required Banks
(and, if the rights or duties of the Agent are affected thereby, by the
Agent); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by
all the Banks, (i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Bank (except
for a ratable decrease in the Commitments of all Banks) or subject any Bank
to any additional obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of
interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder, (iii) postpone the date fixed
for any payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees
hereunder or for any reduction or termination of any Commitment or (iv)
change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Notes, or the number of Banks, which shall be
required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this
Section or any other provision of this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.06. 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, except that the Borrower
may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under this Agreement
without the prior written consent of all Banks.

     (b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its
Commitment or any or all of its Loans. In the event of any such grant by a
Bank of a participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon
notice to the Borrower and the Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for
the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the Agent
shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with
such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement
pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a participating interest shall
provide that such Bank shall retain the sole right and responsibility to
enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder including, without
limitation, the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of
any provision of this Agreement; provided that such participation agreement
may provide that such Bank will not agree to any modification, amendment or
waiver of this Agreement described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section
9.05 without the consent of the Participant. Subject to the provisions of
subsection (e), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall, to the
extent provided in its participation agreement, be entitled to the benefits,
and be bound by the obligations, of Article 8 with respect to its
participating interest. An assignment or other transfer which is not
permitted by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be given effect for purposes
of this Agreement only to the extent of a participating interest granted in
accordance with this subsection (b).

                                       59
<PAGE>

     (c) Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or other
institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate part (but not in
any case in an amount less than $10,000,000) of all, of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, and such Assignee shall
assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit J hereto executed by such
Assignee and such transferor Bank, with (and subject to) the subscribed
consent of the Borrower and the Agent, such consents not to be unreasonably
withheld; provided that if an Assignee is another Bank or an affiliate of
such transferor Bank, no such consent shall be required; and provided
further that such assignment may, but need not, include the rights of the
transferor Bank in respect of outstanding Money Market Loans. Upon execution
and delivery of such an instrument and payment by such Assignee to such
transferor Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such
transferor Bank and such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank party to
this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank
with a Commitment as set forth in such instrument of assumption, and the
transferor Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a
corresponding extent, and no further consent or action by any party shall be
required. Upon the consummation of any assignment pursuant to this
subsection (c), the transferor Bank, the Agent and the Borrower shall make
appropriate arrangements so that, if required, a new Note is issued to the
Assignee. In connection with any such assignment, the transferor Bank shall
pay to the Agent an administrative fee for processing such assignment in the
amount of $3,500. If the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the
United States of America or a state thereof, it shall, prior to the first
date on which interest or fees are payable hereunder for its account,
deliver to the Borrower and the Agent certification as to exemption from
deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes in
accordance with Section 2.16.

     (d) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement and its Note to a Federal Reserve Bank. No such
assignment shall release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.

     (e) No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's rights
shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 8.03 than
such Bank would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights
transferred, unless such transfer is made with the Borrower's prior written
consent or by reason of the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03 requiring
such Bank to designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain
circumstances or at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such
greater payment did not exist.

     SECTION 9.07. Collateral. Each of the Banks represents to the Agent and
each of the other Banks that it in good faith is not relying upon any
"margin

                                       60
<PAGE>

stock" (as defined in Regulation U) as collateral in the extension or
maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.08. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Note shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.

     SECTION 9.09. Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be signed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the
same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior
agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject
matter hereof.

     SECTION 9.10. Several Obligations. The obligations of the Banks
hereunder are several. Neither the failure of any Bank to carry out its
obligations hereunder nor of this Agreement to be duly authorized, executed
and delivery by any Bank shall relieve any other Bank of its obligations
hereunder (or affect the rights hereunder of such other Bank). No Bank shall
be responsible for the obligations of, or any action taken or omitted by,
any other Bank hereunder.

     SECTION 9.11. Severability. In case any provision in or obligation
under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     SECTION 9.12. Notice. The Borrower hereby notifies each Bank party to
the Prior Credit Agreement of the Borrower's termination of the
Commitments (as defined in the Prior Credit Agreement), such termination to
be effective on the Effective Date. Each Bank party to the Prior Credit
Agreement hereby waives the Borrower's obligation to notify the
Administrative Agent under the Prior Credit Agreement of such termination
in advance of such termination.

                                       61
<PAGE>

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

                                    NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                    COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                                    By:____________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:
                                    Address:  Woodland Park
                                              2201 Cooperative Way
                                              Herndon, Virginia 22071-3025

                                    Attention:
                                    Title:
                                    Telephone No.:  (703) 709-6700
                                    Telecopier No.: (703) 709-6779

<PAGE>

Commitments

$100,000,000                        THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         BANK ONE, N.A. (MAIN OFFICE-CHICAGO)

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

<PAGE>

$50,000,000                         THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD.

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,0                           CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK BRANCH

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
                                     OF NEW YORK

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

<PAGE>

$50,000,000                         COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE
                                     RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A.,
                                     "RABOBANK NEDERLAND",
                                     NEW YORK BRANCH

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

$50,000,000                         TORONTO DOMINION (NEW YORK), INC.

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

Total Commitments

$550,000,000
==============

<PAGE>

                                    BANK ONE, N.A. (MAIN OFFICE-CHICAGO),
                                     as Documentation Agent

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Title:

                                    THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                                     as Administrative Agent

                                    By:______________________________
                                    Title:
                                    Address:   One Liberty Plaza
                                               165 Broadway
                                               New York, New York 10006

                                    Attention:
                                    Telecopy number:

<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT A

                                     NOTE

New York, New York

                                                                     , 200

     For value received, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation, a not-for-profit cooperative association incorporated under
the laws of the District of Columbia (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to
the order of [   ] (the "Bank"), for the account of its Applicable Lending
Office, the unpaid principal amount of each Loan made by the Bank to the
Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below on
the last day of the Interest Period relating to such Loan. The Borrower
promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Loan on
the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the Revolving Credit
Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in
lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available
funds at the office of The Bank of Nova Scotia, One Liberty Plaza, 165
Broadway, New York, New York.

     All Loans made by the Bank, the respective types and maturities thereof
and all repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank
and, prior to any transfer hereof, appropriate notations to evidence the
foregoing information with respect to each such Loan then outstanding may
be endorsed by the Bank on the schedule attached hereto, or on a
continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof; provided
that the failure of the Bank to make any such recordation or endorsement
shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the
Revolving Credit Agreement.

     This note is one of the Notes referred to in the 364-Day Revolving
Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 among the Borrower, the banks
listed on the signature pages thereof, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation
Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent (as the same may
be amended from time to time, the "Revolving Credit Agreement"). Terms
defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement are used herein with the same
meanings. Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement for provisions
for the prepayment hereof and the acceleration of the maturity hereof.

                                    NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                    COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                                    By_______________________________
                                     Title:

<PAGE>

                                Note (cont'd)

                       LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

                                  Amount of
       Amount of   Type of Loan   Principal   Maturity Date  Notation Made
Date     Loan                      Repaid                          By

                                        3
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT B-1

                            Form of RUS Guarantee

     The United States of America acting through the Administrator of the
Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") hereby unconditionally guarantees to [name
of Payee] the making of [__%] of the payments of principal and interest when
and as due on this Note of _________ (the "Cooperative") in accordance with
the terms hereof and of the Loan Agreement referred to in this Note, until
such principal and interest shall be indefeasibly paid in full (which
includes interest accruing on such principal between the date of default
under this Note and the payment in full of this Guarantee), irrespective of
receipt by RUS of any sums or property from its enforcement of its remedies
for the Cooperative default. This Guarantee shall be incontestable except
for fraud or misrepresentation of which the holder had actual knowledge at
the time it became a holder. RUS hereby waives diligence, presentment,
demand, protest and notice of any kind, as well as any requirement that
[name of Payee] exhaust any right or take any action against the
Cooperative.

     This Guarantee is issued pursuant to Title III of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. {{ 901, et seq.), and
the Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement among RUS, the Cooperative,
Bank One, N.A. and National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation dated ___________, ____.

                                    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Date___________, ____               By_______________________
                                    Administrator of Rural Electrification
                                              Administration
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT B-2

                            Form of RUS Guarantee

     The United States of America acting through the Administrator of the
Rural Utilities Service ("RUS") hereby unconditionally guarantees to the
Payee the making of the payments of principal and Guaranteed Interest when
and as due on the Note of  _______________ (the "Cooperative") dated _____
in the original principal amount of $ _____ (the "Note"), in accordance
with the terms thereof and of the Loan Agreement and the Master Loan
Guarantee and Servicing Agreement referred to in the Note, until such
principal and Guaranteed Interest shall be indefeasibly paid in full
(which includes interest accruing at the Guaranteed Interest Rate between
the date of default under the Note and the payment in full of this
Guarantee), irrespective of receipt by RUS of any sums or property from
its enforcement of its remedies for the Cooperative's default. This
Guarantee shall be incontestable except for fraud or misrepresentation of
which the holder had actual knowledge at the time it became a holder. RUS
hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice of any
kind (except the "Default Notice" required pursuant to Section 5.3(a) of
the Master Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement), and acknowledges that
the Payee does not have any right or obligation to exercise any right or
take any action against the Cooperative.

     This Guarantee is issued pursuant to the Rural Electrification Act of
1936, as amended (7 U.S.C. 901, et seq.) (the "Act"), and the Master
Loan Guarantee and Servicing Agreement between RUS and National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation dated as of February 16, 1999.

     THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE EXTENT
APPLICABLE, AND OTHERWISE THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

     THE UNDERSIGNED, AS [ADMINISTRATOR] OF RUS, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT
I AM AUTHORIZED UNDER THE ACT AND 7 CFR PART 1700 TO DELIVER THIS
GUARANTEE.

                          UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                 by

                                    [Administrator]
                                    of the
                                    Rural Utilities Service

Dated:                              RUS Loan No..

<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT C

                      Form of Money Market Quote Request
                                    [Date]

To:   The Bank of Nova Scotia
      (the "Agent")

From: National Rural Utilities
             Cooperative Finance Corporation (the "Borrower")

Re:   364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Revolving Credit Agreement")
      dated as of August 10, 2000 among the Borrower, the banks listed on
      the signature pages thereof, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation Agent,
      and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent.

      We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Revolving Credit
Agreement that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money
Market Borrowing(s):

Date of Borrowing: __________________

Principal Amount 1                   Interest Period 2

$
Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin]
[Absolute Rate].
[The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.
Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Revolving
Credit Agreement.

                                    NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                     COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                                    By________________________
                                    Title:

___________________
     1 Amount must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000.
     2 Any number of whole months (but not less than one month)
(LIBOR Auction) or not less than 30 days (Absolute Rate Auction), subject
to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.

<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT D

                  FORM OF INVITATION FOR MONEY MARKET QUOTES

To:   [Name of Bank]

Re:   Invitation for Money Market Quotes
      to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative
      Finance Corporation (the "Borrower")

     Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated
as of dated as of August 10, 2000 among the Borrower, the banks listed on the
signature pages thereof, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and The Bank
of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent:

Date of Borrowing: __________________

Principal Amount                    Interest Period

$
     Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute
Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.]
Please respond to this invitation by no later than [2:00 P.M.] [9:00 A.M.]
(New York City time) on [date].

                                    The Bank of Nova Scotia

                                    By______________________
                                     Authorized Officer

                                        7
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT E

                          FORM OF MONEY MARKET QUOTE

THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
as Administrative Agent
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006

Attention:

Re:   Money Market Quote to
National Rural Utilities Cooperative
Finance Corporation (the "Borrower")

In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated _____________,
____, we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the following terms:

1.   Quoting Bank: ________________________________

2.   Person to contact at Quoting Bank: _____________________________

3.   Date of Borrowing: ____________________*

4.   We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal
amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:

Principal   Interest      Money Market
Amount**    Period***     [Margin****] [Absolute Rate*****]

$
$

[Provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans for
which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed $____________.]**
__________

* As specified in the related Invitation.
** Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal
amount requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual
offers exceeds the amount the Bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made
for $1,000,000 or a larger multiple thereof.
                (notes continued on following page)

<PAGE>

     We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to
the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the 364-Day
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 among the Borrower,
the banks listed on the signature pages thereof, Bank One, N.A., as
Documentation Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent.

                             Very truly yours,

                             [NAME OF BANK]

Dated: _______________

By:    __________________________
Authorized Officer

*** Any number of whole months (but not less than one month) or not less
than 30 days, as specified in the related Invitation. No more than five bids
are permitted for each Interest Period.

**** Margin over or under the London Interbank Offered Rate determined for the
applicable Interest Period. Specify percentage (rounded to the nearest
1/10,000 of 1%) and specify whether "PLUS" or "MINUS".

***** Specify rate of interest per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/10,000th
of 1%).

                                        2
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT F

                       OPINION OF JOHN JAY LIST, ESQ.,
                      GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE BORROWER
                              August 10, 2000

     I am General Counsel of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
Corporation (the "Borrower") and am delivering this opinion pursuant to the
364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of August 10,
2000 among the Borrower, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof,
Bank One, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as
Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Agreement are used herein as
therein defined. This opinion is being rendered to you at the request of my
client, the Borrower, pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the Agreement.

     I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified
to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of
public officials and other instruments and have conducted such other
investigations of fact and law as I have deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion.

     Upon the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:

     1. The Borrower is a cooperative association duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the District of Columbia
and has the corporate power and authority and all material governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to own its
property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged.
The Borrower is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation in good
standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business in
which it is engaged makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except
in those jurisdictions in which the failure to be so qualified or licensed
would not (after qualification, assuming that the Borrower could so qualify
without the payment of any fee or penalty and retain its rights as they
existed prior to such qualification all to an extent so that any fees or
penalties required to be so paid or any rights not so retained would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
business or financial condition of the Borrower), individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect upon the business or financial
condition of the Borrower. The Borrower has the corporate power and
authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the
Agreement and the Notes. The Agreement and the Notes have been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower, and the
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Borrower,
and the Notes constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Borrower, in each case enforceable in

<PAGE>

accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity.

     2. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending
or, to my knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Borrower by or
before any court or any governmental authority, body or agency or any
arbitration board which are reasonably likely to materially adversely affect
the business, property, assets, financial position or results of operations
of the Borrower or the authority or ability of the Borrower to perform its
obligations under the Agreement or the Notes.

     3. No authorization, consent, approval or license of, or declaration,
filing or registration with or exemption by, any governmental authority,
body or agency is required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance by the Borrower of the Agreement or the Notes.

     4. The holders of the Borrower's Capital Term Certificates are not and
will not be entitled to receive any payments with respect to the principal
thereof or interest thereon solely because of withdrawing or being expelled
from membership in the Borrower.

     5. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default in any
material respect under any material agreement or other instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is bound or its property or assets may be affected.
No event or condition exists which constitutes, or with the giving of notice
or lapse of time or both would constitute, such a default under any such
agreement or other instrument. Neither the execution and delivery of the
Agreement or the Notes, nor the consummation of any of the transactions
therein contemplated, nor compliance with the terms and provisions thereof,
will contravene any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation to which
the Borrower is subject or any judgment, decree, award, franchise, order or
permit applicable to the Borrower, or will conflict or be inconsistent with,
or will result in any breach of, any of the terms, covenants, conditions or
provisions of, or constitute (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, would constitute) a default under (or condition or event entitling
any Person to require, whether by purchase, redemption, acceleration or
otherwise, the Borrower to perform any obligations prior to the scheduled
maturity thereof), or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon
any of the property or assets of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, agreement or other instrument to which
it may be subject, or violate any provision of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Borrower is not a party to, or otherwise subject to
any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Indebtedness of the
Borrower, any agreement or indenture relating thereto or any other contract
or agreement (including its certificate of incorporation and by-laws),
which would be violated by the incurring of the Indebtedness to be evidenced
by the Notes.

                                        3
<PAGE>

     6. The Borrower has complied fully with all of the material provisions
of each Indenture. No Event of Default (within the meaning of such term as
defined in either Indenture) and no event, act or condition (except for
possible non-compliance by the Borrower with any immaterial provision of
such Indenture which in itself is not such an Event of Default under such
Indenture) which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute
such an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under such
Indenture.  The borrowings by the Borrower contemplated by the Agreement
will not cause such an Event of Default under, or the violation of any
covenant contained in, either Indenture.

     7. Set forth on Annex A attached hereto is a true, correct and
complete list of all of the Borrower's Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures,
the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each such Subsidiary
and Joint Venture and the nature and percentage of the Borrower's ownership
of each such Subsidiary and Joint Venture.

     8. The Borrower has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service to the effect that it is exempt from payment of Federal income tax
under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and nothing
has come to our attention that leads us to believe that the Borrower is not
so exempt.

                                        4
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT G

                                  OPINION OF
                    DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL, SPECIAL COUNSEL
                                FOR THE AGENT

                                        August 10, 2000

To the Banks and the Agent
Referred to Below
c/o The Bank of Nova Scotia, as Agent
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, New York 10006

Dear Sirs:

     We have participated in the preparation of the 364-Day Revolving
Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 (the "Credit Agreement") among
the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, a not-for-
profit cooperative association incorporated under the laws of the District
of Columbia (the "Borrower"), the banks listed on the signature pages
thereof, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation Agents, and The Bank of Nova
Scotia, as Administrative Agent (the "Agent"), and have acted as special
counsel for the Agent for the purpose of rendering this opinion pursuant
to Section 3.01(d) of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

     We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records,
certificates of public officials and other instruments and have conducted
such other investigations of fact and law as we have deemed necessary or
advisable for purposes of this opinion.

     Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Borrower
and the Notes issued today constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.

                                        5
<PAGE>

     In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that (i) the
Borrower is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and (ii) the execution,
delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement and the
Notes issued by the Borrower are within the Borrower's corporate powers,
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no
action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency
or official and do not contravene or constitute a default under, any
provision of applicable law or regulation or of the Borrower's certificate
of incorporation or by-laws or of any agreement, judgment, injunction,
order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien on the assets of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

     We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing
opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal
laws of the United States of America. In giving the foregoing opinion,
we express no opinion as to the effect (if any) of any law of any
jurisdiction (except the State of New York) in which any Bank is located
which limits the rate of interest that such Bank may charge or collect.

     This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above
matter. This opinion may not re relied upon by you for any other purpose
or relied upon by any other Person without our prior written consent.

                          Very truly yours,

                                        6
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT H

                             EXTENSION AGREEMENT
                                   [Date]

National Rural Utilities
Cooperative Finance Corporation
Woodland Park
2201 Cooperative Way
Herndon, VA 22071-3025

The Bank of Nova Scotia,
as Administrative Agent
under the Credit Agreement
referred to below
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway
New York, NY 10006

Gentlemen:

     Effective as of [effective date], the undersigned hereby agree to
extend the Commitment Termination Date as now in effect under the 364-Day
Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 as amended and supplemented
from time to time (the "Credit Agreement"), among National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, the Banks listed therein, Bank
One, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as
Administrative Agent, to [Date]. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as therein defined.

     This Extension Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the law of the State of New York.

                                    [NAME OF BANK]

                                    By____________________________
                                     Title:

<PAGE>

                                    [NAME OF BANK]

                                    By____________________________
                                     Title:

                                    THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as
                                    Administrative Agent

                                    By____________________________
                                     Title:

Agreed and accepted:

NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

By_______________________________
Title:

                                        2
<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT I

                     ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT dated as of ___________, ____ among [ASSIGNOR] (the
"Assignor"), [ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee"), NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION (the "Borrower") and THE BANK OF
NOVA SCOTIA, as Administrative Agent (the "Agent").

                             W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement")
relates to the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2000 (the
"Credit Agreement") among the Borrower, the Assignor and the other Banks
party thereto, as Banks, Bank One, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and The
Bank of Nova Scotia, as Administrative Agent (the "Agent");

     WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a
Commitment to make Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount
at any time outstanding not to exceed $__________;

     WHEREAS, Committed Loans made to the Borrower by the Assignor under
the Credit Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $__________ are
outstanding at the date hereof; and

     WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee all of the
rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of a portion
of its Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $__________ (the
"Assigned Amount"), together with a corresponding portion of its
outstanding Committed Loans, and the Assignee proposes to accept assignment
of such rights and assume the corresponding obligations from the
Assignor on such terms;

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

     SECTION 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit
Agreement.

     SECTION 2. Assignment. The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to
the extent of the Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such
assignment from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations of the
Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the extent of

<PAGE>

the Assigned Amount, including the purchase from the Assignor of the
corresponding portion of the principal amount of the Committed Loans made
by the Assignor outstanding at the date hereof. Upon the execution and
delivery hereof by the Assignor, the Assignee, the Borrower and the Agent
and the payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 required to be paid
on the date hereof (i) the Assignee shall, as of the date hereof, succeed
to the rights and be obligated to perform the obligations of a Bank under
the Credit Agreement with a Commitment in an amount equal to the Assigned
Amount,and (ii) the Commitment of the Assignor shall, as of the date
hereof, be reduced by a like amount and the Assignor released from its
obligations under the Credit Agreement to the extent such obligations
have been assumed by the Assignee. The assignment provided for herein
shall be without recourse to the Assignor.

     SECTION 3. Payments. As consideration for the assignment and sale
contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor
on the date hereof in Federal funds the amount heretofore agreed between
them. It is understood that commitment and/or facility fees accrued to
the date hereof are for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing
from and including the date hereof are for the account of the Assignee. Each
of the Assignor and the Assignee hereby agrees that if it receives any
amount under the Credit Agreement which is for the account of the other
party hereto, it shall receive the same for the account of such other party
to the extent of such other party's interest therein and shall promptly pay
the same to such other party.

     SECTION 4. Consent of the Borrower and the Agent. This Agreement is
conditioned upon the consent of the Borrower and the Agent pursuant to
Section 9.06(c) of the Credit Agreement. The execution of this Agreement by
the Borrower and the Agent is evidence of this consent. Pursuant to Section
9.06(c) of the Credit Agreement the Borrower agrees to execute and deliver a
Note payable to the order of the Assignee to evidence the assignment and
assumption provided for herein.

     SECTION 5. Non-Reliance on Assignor. The Assignor makes no
Representation or warranty in connection with, and shall have no
responsibility with respect to, the solvency, financial condition, or
statements of the Borrower, or the validity and enforceability of the
obligations of the Borrower in respect of the Credit Agreement or
any Note. The Assignee acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance on the Assignor, and based on such documents and information as it
has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Agreement and will continue to be responsible for making its own
independent appraisal of the business, affairs and financial condition of
the Borrower.

     SECTION 6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

                                        2
<PAGE>

     SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as
if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

                                        3
<PAGE>

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

                                    [ASSIGNOR]

                                    By_________________________
                                    Title:
                                    [ASSIGNEE]

                                    By__________________________
                                    Title:

                                    NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                    COOPERATIVE FINANCE
                                    CORPORATION

                                    By__________________________
                                    Title:

                                    THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as
                                    Administrative Agent

                                    By__________________________
                                    Title:

                                        4
<PAGE>Exhibit 10.1

                  AMENDED 1997 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

<PAGE>

                              HURCO COMPANIES, INC.
                      1997 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

                  1.       Plan  Purpose.  The  purpose  of the Plan is to
                           -------------
promote  the  long-term  interests  of the  Company  and its
shareholders  by  providing  a means for  attracting  and  retaining  officers,
directors  and key  employees  of the  Company and its Affiliates.

                  2.       Definitions.  The following definitions are
                           -----------
applicable to the Plan:

                  "Affiliate" -- means any "parent  corporation"  or "subsidiary
corporation"  of the Company as such terms are defined in Code  sections  424(e)
and (f), respectively.

                  "Affiliated  SAR" -- means a SAR that is granted in connection
with a related Option, and which automatically will be deemed to be exercised at
the same time that the related  Option is exercised.  The deemed  exercise of an
Affiliated SAR shall not necessitate a reduction in the number of Shares subject
to the related Option.

                  "Award" -- means the grant by the Committee of Incentive Stock
Options,  Non-Qualified  Stock Options,  SARs,  Restricted  Shares,  Performance
Shares or any combination thereof, as provided in the Plan.

                  "Award Agreement" -- means the written agreement setting forth
the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan.

                  "Base Price" -- means the amount over which the  appreciation
in value of a Share will be measured  upon exercise of an SAR.

                  "Board" -- means the Board of Directors of the Company.

<PAGE>

                  "Change in Control" -- means each of the events  specified  in
the  following  clauses (i) through  (iii):  (i) any third  person,  including a
"group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act after the date of the
adoption of the Plan by the Board,  first becomes the beneficial owner of shares
of the Company  with  respect to which 25% or more of the total  number of votes
for the election of the Board of Directors of the Company may be cast, (ii) as a
result of, or in connection with, any cash tender offer,  exchange offer, merger
or  other  business  combination,  sale of  assets  or  contested  election,  or
combination  of the  foregoing,  the persons who were  directors  of the Company
shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or
(iii) the  shareholders  of the Company  shall  approve an  agreement  providing
either for a  transaction  in which the Company will cease to be an  independent
publicly owned entity or for a sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all the assets of the Company; provided,  however, that the occurrence of any of
such  events  shall  not be  deemed  a  Change  in  Control  if,  prior  to such
occurrence,  a resolution specifically approving such occurrence shall have been
adopted by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  "Code" -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Committee"  -- means  the  Committee  appointed  by the Board
pursuant to Section 3 of the Plan.

                  "Company" -- means Hurco Companies, Inc., an Indiana
corporation.

                  "Continuous Service" -- means, in the case of an Employee, the
absence of any  interruption  or  termination  of service as an  Employee of the
Company  or an  Affiliate;  and  in  the  case  of an  individual  who is not an
Employee,  the  absence  of any  interruption  or  termination  of  the  service
relationship  between the  individual  and the Company or an Affiliate.  Service
shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave or
any  other  leave  of  absence  approved  by the  Company  or in the case of any
transfer between the Company and an Affiliate or any successor to the Company.

                  "Director"  -- means  any  individual  who is a member  of the
Board.

                  "Disability"  -- means total and  permanent  disability  as
determined  by the  Committee  pursuant to Code  section 22(e)(3).

                  "Employee"  -- means  any  person,  including  an  officer  or
Director, who is employed by the Company or any Affiliate.

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

                  "Exercise  Price"  -- means  the  price per Share at which the
Shares subject to an Option may be purchased upon exercise of the Option.

                  "Freestanding   SAR"   --   means  a  SAR   that  is   granted
independently of any Option.

                  "Incentive Stock Option" -- means an option to purchase Shares
granted by the Committee  pursuant to the terms of the Plan which is intended to
qualify under Code section 422.
<PAGE>
                  "Market  Value" -- means the last  reported  sale price on the
date in question  (or, if there is no  reported  sale on such date,  on the last
preceding  date on  which  any  reported  sale  occurred)  of one  Share  on the
principal exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading,  or if the Shares
are not listed for trading on any  exchange,  the average  trading  price of one
share on the date in question as reported on the Nasdaq  National  Market or any
similar  system  then in use,  or, if the  Shares  are not  listed on the Nasdaq
National Market,  the mean between the closing high bid and low asked quotations
of one Share on the date in question as reported by Nasdaq or any similar system
then in use, or, if no such  quotations are available,  the fair market value on
such date of one Share as the Committee shall determine.

                  "Non-Qualified  Stock  Option" -- means an option to  purchase
Shares granted by the Committee  pursuant to the terms of the Plan, which option
is not intended to qualify under Code section 422.

                  "Option" -- means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.

                  "Participant"  -- means any  individual who is selected by the
Committee to receive an Award.

                  "Performance  Cycle" -- means the period of time,  designated
by the Committee,  over which Performance Shares may be earned.

                  "Performance  Shares"  -- means  Shares  awarded  pursuant  to
Section 12 of the Plan.

                  "Plan" -- means the Hurco Companies, Inc., 1997 Stock Option
and Incentive Plan.

                  "Reorganization"  -- means the  liquidation  or dissolution of
the Company or any merger,  consolidation  or  combination of the Company (other
than a  merger,  consolidation  or  combination  in  which  the  Company  is the
continuing  entity  and which does not result in the  outstanding  Shares  being
converted into or exchanged for different securities,  cash or other property or
any combination thereof).

                  "Restricted  Period" -- means the period of time  selected  by
the Committee for the purpose of  determining  when  restrictions  are in effect
under Section 10 of the Plan with respect to Restricted Shares.

                  "Restricted   Shares"   --  means   Shares   which  have  been
contingently   awarded  to  a  Participant  by  the  Committee  subject  to  the
restrictions referred to in Section 10 of the Plan, so long as such restrictions
are in effect.

                  "Retirement" -- means, with respect to an Employee,  cessation
of  Continuous  Service on or after age 65 or such other age as set forth in the
Company's  retirement policy as in effect from time to time and, with respect to
a Director who is not an Employee, cessation of Continuous Service on the Board.

                  "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" -- means an Award, granted
alone or in  connection  with a related  Option,  pursuant  to Section 11 of the
Plan.

                  "Securities  Act" -- means  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as
amended.
<PAGE>
                  "Shares" -- means the shares of common stock, no par value, of
the Company.

                  "Tandem SAR" -- means a SAR that is granted in connection with
a related Option, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to
purchase an equal number of Shares under the related Option (and when a Share is
purchased under the Option, the SAR shall be canceled to the same extent).

                  3.  Administration.  The  Plan  shall be  administered  by the
Committee, which shall consist of two or more members of the Board, each of whom
shall be a "non-employee  director" as provided under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange
Act,  and an "outside  director"  as provided  under Code  section  162(m).  The
members of the Committee  shall be appointed by the Board.  Except as limited by
the express  provisions of the Plan, the Committee  shall have sole and complete
authority  and  discretion  to (a) select  Participants  and grant  Awards;  (b)
determine  the number of Shares to be subject to types of Awards  generally,  as
well as to individual Awards granted under the Plan; (c) determine the terms and
conditions  upon which Awards shall be granted under the Plan; (d) prescribe the
form and terms of Award Agreements; (e) establish procedures and regulations for
the  administration  of the  Plan;  (f)  interpret  the  Plan;  and (g) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

                  A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the
acts of a majority  of the  members  present at any meeting at which a quorum is
present,  or acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee  without a
meeting,  shall be acts of the Committee.  All determinations and decisions made
by the  Committee  pursuant  to the  provisions  of the  Plan  shall  be  final,
conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference
permitted by law.

                  4.       Participants.  The  Committee  may select from time
                           ------------
to time  Participants  in the Plan from those  officers,
Directors and key Employees of the Company or its Affiliates who, in the opinion
of the Committee,  have the capacity for  contributing
in a substantial measure to the successful performance of the Company or its
Affiliates.

                  5.       Shares  Subject to Plan,  Limitations on Grants and
                           Exercise  Price.
                           ---------------
Subject to adjustment by the operation
of Section 13 hereof:

                           (a) The maximum  number of Shares which may be issued
                  with respect to Awards made under the Plan is 750,000  Shares.
                  The Shares with  respect to which Awards may be made under the
                  Plan may either be authorized and unissued  shares or unissued
                  shares heretofore or hereafter reacquired and held as treasury
                  shares. Any Award which expires,  terminates or is surrendered
                  for cancellation or with respect to Restricted Shares which is
                  forfeited (so long as any cash  dividends  paid on such Shares
                  are also  forfeited),  may be subject to new Awards  under the
                  Plan  with  respect  to the  number  of  Shares  as to which a
                  termination or forfeiture has occurred.

                           (b) The number of Shares  which may be granted  under
                  the Plan to any Participant  during the term of the Plan under
                  all forms of Awards shall not exceed 200,000 Shares.
<PAGE>
                           (c)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision  under the
                  Plan,  the Exercise  Price for any Incentive  Stock Option and
                  the Base Price for any  Tandem or  Affiliated  SAR  granted in
                  connection  with an Incentive  Stock Option  awarded under the
                  Plan may not be less than the  Market  Value of the  Shares on
                  the date of grant.

                  6. General  Terms and  Conditions  of Options.  The  Committee
shall have full and  complete  authority  and  discretion,  except as  expressly
limited by the Plan, to grant Options and to prescribe the terms and  conditions
(which need not be identical  among  Participants)  of the Options.  Each Option
shall be evidenced by an Award  Agreement that shall  specify:  (a) the Exercise
Price,  (b) the number of Shares subject to the Option,  (c) the expiration date
of the Option,  (d) the  manner,  time and rate  (cumulative  or  otherwise)  of
exercise  of the  Option,  (e) the  restrictions,  if any, to be placed upon the
Option or upon Shares which may be issued upon  exercise of the Option,  (f) the
conditions,  if any, under which a Participant  may transfer or assign  Options,
and (g) any other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall  determine.  The  Committee  may, as a condition  of granting  any Option,
require that a  Participant  agree to  surrender  for  cancellation  one or more
Options previously granted to such Participant.

                  7.       Exercise of Options.
                           -------------------

                           (a)  Except  as  provided  in  Section  16, an Option
                  granted  under  the  Plan  shall  be  exercisable  during  the
                  lifetime  of the  Participant  to whom such Option was granted
                  only by such Participant,  and except as provided in Section 8
                  of the Plan, no Option may be exercised unless at the time the
                  Participant   exercises  the  Option,   the   Participant  has
                  maintained  Continuous  Service since the date of the grant of
                  the Option.

(b)      To exercise an Option  under the Plan,  the  Participant  must give
         written  notice to the Company  specifying  the number of
         Shares  with  respect  to which the  Participant  elects to  exercise
         the  Option together with full payment of the Exercise  Price.  The
         date of exercise  shall be the date on which the  notice is  received
         by the  Company.  Payment  may be made either  (i) in  cash  (including
         check,  bank  draft  or  money  order),  (ii) by
         tendering Shares  already  owned by the  Participant  and having a
         Market Value on the date of exercise  equal to the Exercise  Price,
         (iii) by requesting  that the Company  withhold  Shares  issuable  upon
         exercise of the Option  having a Market Value equal to the Exercise
         Price,  or (iv) by any other means  determined by the
         Committee in its sole discretion.

                  8.       Termination of Options.  Unless otherwise
                           ----------------------
specifically  provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement or
any amendment thereto, Options shall terminate as provided in this Section.

                           (a) Unless sooner  terminated under the provisions of
                  this Section,  Options shall expire on the earlier of the date
                  specified in the Award Agreement or the expiration of ten (10)
                  years from the date of grant.
<PAGE>
                           (b) If the  Continuous  Service of a  Participant  is
                  terminated for cause,  or voluntarily by the  Participant  for
                  any reason other than death,  Disability  or  Retirement,  all
                  rights  under any  Options  granted to the  Participant  shall
                  terminate  immediately  upon the  Participant's  cessation  of
                  Continuous Service.

                           (c) If the  Continuous  Service of a  Participant  is
                  terminated  by  reason  of  Retirement  or  terminated  by the
                  Company   without   cause,   the   Participant   may  exercise
                  outstanding  Options to the extent  that the  Participant  was
                  entitled to exercise  the Options at the date of  cessation of
                  Continuous  Service,  but only  within the period of three (3)
                  months immediately  succeeding the Participant's  cessation of
                  Continuous  Service,  and in no  event  after  the  applicable
                  expiration dates of the Options.

                           (d)  In  the  event  of the  Participant's  death  or
                  Disability,  the Participant or the Participant's beneficiary,
                  as the case may be, may  exercise  outstanding  Options to the
                  extent that the  Participant  was  entitled  to  exercise  the
                  Options at the date of cessation of  Continuous  Service,  but
                  only within the one-year  period  immediately  succeeding  the
                  Participant's  cessation  of  Continuous  Service by reason of
                  death or  Disability,  and in no event  after  the  applicable
                  expiration date of the Options.

                  9.  Incentive  Stock Options.  Incentive  Stock Options may be
granted only to  Participants  who are Employees.  Any provisions of the Plan to
the contrary  notwithstanding,  (a) no  Incentive  Stock Option shall be granted
more than ten years  from the  earlier  of the date the Plan is  adopted  by the
Board of Directors of the Company or approved by the Company's Shareholders, (b)
no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years from the date
the Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (c) the Exercise Price of any Incentive
Stock  Option shall not be less than the Market Value per Share on the date such
Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (d) any Incentive Stock Option shall not be
transferable  by the  Participant to whom such Incentive Stock Option is granted
other  than  by will or the  laws of  descent  and  distribution  and  shall  be
exercisable during such Participant's lifetime only by such Participant,  (e) no
Incentive  Stock Option shall be granted  which would  permit a  Participant  to
acquire,  through the exercise of Incentive  Stock Options in any calendar year,
under all plans of the Company and its  Affiliate,  Shares  having an  aggregate
Market Value  (determined as of the time any Incentive  Stock Option is granted)
in excess of $100,000 (determined by assuming that the Participant will exercise
each  Incentive  Stock  Option  on the  date  that  such  Option  first  becomes
exercisable), and (f) no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than three
(3) months after the Participant's cessation of Continuous Service (one (1) year
in the case of Disability) for any reason other than death.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the case of any Participant who, at the date of grant, owns shares
possessing  more than 10% of the total  combined  voting power of all classes of
capital  stock  of the  Company  or any  Affiliate,  the  Exercise  Price of any
Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Market Value per Share
on the date such  Incentive  Stock  Option is granted and such  Incentive  Stock
Option  shall  not be  exercisable  more  than  five  years  from the date  such
Incentive Stock Option is granted.
<PAGE>
                  10. Terms and Conditions of Restricted  Shares.  The Committee
shall have full and complete authority,  subject to the limitations of the Plan,
to grant Awards of Restricted  Shares and to prescribe the terms and  conditions
(which  need not be  identical  among  Participants)  in respect of the  Awards.
Unless the Committee otherwise specifically provides in the Award Agreement,  an
Award of Restricted Shares shall be subject to the following provisions:

                           (a) At the time of an Award of Restricted Shares, the
                  Committee  shall  establish for each  Participant a Restricted
                  Period  during  which,  or at the  expiration  of  which,  the
                  Restricted Shares shall vest. Subject to paragraph (e) of this
                  Section,  the  Participant  shall  have  all the  rights  of a
                  shareholder with respect to the Restricted  Shares,  including
                  but not limited to, the right to receive all dividends paid on
                  the  Restricted  Shares  and the right to vote the  Restricted
                  Shares.  The  Committee  shall  have  the  authority,  in  its
                  discretion,  to accelerate the time at which any or all of the
                  restrictions shall lapse with respect to any Restricted Shares
                  prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, or to remove
                  any or all  restrictions,  whenever it may determine that such
                  action is  appropriate  by reason of changes in applicable tax
                  or other  laws or other  changes  in  circumstances  occurring
                  after the commencement of the Restricted Period.

                           (b) If a Participant  ceases  Continuous  Service for
                  any reason, including death, before the Restricted Shares have
                  vested,  a  Participant's  rights with respect to the unvested
                  portion  of  the  Restricted  Shares  shall  terminate  and be
                  returned to the Company.

                           (c) Each certificate  issued in respect to Restricted
                  Shares shall be registered in the name of the  Participant and
                  deposited  by the  Participant,  together  with a stock  power
                  endorsed  in  blank,  with  the  Company  and  shall  bear the
                  following (or a similar) legend:

                           "The  transferability  of  this  certificate  and the
                  shares  represented  hereby  are  subject  to  the  terms  and
                  conditions (including  forfeiture) contained in the 1997 Stock
                  Option and Incentive  Plan of Hurco  Companies,  Inc.,  and an
                  Award Agreement  entered into between the registered owner and
                  Hurco  Companies,  Inc. Copies of the Plan and Award Agreement
                  are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Company."

                           (d) At the time of an Award of Restricted Shares, the
                  Participant  shall  enter  into an  Award  Agreement  with the
                  Company in a form  specified by the Committee  agreeing to the
                  terms and conditions of the Award.

                           (e) At the time of an Award of Restricted Shares, the
                  Committee may, in its  discretion,  determine that the payment
                  to the  Participant  of  dividends  declared  or  paid  on the
                  Restricted  Shares  by the  Company,  or a  specified  portion
                  thereof,  shall be deferred  until the earlier to occur of (i)
                  the lapsing of the  restrictions  imposed  with respect to the
                  Restricted  Shares,  or (ii) the forfeiture of such Restricted
                  Shares under paragraph (b) of this Section,  and shall be held
                  by the Company for the account of the  Participant  until such
                  time. In the event of deferral, there shall be credited at the
<PAGE>
                  end of each year (or portion  thereof)  interest on the amount
                  of the  account  at the  beginning  of the  year at a rate per
                  annum as the  Committee,  in its  discretion,  may  determine.
                  Payment of deferred dividends, together with accrued interest,
                  shall  be  made  upon  the  earlier  to  occur  of the  events
                  specified in (i) and (ii) of this paragraph.

                           (f) At the expiration of the restrictions  imposed by
                  this Section,  the Company shall  redeliver to the Participant
                  the  certificate(s) and stock power deposited with the Company
                  pursuant  to  paragraph  (c) of this  Section  and the  Shares
                  represented  by  the  certificate(s)  shall  be  free  of  all
                  restrictions.

                           (g)      No Award of Restricted Shares may be
assigned, transferred or encumbered.

                  11. Grant of SARs.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan, a SAR Award may be made to  Participants at any time and from time to time
as shall be determined by the Committee,  in its sole discretion.  The Committee
may grant Affiliated SARs,  Freestanding  SARs,  Tandem SARs, or any combination
thereof as follows:

                           (a) The Committee,  subject to the limitations of the
                  Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the Exercise
                  Price and other terms and conditions of SARs granted under the
                  Plan.  Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement
                  specifying  the terms and  conditions of the Award,  including
                  its term, the Base Price and the conditions of exercise.

                           (b) The Base Price of Shares with respect to a Tandem
                  or Affiliated  SAR Award shall equal the Exercise Price of the
                  Shares under the related Option.

                           (c) Tandem SARs may be  exercised  for all or part of
                  the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of
                  the right to exercise  the  equivalent  portion of the related
                  Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the
                  Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.  With
                  respect  to  a  Tandem  SAR  granted  in  connection  with  an
                  Incentive  Stock  Option:  (i) the Tandem SAR shall  expire no
                  later than the  expiration of the underlying  Incentive  Stock
                  Option;  (ii) the  value of the  payout  with  respect  to the
                  Tandem  SAR  shall  be for no more  than one  hundred  percent
                  (100%) of the  difference  between the  Exercise  Price of the
                  underlying  Incentive Stock Option and the Market Value of the
                  Shares subject to the underlying Incentive Stock Option at the
                  time the  Tandem  SAR is  exercised;  and (iii) the Tandem SAR
                  shall be exercisable  only when the Market Value of the Shares
                  subject to the  Incentive  Stock  Option  exceeds the Exercise
                  Price of the Incentive Stock Option.

                           (d) Upon  exercise of a SAR, a  Participant  shall be
                  entitled  to  receive  payment  from the  Company in an amount
                  determined by multiplying:

                                    (i) The  difference  between  the Market
                           Value of a Share on the date of
                           exercise over the Base Price; times
<PAGE>
                                    (ii) The  number of Shares  with  respect to
                           which the SAR Award is exercised.

                           At the discretion of the Committee, payment for a SAR
                  may be in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.

                  12. Performance Shares. The Committee, in its sole discretion,
may from  time to time  authorize  the  grant  of  Performance  Shares  upon the
achievement of performance goals (which may be cumulative and/or alternative) as
may be  established,  in  writing,  by the  Committee  based  on any  one or any
combination  of the following  business  criteria:  (a) earnings per Share;  (b)
return on equity;  (c) return on assets;  (d)  operating  income;  or (e) Market
Value per Share.  At the time as it is certified,  in writing,  by the Committee
that the  performance  goals  established by the Committee have been attained or
otherwise  satisfied within the Performance Cycle, the Committee shall authorize
the payment of cash in lieu of Performance Shares or the issuance of Performance
Shares  registered in the name of the Participant,  or a combination of cash and
Shares.  The grant of an Award of  Performance  Shares  shall be evidenced by an
Award  Agreement  containing the terms and conditions of the Award as determined
by the Committee. To the extent required under Code Section 162(m), the business
criteria under which  performance goals are determined by the Committee shall be
resubmitted to shareholders  for reapproval no later than the first  shareholder
meeting that occurs in the fifth year  following the year in which  shareholders
previously approved the Plan.

                  If the Participant ceases Continuous Service before the end of
a Performance Cycle for any reason other than Retirement,  Disability, or death,
the Participant shall forfeit all rights with respect to any Performance  Shares
that were being earned during the Performance Cycle. The Committee,  in its sole
discretion,  may establish  guidelines  providing  that if a Participant  ceases
Continuous  Service  before  the  end  of  a  Performance  Cycle  by  reason  of
Retirement,  Disability,  or  death,  the  Participant  shall be  entitled  to a
prorated  payment with respect to any Performance  Shares that were being earned
during the Performance Cycle.

                  13. Adjustments Upon Changes in  Capitalization.  In the event
of any change in the outstanding  Shares subsequent to the effective date of the
Plan by reason  of any  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock  split,  stock
dividend, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or any change
in the  corporate  structure  or Shares of the  Company,  the maximum  aggregate
number and class of shares as to which Awards may be granted  under the Plan and
the number and class of shares with  respect to which  Awards  theretofore  have
been granted under the Plan shall be appropriately  adjusted by the Committee to
prevent the dilution or diminution of Awards. The Committee's determination with
respect to any adjustments  shall be conclusive.  Any shares or other securities
received, as a result of any of the foregoing,  by a Participant with respect to
Restricted   Shares  shall  be  subject  to  the  same   restrictions   and  the
certificate(s)  or other  instruments  representing  or evidencing the shares or
other  securities shall be legended and deposited with the Company in the manner
provided in Section 10 of this Agreement.

                  14.      Effect of  Reorganization.  Unless otherwise
                           -------------------------
provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement,  Awards will
be affected by a Reorganization as follows:
<PAGE>
                           (a)  If  the   Reorganization  is  a  dissolution  or
                  liquidation  of the  Company  then  (i)  the  restrictions  on
                  Restricted Shares shall lapse and (ii) each outstanding Option
                  or SAR Award shall terminate, but each Participant to whom the
                  Option or SAR was  granted  shall have the right,  immediately
                  prior to the dissolution or liquidation to exercise the Option
                  or SAR in full,  notwithstanding  the provisions of Section 9,
                  and the Company  shall notify each  Participant  of such right
                  within a reasonable period of time prior to any dissolution or
                  liquidation.

                           (b)   If   the   Reorganization   is  a   merger   or
                  consolidation,  other  than a Change  in  Control  subject  to
                  Section  15 of  this  Plan,  upon  the  effective  date of the
                  Reorganization  (i) each Participant  shall be entitled,  upon
                  exercise of an Option in accordance  with all of the terms and
                  conditions of the Plan,  to receive in lieu of Shares,  shares
                  or other  securities or consideration as the holders of Shares
                  shall be  entitled  to  receive  pursuant  to the terms of the
                  Reorganization;  and (ii)  each  holder of  Restricted  Shares
                  shall  receive  shares or other  securities  as the holders of
                  Shares received which shall be subject to the restrictions set
                  forth in Section 10 unless the Committee accelerates the lapse
                  of  such   restrictions  and  the   certificate(s)   or  other
                  instruments  representing  or  evidencing  the shares or other
                  securities shall be legended and deposited with the Company in
                  the manner provided in Section 10 of this Plan.

                  The  adjustments  contained  in this Section and the manner of
application of such provisions shall be determined solely by the Committee.

                  15. Effect of Change of Control.  If the Continuous Service of
any Participant of the Company or any Affiliate is involuntarily terminated, for
whatever  reason,  at any time within  twelve  months after a Change in Control,
unless the Committee shall have otherwise  provided in the Award Agreement,  (a)
any Restricted  Period with respect to an Award of Restricted Shares shall lapse
upon the  Participant's  termination  of  Continuous  Service  and all Shares of
Restricted Shares shall become fully vested in the Participant to whom the award
was made; and (b) with respect to Performance  Shares,  the Participant shall be
entitled  to receive a prorata  payment  of Shares to the same  extent as if the
Participant  ceases Continuous  Service by reason of Retirement under Section 12
of the Plan. If a tender offer or exchange  offer for Shares (other than such an
offer by the Company) is commenced, or if the event specified in clause (iii) of
the definition of a Change in Control contained in Section 2 shall occur, unless
the Committee shall have otherwise  provided in the Award Agreement,  all Option
and SAR  Awards  theretofore  granted  and not fully  exercisable  shall  become
exercisable  in  full  upon  the  happening  of  such  event  and  shall  remain
exercisable in accordance with their terms; provided, however, that no Option or
SAR shall be  exercisable  by a director  or officer of the  Company  within six
months of the date of grant of the  Option or SAR and no Option or SAR which has
previously been exercised or otherwise terminated shall become exercisable.

                  16. Assignments and Transfers.  Except as otherwise  expressly
authorized  by the  Committee in the Award  Agreement or any  amendment  thereto
during the  lifetime  of a  Participant  no Award nor any right or interest of a
Participant  in any  Award  under  the  Plan  may  be  assigned,  encumbered  or
transferred otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
<PAGE>
                  17.  Employee  Rights Under the Plan. No officer,  Employee or
other person shall have a right to be selected as a Participant nor, having been
so selected,  to be selected again as a Participant and no officer,  Employee or
other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan
or under any other  incentive or similar  plan of the Company or any  Affiliate.
Neither  the Plan nor any  action  taken  under the Plan shall be  construed  as
giving any Employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any
Affiliate.

                  18.  Delivery  and  Registration  of  Shares.   The  Company's
obligation  to deliver  Shares with respect to an Award shall,  if the Committee
requests,  be  conditioned  upon  the  receipt  of a  representation  as to  the
investment intention of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered,
in such form as the  Committee  shall  determine to be necessary or advisable to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable federal
or state securities laws. It may be provided that any representation requirement
shall  become  inoperative  upon a  registration  of the Shares or other  action
eliminating  the necessity of the  representation  under the  Securities  Act or
other state  securities  laws.  The Company shall not be required to deliver any
Shares  under the Plan prior to (i) the  admission  of such Shares to listing on
any stock  exchange or system on which  Shares may then be listed,  and (ii) the
completion of any  registration or other  qualification  of the Shares under any
state or federal law, rule or regulation,  as the Company shall  determine to be
necessary or advisable.

                  19.  Withholding  Tax.  Prior to the delivery of any Shares or
cash pursuant to an Award,  the Company shall have the right and power to deduct
or  withhold,  or require the  Participant  to remit to the  Company,  an amount
sufficient  to  satisfy  all  applicable  tax  withholding   requirements.   The
Committee,  in its sole  discretion  and pursuant to such  procedures  as it may
specify from time to time, may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or
part of the tax  withholding  obligations  in  connection  with an  Award by (a)
having the Company withhold otherwise  deliverable  Shares, or (b) delivering to
the  Company  Shares  already  owned  having a Market  Value equal to the amount
required to be  withheld.  The amount of the  withholding  requirement  shall be
deemed to include any amount which the Committee  determines,  not to exceed the
amount  determined by using the maximum federal,  state or local marginal income
tax rates  applicable to the  Participant  with respect to the Award on the date
that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be  determined  for these  purposes.
For these purposes, the value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered shall be
equal to the  Market  Value as of the date  that the taxes  are  required  to be
withheld.

                  20. Termination, Amendment and Modification of Plan. The Board
may at any time terminate,  and may at any time and from time to time and in any
respect  amend  or  modify,  the  Plan;  provided  however,  that to the  extent
necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Code
section 422 (or any other applicable law or regulation,  including  requirements
of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company's common stock is
listed or quoted)  shareholder  approval of any Plan amendment shall be obtained
in  the  manner  and to the  degree  as is  required  by the  applicable  law or
regulation; and provided further, that no termination, amendment or modification
of the Plan shall in any manner affect any Award theretofore granted pursuant to
the Plan without the consent of the Participant to whom the Award was granted or
transferee of the Award.
<PAGE>
                  21.  Effective  Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan shall  become
effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors,  subject to  ratification
by the  shareholders  of the  Company  at the next  annual  meeting,  and  shall
continue  in effect  for a term of ten years  from the date of  adoption  by the
Board of Directors unless sooner terminated under Section 20 of the Plan.

                  22.      Governing  Law. The Plan and Award  Agreements
                           --------------
shall be construed  in  accordance  with and governed by the
laws of the State of Indiana.

                  23.  Awards to Foreign  Nationals  and  Employees  Outside the
United States.  To the extent the Committee  deems it necessary,  appropriate or
desirable  to comply with  foreign law or practice and to further the purpose of
this Plan, the Committee may, without amending this Plan, (a) establish  special
rules  applicable to Awards granted to Participants  who are foreign  nationals,
are employed  outside the United States,  or both,  including  rules that differ
from those set forth in this Plan, and (b) grant Awards to such  Participants in
accordance with those rules.

                Adopted by the Board of Directors of Hurco Companies, Inc.
                                            as of March 6, 1997

                Adopted by the Shareholders of Hurco Companies, Inc.
                                            as of May 29, 1997

                Approved as Amended by the Board of Directors of
                  Hurco Companies, Inc. as of December 7, 1999

                Approved as Amended by the Shareholders of Hurco
                                            Companies, Inc. as of May 23, 2000

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