Document:

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                       AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

                           dated as of April 24, 2002

                                  by and among

                         LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,

                         the Lenders referred to herein,

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

                             BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                              as Syndication Agent

                                       and

                      WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                             as Documentation Agent

                       BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES, LLC and

                         DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX BROWN INC.,
                    as Co-Lead Arrangers and Co-Book Managers

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<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS ......................................................................     2
SECTION 1.1     Definitions .................................................................     2
SECTION 1.2     General .....................................................................    20
SECTION 1.3     Other Definitions and Provisions ............................................    20

ARTICLE II  CONSTRUCTION LOAN FACILITY ......................................................    21
SECTION 2.1     Commitment ..................................................................    21
SECTION 2.2     Procedure for Disbursement of Construction Loan Advances ....................    21
SECTION 2.3     Repayment of Construction Loan Advances .....................................    24
SECTION 2.4     Prepayment of Construction Loan Advances ....................................    24
SECTION 2.5     Construction Loan Notes .....................................................    25
SECTION 2.6     Use of Proceeds .............................................................    25
SECTION 2.7     Budget Reallocation .........................................................    25
SECTION 2.8     Project Deposit .............................................................    26
SECTION 2.9     Direct Construction Loan Advances ...........................................    26

ARTICLE III  GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS ........................................................    27
SECTION 3.1     Interest ....................................................................    27
SECTION 3.2     Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Construction Loan Advances    30
SECTION 3.3     Fees ........................................................................    30
SECTION 3.4     Manner of Payment ...........................................................    30
SECTION 3.5     Crediting of Payments and Proceeds ..........................................    31
SECTION 3.6     Adjustments .................................................................    31
SECTION 3.7     Nature of Obligations of the Lenders Regarding Construction Loan Advances;
                Assumption by the Administrative Agent ......................................    32
SECTION 3.8     Changed Circumstances .......................................................    33
SECTION 3.9     Indemnity ...................................................................    34
SECTION 3.10    Capital Requirements ........................................................    35
SECTION 3.11    Taxes .......................................................................    35
SECTION 3.12    Security ....................................................................    37
SECTION 3.13    Replacement of Lenders ......................................................    37

ARTICLE IV  CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING ....................................    38
SECTION 4.1     Closing .....................................................................    38
SECTION 4.2     Conditions to Closing and Initial Construction Loan Advance .................    38
SECTION 4.3     Conditions to All Construction Loan Advances ................................    47
SECTION 4.4     Final Construction Loan Advance for Improvements ............................    48

ARTICLE V  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER ...................................    50
SECTION 5.1     Representations and Warranties ..............................................    50
SECTION 5.2     Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc .............................    60
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                             <C>
FINANCIAL  INFORMATION AND REPORTS ..........................................................    61
SECTION 6.1     Financial Statements ........................................................    61
SECTION 6.2     Officer's Compliance Certificate ............................................    62
SECTION 6.3     Accountant's Certificate ....................................................    63
SECTION 6.4     Other Reports ...............................................................    63
SECTION 6.5     Notice of Litigation and Other Matters ......................................    64
SECTION 6.6     Accuracy of Information .....................................................    66

ARTICLE VII  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS ..........................................................    66
SECTION 7.1     Preservation of Existence and Related Matters ...............................    66
SECTION 7.2     Maintenance of Property .....................................................    66
SECTION 7.3     Accounting Methods and Financial Records ....................................    66
SECTION 7.4     Payment and Performance of Obligations ......................................    66
SECTION 7.5     Compliance With Laws and Approvals ..........................................    67
SECTION 7.6     Environmental Laws ..........................................................    67
SECTION 7.7     Compliance with ERISA .......................................................    67
SECTION 7.8     Compliance With Agreements ..................................................    68
SECTION 7.9     Visits and Inspections ......................................................    68
SECTION 7.10    Construction of the Improvements ............................................    68
SECTION 7.11    Storage of Materials ........................................................    69
SECTION 7.12    Advertising by the Lenders ..................................................    69
SECTION 7.13    Annual Appraisal ............................................................    69
SECTION 7.14    Construction Consultant .....................................................    69
SECTION 7.15    Reports and Vouchers ........................................................    70
SECTION 7.16    Equipment Financing .........................................................    70
SECTION 7.17    Maintenance of Licenses, Etc ................................................    70
SECTION 7.18    Insurance ...................................................................    71
SECTION 7.19    Further Assurances ..........................................................    71

ARTICLE VIII  FINANCIAL COVENANTS ...........................................................    72
SECTION 8.1     Minimum EBITDA ..............................................................    72
SECTION 8.2     Debt Service Coverage Ratio .................................................    72

ARTICLE IX  NEGATIVE COVENANTS ..............................................................    72
SECTION 9.1     Limitations on Debt .........................................................    72
SECTION 9.2     Limitations on Liens ........................................................    73
SECTION 9.3     Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and Acquisitions ................    75
SECTION 9.4     Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation ......................................    76
SECTION 9.5     Limitations on Sale of Assets ...............................................    76
SECTION 9.6     Limitation on Distributions .................................................    77
SECTION 9.7     Amendments, Payments and Prepayments of Subordinated Debt ...................    78
SECTION 9.8     Transactions With Affiliates ................................................    78
SECTION 9.9     Restrictive Agreements ......................................................    79
SECTION 9.10    Certain Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents ........................    79
SECTION 9.11    Changes to the Plans ........................................................    79
SECTION 9.12    Contracts ...................................................................    79
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE X  DEFAULT AND REMEDIES .............................................................    80
SECTION 10.1    Events of Default ...........................................................    80
SECTION 10.2    Remedies ....................................................................    84
SECTION 10.3    Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc .............................    86

ARTICLE XI  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ........................................................    86
SECTION 11.1    Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent ...................    86
SECTION 11.2    Delegation of Duties ........................................................    87
SECTION 11.3    Liability of the Administrative Agent .......................................    87
SECTION 11.4    Reliance by the Administrative Agent ........................................    87
SECTION 11.5    Notice of Default ...........................................................    88
SECTION 11.6    Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by the Administrative Agent ......    88
SECTION 11.7    Indemnification of the Administrative Agent .................................    89
SECTION 11.8    The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity .........................    89
SECTION 11.9    Successor Administrative Agent ..............................................    90
SECTION 11.10   Syndication Agent; Documentation Agent; Co-Lead Arranger ....................    90

ARTICLE XII  MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................................    91
SECTION 12.1    Notices .....................................................................    91
SECTION 12.2    Expenses; Indemnity .........................................................    92
SECTION 12.3    Set-off .....................................................................    93
SECTION 12.4    Governing Law ...............................................................    94
SECTION 12.5    Jurisdiction and Venue ......................................................    94
SECTION 12.6    Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury ............................................    95
SECTION 12.7    Reversal of Payments ........................................................    95
SECTION 12.8    Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages .........................................    95
SECTION 12.9    Accounting Matters ..........................................................    96
SECTION 12.10   Successors and Assigns; Participations ......................................    96
SECTION 12.11   Amendments, Waivers and Consents ............................................    99
SECTION 12.12   Confidentiality .............................................................    99
SECTION 12.13   Performance of Duties .......................................................   100
SECTION 12.14   All Powers Coupled with Interest ............................................   100
SECTION 12.15   Survival of Indemnities .....................................................   100
SECTION 12.16   Titles and Captions .........................................................   101
SECTION 12.17   Severability of Provisions ..................................................   101
SECTION 12.18   Counterparts ................................................................   101
SECTION 12.19   Term of Agreement ...........................................................   101
SECTION 12.20   Advice of Counsel ...........................................................   101
SECTION 12.21   No Strict Construction ......................................................   101
SECTION 12.22   Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of Covenants .......   101
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>
                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBITS
<S>                        <C>      <C>
Exhibit A                  -        Land
Exhibit B                  -        Form of Construction Loan Note
Exhibit C                  -        Form of Draw Request
Exhibit D                  -        Form of Notice of Account Designation
Exhibit E                  -        Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit F                  -        Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit G                  -        Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit H                  -        Form of Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit I                  -        Form of Officer's Compliance Certificate
Exhibit J                  -        Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit K                  -        Form of Pledge Agreement
Exhibit L                  -        Plans and Specifications
Exhibit M                  -        Budget
Exhibit N                  -        Storage of Materials
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SCHEDULES
<S>                        <C>      <C>
Schedule 1.1(a)            -        Lenders and Commitments
Schedule 1.1(b)            -        Guarantors
Schedule 1.1(c)            -        Related Credit Documents
Schedule 1.1(d)            -        Related Guaranty Agreements
Schedule 5.1(b)            -        Capitalization
Schedule 5.1(l)            -        Material Contracts
Schedule 5.1(s)            -        Debt and Guaranty Obligations
Schedule 5.1(t)            -        Litigation
Schedule 9.8               -        Permitted Transactions With Affiliates
</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>
                       AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

      AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of the 24th day of April,
2002, by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina limited
liability company, as Borrower, the lenders who are or may become a party to
this Agreement, as Lenders, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent for
the Lenders, BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication Agent for the Lenders, and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent.

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

      The Borrower has requested, and the Lenders have agreed, to extend a
certain credit facility to the Borrower on the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

      WHEREAS, the Borrower entered into that certain Construction Loan
Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified as of the date hereof, the "Existing Loan Agreement"),
between the Borrower and MedCath Incorporated (formerly known as MedCath Finance
Company), which was secured by that certain Mortgage and Security Agreement
dated November 14, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified as of the date hereof, the "Existing Deed of Trust"), recorded as
Instrument No. 1274543 in the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana records, from
Borrower in favor of MedCath Incorporated;

      WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide the
Construction Loan Facility (defined below) for the purpose of refinancing the
Existing Loan Agreement and for the purposes hereinafter set forth;

      WHEREAS, in connection with the refinancing of the Existing Loan
Agreement, MedCath Incorporated shall assign all of its right, title and
interest in and to the Existing Loan Agreement and the Existing Deed of Trust in
favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to accept such assignment (the
"Assignment");

      WHEREAS, in connection with the Assignment and subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Borrower and the Lenders desire to amend, restate and
consolidate the terms of the Existing Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and
have agreed to amend, restate and consolidate the Existing Deed of Trust in its
entirety.

      WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Assignment and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, the Lenders have agreed to make the requested
Construction Loan Facility available to the Borrower;

      NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties
hereby agree as follows:
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

      SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement
shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

      "Adjusted Debt Service" means, with respect to the Borrower for any
period, the sum of the following determined, without duplication, in accordance
with GAAP: (i) all Interest Expense due and payable in cash or which was paid
during such period (excluding all Interest Expense paid during such period by
the Borrower to MedCath Incorporated) plus (ii) all scheduled principal payments
of Debt (excluding payments of Debt to MedCath Incorporated) which were paid
during such period.

      "Adjusted EBITDA" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, (i)
EBITDA for such period less (ii) maintenance Capital Expenditures of $200,000
for each fiscal quarter during such period.

      "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as
Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to
Section 11.9.

      "Administrative Agent's Office" means the office of the Administrative
Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section
12.1(c).

      "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person or any of its Subsidiaries. The term "control" means (a) the
power to vote five percent (5%) or more of the securities or other equity
interests of a Person having ordinary voting power, or (b) the possession,
directly or indirectly, of any other power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; provided, however, that the term
"Affiliate" shall not include any owner of the Borrower (other than the Parent
and its Subsidiaries).

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

      "Aggregate Commitment" means the aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Commitments hereunder, as such amount may be reduced or modified at any time or
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Closing Date, the
Aggregate Commitment shall be Twenty-Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($25,500,000).

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<PAGE>
      "Aggregate Project Cost" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 5.1(v).

      "Agreement" means this Loan Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

      "Applicable Margin" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(c).

      "Appraised Value" means $51,200,000.

      "Approved Fund" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.10(h).

      "Architect" means Collins Reisenbichler Architects.

      "Architect's Contract" means the Agreement for Architectural Services
between the Borrower and the Architect, dated March 6, 2001.

      "Assignment and Acceptance" means an Assignment and Acceptance
substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto.

      "Assignment of Mortgage" means the Sale and Transfer of Note and Security
Therefor of even date executed by MedCath Incorporated, Borrower and the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, securing the Land, the Improvements and the other property and fixtures
described therein, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

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

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

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

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<PAGE>
change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the
opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such
change.

      "Base Rate Loan" means any Construction Loan Advance bearing interest at a
rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 3.1(a).

      "Benefited Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.6.

      "Borrower" means Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina limited
liability company, in its capacity as borrower hereunder.

      "Budget" means the budget prepared with respect to the Project by the
Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent, which is attached hereto as
Exhibit M.

      "Business Day" means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in
clause (b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on
which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New York, are open for
the conduct of their commercial banking business, and (b) with respect to all
notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and
interest on, any Eurodollar Rate Loan, any day that is a Business Day described
in clause (a) and that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar
deposits in the London interbank market.

      "Calculation Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(c).

      "Capital Asset" means, with respect to the Borrower, any asset that
should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as a capital
asset on a balance sheet of the Borrower.

      "Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period,
the aggregate cost of all Capital Assets acquired by the Borrower during such
period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

      "Capital Lease" means any lease of any property by the Borrower, as
lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for as
a capital lease on a balance sheet of the Borrower.

      "Cash Flow Available For Distribution" means, with respect to the Borrower
for any period, the sum of the following determined, without duplication, in
accordance with GAAP: (i) EBITDA for such period less (ii) all principal and
interest payments required to be paid with respect to Senior Debt during such
period less (iii) all Unfinanced Capital Expenditures during such period.

      "Change in Control" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
10.1(j).

      "Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement or such later Business Day
upon which each condition described in Section 4.2 shall be satisfied or waived
in all respects in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in its sole
discretion.

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<PAGE>
      "CMS" means the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Administration of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services and any successor agency.

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

      "Co-Lead Arrangers" means Banc of America Securities LLC and Deutsche Bank
Alex. Brown Inc. in their capacity as lead arrangers and book managers.

      "Collateral" means the collateral security for the Obligations pledged or
granted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Security Documents.

      "Collateral Assignment of Architect's Contract" means the collateral
assignment of even date with respect to the Architect's Contract executed by the
Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the
Lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.

      "Collateral Assignment of Construction Contract" means the collateral
assignment of even date with respect to the Construction Contract executed by
the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and
the Lenders, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.

      "Commitment" means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to
make Construction Loan Advances for the account of the Borrower in an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name
on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto, as such amount may be reduced or modified at any time
or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and (b) as to all Lenders, the
aggregate commitment to make Construction Loan Advances.

      "Commitment Agreement" means the Commitment Agreement dated as of July 27,
2001 by and among MedCath Incorporated, the Lenders who are or may become party
thereto and the Administrative Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified in accordance with the terms thereof.

      "Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender, (a) prior to making all
of the Construction Loan Advances, the ratio of (i) the Commitment of such
Lender to (ii) the Commitments of all Lenders and (b) after all of the
Construction Loan Advances are made, the ratio of (i) the outstanding principal
balance of the Construction Loan Advances of such Lender to (ii) the aggregate
outstanding principal balance of the Construction Loan Advances of all Lenders.

      "Completion Date" means the date upon which the Borrower has received the
final certificate of occupancy for the Improvements, all permits and licenses
required under Applicable Law to operate the Hospital, the Medicare
Certification with respect to the Hospital, and the Medicaid Certification with
respect to the Hospital (as applicable), which date shall not be later than the
Construction Loan Termination Date.

                                       5
<PAGE>
      "Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements or
financial statement items of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, such statements or
items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of
consolidation under GAAP.

      "Construction Consultant" means the construction consultant, if any,
engaged by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Project.

      "Construction Contract" means the Standard Form of Agreement between the
Borrower and the General Contractor for the construction of the Improvements
dated November 7, 2001 and converted to a lump sum contract by letter agreement
dated March 21, 2002.

      "Construction Loan Advances" means the construction loan advances made to
the Borrower by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

      "Construction Loan Facility" means the construction loan facility
established pursuant to Article II.

      "Construction Loan Notes" means the Construction Loan Notes made by the
Borrower payable to the order of each of the Lenders, substantially in the form
of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing the Debt incurred by the Borrower pursuant to
the Construction Loan Facility, and any amendments, modifications and
supplements thereto, any substitute therefor, and any replacement, restatements,
renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part; "Construction Loan Note"
means any of such Construction Loan Notes.

      "Construction Loan Termination Date" means the date which is twenty-four
(24) months after the Closing Date.

      "Corporate Revolver" means the Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998,
as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by
and among MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the Initial Lenders
named therein, as lenders, the Initial Issuing Bank named therein, as issuing
bank, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and collateral agent, and
Banc of America Securities LLC, as arranger and syndication agent.

      "Cost Savings" means either (i) the completion of any line item in the
Budget without the expenditure of all amounts allocated to such line item in the
Budget or (ii) demonstration by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent's
reasonable satisfaction that a Cost Savings has been realized with respect to
any uncompleted line item in the Budget.

      "Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower at any date and without
duplication, the sum of the following calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a)
all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money including, but
not limited to, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments of the Borrower, (b) all obligations to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services of the Borrower (including, without
limitation, all obligations under non-competition agreements), except trade
payables arising in the ordinary course of business not more than one hundred
and twenty (120) days past due, (c) all obligations

                                       6
<PAGE>
of the Borrower as lessee under Capital Leases, (d) all Debt of any other Person
secured by a Lien on any asset of the Borrower, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of
the Borrower, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower
relative to the face amount of letters of credit, whether or not drawn, and
banker's acceptances issued for the account of the Borrower, (g) all obligations
of the Borrower to redeem, repurchase, exchange, defease or otherwise make
payments in respect of capital stock or other securities or partnership
interests of the Borrower, (h) all net payment obligations incurred by the
Borrower pursuant to Hedging Agreements and (i) all outstanding payment
obligations of the Borrower with respect to any synthetic lease, tax retention
operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing
product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax
purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

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

      "Default" means any of the events specified in Section 10.1 which with the
passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute
an Event of Default.

      "Documentation Agent" means Wachovia Bank, National Association, in its
capacity as Documentation Agent hereunder.

      "Dollars" or "$" means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful
currency of the United States.

      "Draw Request" means a properly completed and executed written application
by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto (or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent) setting forth
the amount of Construction Loan Advance proceeds desired, together with such
schedules, affidavits, releases, waivers, statements, invoices, bills and other
documents, certificates and information as may be required by the Administrative
Agent.

      "EBITDA" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, the sum of
the following determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net
Income for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted
in determining Net Income for such period: (i) Interest Expense for such period,
(ii) income and franchise taxes for such period, (iii) amortization and
depreciation for such period, (iv) non-cash charges for such period solely with
respect to the impairment of goodwill in accordance with GAAP, and (v) non-cash
impairment charges for such period solely with respect to loan acquisition costs
minus (c) to the extent added in the determination of Net Income, extraordinary
gains for such period.

      "Eligible Assignee" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.10(h).

                                       7
<PAGE>
      "Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower
(or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time
within the preceding six (6) years been maintained for the employees of the
Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any current or former ERISA
Affiliate.

      "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative, regulatory or
judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of
noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared
by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any
third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to
any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or
relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such
Environmental Law, including, without limitation, any and all claims by
Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial
or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification cost recovery,
compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising
from alleged injury or threat of injury to human health or the environment.

      "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial
and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses,
approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities,
relating to the protection of human health or the environment, including, but
not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling,
reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous
Materials.

      "Equipment Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
7.16.

      "Equipment Loan Financing" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 7.16.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

      "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Borrower (or, as
applicable, any Guarantor) is treated as a single employer within the meaning of
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

      "Eurodollar Rate" means for any Interest Period with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to the following formula:

                                  Eurodollar Base Rate
                          ------------------------------------
      Eurodollar Rate  =  1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

      "Eurodollar Base Rate" means for any Interest Period:

      (a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative
Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen
that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate
for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the

                                       8
<PAGE>
first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business
Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

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

      (c) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (a) and
(b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent
as the rate of interest (rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) at which
deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in
same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made,
continued or converted by the Administrative Agent and with a term equivalent to
such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America's London Branch to
major banks in the offshore Dollar market at their request at approximately
11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period.

      "Eurodollar Rate Loan" means any Construction Loan Advance bearing
interest at a rate based upon the Eurodollar Rate as provided in Section 3.1(a).

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

      "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 10.1,
provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.

      "Excusable Delays" means unusually adverse weather conditions which have
not been taken into account in the construction schedule, fire, earthquake or
other acts of God, strike, lockout, acts of public enemy, any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over the operation of the hospital which is part
of the Project ceases to operate in the ordinary course, riot or insurrection or
any unforeseen circumstances or events (except financial circumstances or events
or matters which may be resolved by the payment of money) beyond the control of
the Borrower, not to exceed a total of thirty (30) days, provided the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing within ten (10) days after such
occurrence, but no Excusable Delay shall extend

                                       9
<PAGE>
the Completion Date or suspend or abate any obligation of the Borrower or any
Guarantor or any other Person to pay any money.

      "Existing Loan Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Statement of Purpose.

      "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any successor
thereto.

      "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upwards to the nearest 1/100 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 on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that
(a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall
be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so
published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate charged to Bank of America on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

      "Financing Statements" means the UCC financing statements filed to perfect
the Lien of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on certain personal
property and fixtures as more particularly described therein.

      "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Borrower ending on September
30.

      "Five-Year US Treasury Yield" means the Weekly Average Yield on U.S.
Treasury Securities adjusted to a constant maturity of five (5) years as
published in the Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15 (519) on the
applicable date of determination.

      "Foreign Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.11(e).

      "Fund" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(h).

      "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent
basis for the Borrower and the Guarantors throughout the period indicated and
(subject to Section 12.9) consistent with the prior financial practice of the
Borrower and the Guarantors.

      "General Contractor" means Faulkner Construction Company.

      "Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.

      "Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or political
subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person exercising executive,
legislative, regulatory or

                                       10
<PAGE>
administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or
other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or
otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

      "Guarantor Leverage Ratio" means the ratio determined pursuant to Section
12(c) of the Guaranty Agreement.

      "Guarantors" means the Persons who have executed the Guaranty Agreement
(a) on the Closing Date or (b) after such date in accordance with Section 11(j)
of the Guaranty Agreement. The Guarantors as of the Closing Date are set forth
on Schedule 1.1(b).

      "Guaranty Agreement" means the unconditional guaranty agreement of even
date executed by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit
H attached hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

      "Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to the Borrower, without
duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person
pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or
other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations
set forth therein) be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the
stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Guaranty Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such
guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument
evidencing such Guaranty Obligation.

      "Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are or
become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human
health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental
Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under
any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of
which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other
Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed to constitute a nuisance or a
trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring
properties, (f) which consist of underground or aboveground storage tanks,
whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance, or (g) which
contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived
substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

                                       11
<PAGE>
      "Hedging Agreement" means any agreement with respect to any Interest Rate
Contract, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward foreign exchange
agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency
option agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks
of any Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or
commodity prices, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.

      "HHS" means the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and
any successor thereto.

      "Hospital" means a hospital owned and operated by the Borrower which (a)
is certified to participate in Medicare programs and Medicaid programs (as
applicable), (b) is at least 90,000 square feet, (c) contains at least 48
licensed beds and (d) is situated on the Land.

      "Improvements" means the Hospital and other improvements constructed on,
or to be constructed on, the Land, together with all fixtures, improvements, and
appurtenances now or later to be located on the Land and/or in such
improvements.

      "Indemnitees" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.2 (b).

      "Indemnified Liabilities" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 12.2 (b).

      "Information" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.12.

      "Initial Pricing Adjustment Date" means the first Calculation Date
occurring after the date which is six (6) full fiscal quarters after the
Completion Date.

      "Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement" means any intercompany
subordination agreement of even date executed by MedCath Incorporated in favor
of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Interest Expense" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, the
gross interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense
attributable to Capital Leases and all net payment obligations pursuant to
Hedging Agreements) of the Borrower, all determined for such period, without
duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

      "Interest Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1(b).

      "Interest Rate Contract" means any interest rate swap agreement, interest
rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate option or any other agreement regarding the hedging of
interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging the interest
rate exposure of any Person and any confirming letter executed pursuant to such
agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

                                       12
<PAGE>
      "Land" means the real estate described in Exhibit A attached hereto, which
is owned by the Borrower and to be encumbered by the Mortgage.

      "Lender" means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender set forth
on the signature pages hereto and each Person that hereafter becomes a party to
this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Section 12.10.

      "Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such
Lender maintaining such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the Construction Loan
Advances.

      "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect
of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person 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 Allocation" means the loan allocation identified as such in the
Budget for the Project attached hereto as Exhibit M.

      "Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Construction
Loan Notes, the Guaranty Agreement, the Security Documents, the Management Fee
and Guaranty Fee Subordination Agreement, each Intercompany Loan Subordination
Agreement and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement
executed and delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor in connection with this
Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any
Hedging Agreement), all as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.

      "Management Agreement" means (i) the management services agreement dated
January 24, 2001 between the Borrower and the Management Company or (ii) the
agreement between that Management Company and the Borrower as set forth in the
operating agreement of the Borrower pursuant to which the Management Company and
the Borrower agree that the Management Company shall manage the Hospital.

      "Management Company" means Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation.

      "Management Fee and Guaranty Fee Subordination Agreement" means the
subordination agreement of even date executed by the Management Company in favor
of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to the Borrower or any of
the Guarantors, a material adverse effect on (i) the properties, business,
operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of (A) the Borrower or (B) the
Guarantors on a consolidated basis, taken as a whole, or (ii) any such Person or
the ability of any such Person to perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents to which it is a party.

                                       13
<PAGE>
      "Material Contract" means (a) as of the Closing Date, the contracts and
agreements set forth on Schedule 5.1(l) and (b) after the Closing Date, (i) the
contracts and agreements set forth on Schedule 5.1(l), (ii) any contract or
other agreement, written or oral, of the Borrower or any of the Guarantors (A)
which involves monetary liability of or to any such Person in an amount in
excess of (1) $1,000,000 per annum with respect to the Borrower or any Guarantor
(other than the MedCath Parent Entities) and (2) $5,000,000 with respect to any
MedCath Parent Entity and (B) which by its terms may not be canceled within
ninety (90) days, or (iii) any other contract or agreement, written or oral, of
the Borrower or any of the Guarantors the failure to comply with which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      "Maturity Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3.

      "MedCath Parent Entities" means MedCath Corporation, MedCath Holdings,
Inc., MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc. and MedCath Incorporated.

      "Medicaid Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that health care operations are in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicaid Regulations.

      "Medicaid Provider Agreement" means an agreement entered into between a
Governmental Authority or other such entity administering the Medicaid program
and a health care operation under which the health care operation agrees to
provide services for Medicaid beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the
agreement and Medicaid Regulations.

      "Medicaid Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XIX of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the medical assistance program established by Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; (ii) all applicable provisions
of all federal rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all Governmental
Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described
in clause (i) above and all federal administrative, reimbursement and other
guidelines of all Governmental Authorities (whether or not having the force of
law) promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described in
clause (i) above; (iii) all state statutes and plans for medical assistance
enacted in connection with the statutes and provisions described in clauses (i)
and (ii) above; and (iv) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations,
manuals and orders of all Governmental Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in
connection with the statutes described in clause (iii) above and all state
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines of all Governmental
Authorities (whether or not having the force of law) promulgated pursuant to or
in connection with the statutes described in clause (ii) above, in each case as
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Medicare Certification" means certification by CMS or a Governmental
Authority under contract with CMS that the health care operation is in
compliance with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicare
Regulations.

                                       14
<PAGE>
      "Medicare Provider Agreement" means an agreement entered into between a
Governmental Authority administering the Medicare program and a health care
operation under which the health care operation agrees to provide services for
Medicare beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of the agreement and
Medicare Regulations.

      "Medicare Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the health insurance program for the aged and disabled established by
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; and
(ii) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals, orders and
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines (whether or not having the
force of law) of all Governmental Authorities (including without limitation,
HHS, CMS, the Office of the Inspector General for HHS, or any person succeeding
to the functions of any of the foregoing) promulgated pursuant to or in
connection with any of the foregoing (whether or not having the force of law),
as each may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Mortgage" means the Act of Amendment and Restatement of Mortgage,
Assignment of Leases and Rents and Security Agreement of even date executed by
the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders securing the Land, the Improvements and the
other property and fixtures described therein, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower (or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or
any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has
accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding six (6) years.

      "Net Income" means, with respect to the Borrower for any period, the net
income (or loss) of the Borrower for such period, determined in accordance with
GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from Net Income (a) the net income
(or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which shall be subject to
clause (c) below), in which the Borrower has a joint interest with a third
party, except to the extent such net income is actually paid to the Borrower by
dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss)
of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of such Person
or is merged into or consolidated with such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or
that Person's assets are acquired by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), (c) the net
income (if positive) of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or
payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Borrower
of such net income (i) is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of
its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute rule
or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary or (ii) would be
subject to any taxes payable on such dividends or distributions.

      "Notice of Account Designation" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2.2(c).

                                       15
<PAGE>
      "Notice of Conversion/Continuation" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 3.2.

      "Notice of Prepayment" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2.4.

      "Obligations" means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter
arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after
the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Construction Loan
Advances, (b) all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by the
Borrower to any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any Hedging Agreement
with any Lender or the Administrative Agent, and (c) all other fees and
commissions (including Attorney Costs), charges, indebtedness, loans,
liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing
by the Borrower or any of the Guarantors to the Lenders or the Administrative
Agent, in each case under or in respect of this Agreement, any Construction Loan
Note or any of the other Loan Documents of every kind, nature and description,
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or
tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note.

      "Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 6.2.

      "Other Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.11(b).

      "Parent" means MedCath Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

      "Participant" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(d).

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

      "Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer
Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code and which (a) is maintained for the employees of the Borrower (or, as
applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliates or (b) has at any time within
the preceding six (6) years been maintained for the employees of the Borrower
(or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any of its current or former ERISA
Affiliates.

      "Permitted Changes" means changes to the Plans or Improvements and related
changes to the Construction Contract (including those resulting from the final
agreement with the General Contractor on the contract sum); provided that the
cost of any single change shall not exceed $500,000 and the aggregate amount of
all such changes (whether positive or negative) shall not exceed $1,500,000.

      "Permitted Distributions" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 9.6(c).

      "Permitted Distribution Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 9.6(c).

      "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole

                                       16
<PAGE>
proprietorship, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or any other
form of entity or group thereof.

      "Plans" means the detailed plans and specifications for the construction
of the Improvements currently being prepared by the Architect and to be approved
by the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld),
and including such amendments thereto as may from time to time be made by the
Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, which plans and specifications
are listed on Exhibit L attached hereto, provided that the Administrative Agent
shall approve such plans and specifications as long as they are consistent with
the plans shown to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

      "Pledge Agreement" means the pledge and security agreement of even date
executed by the Management Company in favor of the Administrative Agent for the
benefit of itself and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit K
attached hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

      "Pre-Opening Operating Costs" means those items of expense identified as
such in the Budget.

      "Previously Funded MedCath Incorporated Loans" means all of the loans from
MedCath Incorporated to the Borrower advanced prior to the Closing Date, the
proceeds of which have been used by the Borrower solely to fund costs of the
Project (excluding any Pre-Opening Operating Costs) incurred prior to the
Closing Date in accordance with the Loan Allocation column in the Budget.

      "Project" means construction, development and operation of Improvements
which shall consist of the Hospital.

      "Project Deposit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.8.

      "Project Equity" means the required $6,370,000 equity investment made or
to be made in or to the Borrower to partially fund the cost of the Project.

      "Property" means the Land, the Improvements, the Tangible Personalty and
all other property constituting the "Mortgaged Property," as described in the
Mortgage, or subject to a right, lien or security interest to secure the
Construction Loan Advances pursuant to any other Loan Document.

      "Register" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10(c).

      "Related Credit Documents" means the collective reference to (i) each of
the loan agreements set forth on Schedule 1.1(c) hereto (including all Loan
Documents executed in connection therewith and as defined in each of the loan
agreements) and (ii) each other loan agreement (including all Loan Documents
executed in connection therewith and as defined in each of the loan agreements)
executed in connection with the Commitment Agreement, in each case as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms
thereof.

                                       17
<PAGE>
      "Related Guaranty Agreements" means the collective reference to (i) each
of the guaranty agreements executed by certain of the Guarantors set forth on
Schedule 1.1(d) hereto and (ii) each other guaranty agreement executed by
certain of the Guarantors in connection with the Commitment Agreement, in each
case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with
the terms thereof.

      "Replaced Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.13(c).

      "Replacement Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.13(c).

      "Required Lenders" means, at any date, any combination of Lenders holding
of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Construction Loan Notes, or if no amounts are
outstanding under the Construction Loan Notes, any combination of Lenders whose
Commitment Percentages aggregate at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66-2/3%) of the Aggregate Commitment.

      "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to any Person, any of the
following: the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of such Person
or any other officer of such Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent

      "Security Agreement" means the security agreement of even date executed by
the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and
the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Security Documents" means collectively, the Guaranty Agreement, the
Mortgage, the Security Agreement, the Financing Statements, the Pledge
Agreement, the Collateral Assignment of Architect's Contract, the Collateral
Assignment of Construction Contract, the Treatment Plant Collateral Assignments
and each other agreement or writing pursuant to which the Borrower or any other
Person party thereto pledges or grants a security interest in any property or
assets to secure the Obligations or any such Person guaranties the payment
and/or performance of the Obligations.

      "Senior Debt" means, with respect to the Borrower at any date of
determination, all Debt other than Subordinated Debt.

      "Social Security Act" means Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States
Code, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto.

      "Solvent" means, as to the Borrower and each Guarantor on a particular
date, that any such Person (a) has capital sufficient to carry on its business
and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to
engage and is able to pay its debts as they mature, (b) owns property having a
value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value, greater than
the amount required to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies),
and (c) does not believe that it will incur debts or liabilities beyond its
ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature.

                                       18
<PAGE>
      "Subordinated Debt" means the collective reference to any Debt of the
Borrower which is subordinated to the Obligations with respect to right and time
of payment, remedies, covenants and such other terms and conditions, in each
case to the reasonable satisfaction of the Required Lenders.

      "Subordinated Working Capital Loan" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 9.1(f).

      "Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the
time owned by or the management is otherwise controlled by such Person
(irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or other ownership
interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power
by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified
references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the
Borrower.

      "Survey Affidavit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4.2(c)(viii).

      "Syndication Agent" means Bankers Trust Company, in its capacity as
Syndication Agent hereunder.

      "Tangible Personalty" means all fixtures, equipment, furnishings and other
articles of personal property now or hereafter owned by the Borrower and
attached to or contained in and used in connection with the Land and the
Improvements and all renewals or replacements thereof or articles in
substitution thereof, whether or not the same are or shall be attached to the
Land and Improvements in any manner.

      "Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.11(a).

      "Termination Event" means: (a) except for any such event that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a "Reportable Event"
described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the notice requirement has not been
waived by the PBGC, or (b) except for any withdrawal that could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the withdrawal of the Borrower
(or, as applicable, any Guarantor) or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan
during a plan year in which it was a "substantial employer" as defined in
Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the
filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a
Pension Plan amendment as a termination, each under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or
(d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee
with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or
condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan,
or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA, or (g) except for any such event or condition that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material

                                       19
<PAGE>
Adverse Effect, any event or condition which results in the reorganization or
insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or (h)
except for any such event or condition that could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition which results in the
termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the
institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under
Section 4042 of ERISA.

      "Title Insurer" means First American Title Insurance Company.

      "Title Policy" means the mortgagee title policy issued by the Title
Insurer and meeting the requirements of this Agreement and the Mortgage.

      "Treatment Plant" means that certain water and sewer treatment plant which
shall be constructed on the Land.

      "Treatment Plant Collateral Assignments" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 7.19(b).

      "Treatment Plant Construction Contract" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 7.19(b).

      "Treatment Plant Services Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 7.19(b).

      "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of North
Carolina.

      "Unfinanced Capital Expenditures" means, with respect to the Borrower for
any period, all Capital Expenditures other than (a) Capital Expenditures made to
replace assets to the extent financed by (i) the net cash proceeds of asset
dispositions not prohibited hereunder or (ii) the proceeds of insurance received
with respect to the loss or taking or damage to the asset or assets being
replaced or (b) Capital Expenditures financed by the proceeds of Senior Debt.

      "United States" means the United States of America.

      SECTION 1.2 General. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in this
Agreement to a particular article, section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit is a
reference to that article, section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit of this
Agreement. Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in
either the singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, and
pronouns stated in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the
masculine, the feminine and the neuter. Any reference herein to "Charlotte time"
shall refer to the applicable time of day in Charlotte, North Carolina.

      SECTION 1.3 Other Definitions and Provisions.

      (a) Use of Capitalized Terms. Unless otherwise defined therein, all
capitalized terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when
used in this Agreement, the

                                       20
<PAGE>
Construction Loan Notes and the other Loan Documents or any certificate, report
or other document made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

      (b) Miscellaneous. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words
of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II

                           CONSTRUCTION LOAN FACILITY

      SECTION 2.1 Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth
herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Construction Loan Advances to the
Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through the Construction Loan
Termination Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of
Section 2.2. The Construction Loan Facility is not revolving, and any amount
repaid may not be reborrowed. The aggregate principal amount of all outstanding
Construction Loan Advances (after giving effect to any amount requested) shall
not exceed the Aggregate Commitment less the sum of all outstanding Construction
Loan Advances, and the principal amount of outstanding Construction Loan
Advances from any Lender to the Borrower shall not at any time exceed such
Lender's Commitment. Each Construction Loan Advance by a Lender shall be in a
principal amount equal to such Lender's Commitment Percentage of the principal
amount of the Construction Loan Advance to be made on such occasion.

      SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Disbursement of Construction Loan Advances.

      (a) Requests for Construction Loan Advances.

            (i) The Borrower shall deliver a Draw Request to the Administrative
      Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) at least five (5)
      Business Days before each Construction Loan Advance specifying (A) the
      date of such Construction Loan Advance, which shall be a Business Day, (B)
      the amount of such Construction Loan Advance, which shall be (1) with
      respect to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or
      a whole multiple of $10,000 in excess thereof and (2) with respect to
      Eurodollar Rate Loans in an aggregate principle amount of $100,000 or a
      whole multiple of $10,000 in excess thereof, (C) whether such Construction
      Loan Advance is to be to be a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan,
      and (D) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the duration of the
      Interest Period applicable thereto. A Draw Request received after 11:00
      a.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day.
      The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice
      of Borrowing.

            (ii) The Borrower shall be entitled to a Construction Loan Advance
      only in an amount reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent in
      accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
      The Lenders shall not be

                                       21
<PAGE>
      required to make Construction Loan Advances more frequently than once each
      calendar month. The Lenders shall, only upon the reasonable satisfaction
      of all applicable conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan
      Documents, make the requested Construction Loan Advance to the Borrower in
      accordance with Section 2.2(c).

            (iii) Each Draw Request, and the Borrower's acceptance of any
      Construction Loan Advance, shall be deemed to ratify and confirm that all
      representations and warranties in the Loan Documents remain true and
      correct as of the date of the Draw Request and the Construction Loan
      Advance, respectively.

      (b) Basis for Construction Loan Advances. Following receipt and approval
of a Draw Request, all supporting documentation and information, and receipt and
approval of a written report from the Construction Consultant, the
Administrative Agent will determine the amount of the Construction Loan Advance
the Lenders will make in accordance with this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents and the Budget, and the following standards:

            (i) Construction Loan Advances for construction work will be made on
      the basis of ninety percent (90%) of the costs shown on the application
      for payment from the General Contractor reviewed and approved by the
      Administrative Agent for the work or material in place on the Improvements
      that comply with the terms of the Loan Documents, minus all previous
      Construction Loan Advances and all amounts required to be paid by the
      Borrower, as described in Columns (B) and (C) of the Budget. When the Work
      (as defined in the Construction Contract) is fifty percent (50%) complete,
      there shall be no further retainage for the balance of the Work if the
      Borrower is satisfied that the General Contractor maintains the
      construction schedule provided for in the Construction Contract and is
      performing to the Borrower's satisfaction. If the General Contractor
      subsequently fails to maintain the construction schedule or fails to
      perform the Work to the Borrower's satisfaction, the ten percent (10%)
      retainage may be resumed. There shall be no retainage with respect to the
      General Contractor's fee or with respect to the payment of costs and
      expenses included in the Budget as part of the General Conditions.

            (ii) Construction Loan Advances will not be made for building
      materials or furnishings that are not yet incorporated into the
      Improvements ("stored materials") unless the stored materials are in the
      Borrower's possession or control and satisfactorily stored on the Land and
      the aggregate amount of Construction Loan Advances for stored materials
      does not exceed $250,000.

            (iii) Construction Loan Advances will be made available to the
      Borrower solely to the extent that, at the time of each requested advance
      for construction work, the Borrower shall make available to the
      Administrative Agent in immediately available funds such portion of the
      requested advance for construction work as shall be necessary to ensure
      that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Construction Loan
      Advances at no time exceeds the lesser of (A) eighty percent (80%) of the
      Aggregate Project Cost or (B) seventy-five percent (75%) of the Appraised
      Value.

                                       22
<PAGE>
            (iv) Construction Loan Advances with respect to the construction of
      the Treatment Plant will be made available to the Borrower solely to the
      extent that, (i) the aggregate amount of all such Construction Loan
      Advances shall not exceed $450,000, (ii) Kelly J. McHugh or Northlake
      Environmental Engineering Services, Inc. or any of their respective
      Affiliates and the Borrower shall have entered into the Treatment Plant
      Construction Contract and the Treatment Plant Services Agreement and (iii)
      the Borrower shall have pledged to the Administrative Agent for the
      benefit of the Lenders the Treatment Plant Construction Contract and the
      Treatment Plant Services Agreement as additional collateral for the
      Obligations pursuant to the Treatment Plant Collateral Assignments.

      (c) Disbursement Procedures. Subject to the satisfaction of all applicable
conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents, not
later than 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the date of the proposed Construction
Loan Advance, each Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds
immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender's Commitment
Percentage of the Construction Loan Advance to be made on such borrowing date.
The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse
the proceeds of each Draw Request approved by the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds to the Borrower, the General Contractor or the
Architect, as designated by the Borrower. Each disbursement to the Borrower
shall be made by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the
Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit D attached hereto (a "Notice of Account Designation") delivered by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Each disbursement to
the General Contractor or the Architect shall be made by wire transfer to the
following accounts:

      If to the Architect:          Collins Reisenbichler Architects
                                    Bank: Bank One, N.A.
                                    ABA#: 111000614
                                    Account Name: CRA, LLC
                                    Account Number: 1597588696
                                    Reference Info: Project # 01002.00

      If to the General Contractor: DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc.
                                    Bank: RESOURCE BANK
                                    ABA#: 065405242
                                    Account Name: DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc
                                    Account Number: 3006665
                                    Reference Info: Project #01638-1

Subject to Section 3.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated
to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance
requested pursuant to this Section 2.2 to the extent that any Lender has not
made available to the Administrative Agent its Commitment Percentage of such
Construction Loan Advance.

                                       23
<PAGE>
      SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Construction Loan Advances. The principal amount
of the Construction Loan Advances outstanding twenty-four (24) months after the
Closing Date shall be repaid by the Borrower in consecutive monthly installments
commencing on the last day of the twenty-fifth (25th) month after the Closing
Date and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter. Each monthly
payment shall be in an amount sufficient to fully amortize the principal balance
of the Construction Loan Facility outstanding twenty-four (24) months after the
Closing Date over a 240-month term; provided that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the outstanding unpaid principal balance of the Construction Loan
Facility and all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable in full on
July 27, 2006 (the "Maturity Date").

      SECTION 2.4 Prepayment of Construction Loan Advances.

      (a) Optional Prepayment. The Borrower may at any time and from time to
time prepay the Construction Loan Advances, in whole or in part, upon at least
three (3) Business Days' irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent with
respect to any prepayment, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (a "Notice
of Prepayment"), specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the
prepayment is of Eurodollar Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans or a combination
thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon
receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall
be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments
shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof. Partial prepayments shall be applied ratably to the remaining
scheduled principal installments of the Construction Loan Advances (including
the final payment thereof) until the Construction Loan Advances are paid in
full. Any such prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to
Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct order of maturities of Interest Periods;
provided that any payment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by
any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof (but otherwise
without premium or penalty).

      (b) Mandatory Prepayment.

            (i) The Borrower shall make mandatory principal prepayments of the
Construction Loan Advances (A) in accordance with Section 9.5(b) hereof
following the receipt thereby of the net cash proceeds pursuant to any asset
disposition permitted under Section 9.5(b), (B) in accordance with Section 1.6
of the Mortgage following the receipt thereby of the net cash proceeds under any
insurance policy required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement, the
Mortgage and the other Loan Documents and (C) in accordance with Section 1.15 of
the Mortgage following the receipt thereby of the net cash proceeds in
connection with any condemnation proceeding.

            (ii) Upon the occurrence of any event triggering the prepayment
requirement pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), the Borrower shall promptly deliver
a Notice of Prepayment to the Administrative Agent and, upon receipt of such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Lenders. Each
prepayment under this Section 2.4(b) shall be applied (i) with respect to
prepayments required in connection with any asset disposition permitted under
Section 9.5(b) in the inverse order of maturity until the Construction Loan
Advances are paid in

                                       24
<PAGE>
full and (ii) all other prepayments under this Section 2.4(b), ratably to the
remaining scheduled principal installments of the Construction Loan Advances
(including the final payment thereof) until the Construction Loan Advances are
paid in full. Any such prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and
then to Eurodollar Rate Loans in direct order of maturities of Interest Periods;
provided that any payment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by
any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof (but otherwise
without premium or penalty);

      (c) General Conditions. Amounts prepaid under the Construction Loan
Advances pursuant to this Section 2.4 may not be reborrowed and will constitute
a permanent reduction in the Aggregate Commitment. Each prepayment shall be
accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.9 hereof.

      SECTION 2.5 Construction Loan Notes. Each Lender's Construction Loan
Advances and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Construction Loan
Advances shall be evidenced by a separate Construction Loan Note executed by the
Borrower payable to the order of such Lender.

      SECTION 2.6 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the
Construction Loan Advances to fund the costs of the Project in accordance with
the Loan Allocation column in the Budget (including, without limitation, to
refinance on the Closing Date any Previously Funded MedCath Incorporated Loans).
The portion of the Budget allocated to Pre-Opening Operating Costs shall be
funded by the Borrower.

      SECTION 2.7 Budget Reallocation. Construction Loan Advances may be
allocated to line items in the Budget for other purposes or in different
proportions as the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion deems reasonably
necessary or advisable. The Borrower may reallocate Cost Savings from one line
item to another line item in the Budget provided the amount of such reallocation
does not exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the applicable line item then
being reallocated, and (ii) $500,000 per line item increased or $1,500,000 in
the aggregate. The Borrower shall (i) not, except as provided in the immediately
preceding sentence, reallocate the proceeds of the Construction Loan Advances
from one Budget line item to another or otherwise amend the Budget without the
prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, not to be unreasonably
withheld, other than changes resulting from Permitted Changes; and (ii) notify
the Administrative Agent promptly whenever the Borrower becomes aware that the
Budget is, or might be, inaccurate in any material respect, and submit to the
Administrative Agent an amended Budget.

      SECTION 2.8 Project Deposit. If at any time the Administrative Agent
determines that the sum of (i) the unadvanced portion of the Construction Loan
Facility to which the Borrower is entitled plus (ii) the amount of the Aggregate
Project Cost scheduled to be paid by the Borrower from other funds which are
available, set aside and committed, to the Administrative Agent's reasonable
satisfaction, is or will be insufficient to pay the unpaid actual Aggregate
Project Cost, the Borrower shall cause MedCath Incorporated, within seven (7)
days after written notice from the Administrative Agent, to deposit with the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders the amount of the deficiency
(the "Project Deposit") in an

                                       25
<PAGE>
interest-bearing account, with interest earned thereon to be part of the Project
Deposit. The Project Deposit is hereby pledged as additional collateral for the
Obligations, and the Borrower hereby grants and conveys to the Administrative
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a security interest in all funds so
deposited with the Administrative Agent as additional collateral for the
Obligations. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative
Agent may (but shall have no obligation to) apply all or any part of the Project
Deposit against the unpaid Obligations in such order as the Required Lenders
determine. Upon (i) the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the
Improvements and (ii) the Administrative Agent's confirmation that either (A)
the Borrower has satisfied all of obligations required to be paid by the
Borrower in connection with the construction of the Project or (B) the Borrower
has reserved such funds necessary to satisfy the remaining obligations to be
paid by the Borrower in connection with the construction of the Project, all
funds remaining in the Project Deposit, shall be used to prepay the Construction
Loan Facility to the extent necessary to ensure that the outstanding principal
amount under the Construction Loan Facility does not exceed an amount equal to
the lesser of (x) eighty percent (80%) of the Aggregate Project Cost or (y)
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Appraised Value. The balance, if any, shall be
returned to the Borrower.

      SECTION 2.9 Direct Construction Loan Advances. The Borrower hereby
irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, during the continuance of any
Event of Default (but the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation), to
hold, use, disburse and apply the proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance to
the satisfaction of the Obligations. Each such direct Construction Loan Advance
(except for application of the Project Deposit) shall be added to the
outstanding principal balance of the Construction Loan Advances and shall be
secured by the Loan Documents. Unless the Borrower pays such interest from other
resources, the Administrative Agent may make Construction Loan Advances pursuant
to this Section 2.9 for interest payments as and when due. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be construed to permit the Borrower to defer payment of
interest beyond the date(s) due. The allocation of the proceeds of the
Construction Loan Advances in the Budget for interest shall not affect the
Borrower's absolute obligation to pay the same in accordance with the Loan
Documents. The Administrative Agent may hold, use, disburse and apply the
Construction Loan Advances and the Project Deposit for payment of any obligation
of the Borrower under the Loan Documents. The Borrower hereby assigns and
pledges the proceeds of the Construction Loan Facility and the Project Deposit
to the Administrative Agent for such purposes. The Administrative Agent may
advance and incur such expenses as the Administrative Agent deems necessary for
the completion of the Improvements and to preserve the Property and any Liens
thereon, and such expenses, even though in excess of the amount of the
Construction Loan Advances, shall be secured by the Loan Documents and shall be
payable to the Lenders on demand. The Administrative Agent may disburse any
portion of any Construction Loan Advance at any time, and from time to time, to
Persons other than the Borrower for the purposes specified in this Section 2.9
and the amount of Construction Loan Advances to which the Borrower shall
thereafter be entitled shall be correspondingly reduced. Notice of the
disbursement of any Construction Loan Advance under this Section 2.9 shall be
given by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower.

                                       26
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE III

                             GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

      SECTION 3.1 Interest.

      (a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.1,
at the election of the Borrower, Construction Loan Advances shall bear interest
at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin as set forth in Section 3.1(c)
or (B) the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin as set forth in Section
3.1(c). The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if
any, applicable to any Construction Loan Advance at the time a Draw Request is
delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.2 or at the time a
Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 3.2. Each
Construction Loan Advance or portion thereof bearing interest based on the Base
Rate shall be a "Base Rate Loan" and each Construction Loan Advance or portion
thereof bearing interest based on the Eurodollar Rate shall be an "Eurodollar
Rate Loan". Any Construction Loan Advance or any portion thereof as to which the
Borrower has not duly specified an interest rate as provided herein shall be
deemed a Base Rate Loan.

      (b) Interest Periods. In connection with each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
Borrower, by giving notice at the times described in Section 3.1(a), shall elect
an interest period (each, an "Interest Period") to be applicable to such
Construction Loan Advance, which Interest Period shall be a period of one (1),
two (2), three (3), or six (6) months with respect to each Eurodollar Rate Loan;
provided that:

            (i) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or
      conversion to any Eurodollar Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately
      successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall
      commence on the date on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

            (ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is
      not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next
      succeeding Business Day; provided, that if any Interest Period with
      respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is
      not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further
      Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on
      the next preceding Business Day;

            (iii) any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan
      that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for
      which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at
      the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the
      relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

            (iv) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date, and
      Interest Periods shall be selected by the Borrower so as to permit the
      Borrower to make the monthly principal installment payments pursuant to
      Section 2.3 without payment of any amounts pursuant to Section 3.9; and

                                       27
<PAGE>
            (v) there shall be no more than five (5) Interest Periods in effect
      at any time.

      (c) Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin provided for in Section
3.1(a) with respect to any Construction Loan Advance (the "Applicable Margin")
shall be based upon the table set forth below and shall be determined and
adjusted quarterly on the date (each a "Calculation Date") ten (10) Business
Days after the date by which the Borrower is required to provide an Officer's
Compliance Certificate for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the
Borrower; provided, however, that (i) the initial Applicable Margin shall be
3.50% for Eurodollar Rate Loans and 2.25% for Base Rate Loans and shall remain
in effect until the Initial Pricing Adjustment Date and thereafter the
Applicable Margin shall be determined by reference to the Guarantor Leverage
Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the
Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date and (ii) if the Borrower
fails to provide the Officer's Compliance Certificate as required by Section 6.2
for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the
applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from such Calculation Date
shall be based on Pricing Level IV (as shown below) until such time as an
appropriate Officer's Compliance Certificate is provided, at which time the
Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Guarantor Leverage Ratio
as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower
preceding such Calculation Date. The Applicable Margin shall be effective from
one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the
Applicable Margin shall be applicable to all Construction Loan Advances then
existing or subsequently made or issued.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Applicable Margin
                                                                                 ---------------------
                                                                                 Eurodollar  Base Rate
Pricing Level                   Guarantor Leverage Ratio                            Rate
-------------                   ------------------------                            ----     ---------
<S>            <C>                                                               <C>         <C>
     I                        Less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00                    2.50%      1.25%

    XXX        Less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but greater than 2.00 to 1.00     2.75%      1.50%

    XXX        Less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than 2.50 to 1.00     3.00%      1.75%

    IV                            Greater than 3.00 to 1.00                         3.50%      2.25%
</TABLE>

      (d) Default Rate. Subject to Section 10.3, at the discretion of the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Borrower shall no longer have the
option to request Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) all outstanding Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of
the rate then applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loans until the end of the
applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in
excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans, and (iii) all outstanding
Base Rate Loans and other Obligations shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate
Loans or such other Obligations. Interest shall continue to accrue on the
Construction Loan Notes after the filing by or against the Borrower of any
petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any act or law pertaining to
insolvency or debtor relief, whether state, federal or foreign.

                                       28
<PAGE>
      (e) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan
shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter
commencing June 29, 2002; and interest on each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be
payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such
Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3)
month interval during such Interest Period. Interest on Eurodollar Rate Loans
and all fees payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed and interest on Base Rate
Loans shall be computed on the basis of a 365/66-day year and assessed for the
actual number of days elapsed.

      (f) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the
aggregate of all amounts deemed interest hereunder or under any of the
Construction Loan Notes charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or pursuant to any of the Construction Loan Notes exceed the highest
rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent
jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the
event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received
interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect
hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by
Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent's option (i)
promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess
of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) shall apply such excess to the principal
balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or
contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender
receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever,
interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable
Law.

      SECTION 3.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of
Construction Loan Advances. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a)
convert at any time all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans in a
principal amount equal to $100,000 or any whole multiple of $10,000 in excess
thereof into one or more Eurodollar Rate Loans and (b) upon the expiration of
any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding Eurodollar
Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $100,000 or a whole multiple of
$10,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or (ii) continue such Eurodollar
Rate Loans as Eurodollar Rate Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or
continue Construction Loan Advances as provided above, the Borrower shall give
the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit F (a "Notice of Conversion/Continuation") not later than 12:00
p.m. (Charlotte time) three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed
conversion or continuation of such Construction Loan Advance is to be effective
specifying (A) the Construction Loan Advances to be converted or continued, and,
in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last
day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion
or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of
such Construction Loan Advances to be converted or continued, and (D) the
Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued Eurodollar Rate
Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of such Notice
of Conversion/Continuation.

                                       29
<PAGE>
      SECTION 3.3 Fees.

      (a) Commitment Fee. During the period commencing on the Closing Date
through and including the Construction Loan Termination Date, the Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, a
non-refundable commitment fee at a rate per annum equal to .50% on the average
daily unused portion of the Aggregate Commitment. The commitment fee shall be
payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the
term of this Agreement commencing on the last Business Day of the first calendar
quarter end following the Closing Date, and on the Construction Loan Termination
Date. Such commitment fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to
the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Lenders' respective Commitment
Percentages.

      (b) Annual Administrative Fees. In order to compensate the Administrative
Agent for administering the Construction Loans, the Borrower agrees to pay to
the Administrative Agent, for its account, the annual administrative fees set
forth in the separate fee letter agreement executed by the Borrower, Bank of
America and Banc of America Securities dated June 1, 2001.

      SECTION 3.4 Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of
the principal of or interest on the Construction Loan Advances or of any fee,
commission or other amounts payable to the Lenders under this Agreement or any
Construction Loan Note shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time)
on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative
Agent at the Administrative Agent's Office for the account of the Lenders (other
than as set forth below) pro rata in accordance with their respective Commitment
Percentages (except as specified below), in Dollars, in immediately available
funds and shall be made without any condition, set-off, counterclaim, recoupment
or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00
p.m. (Charlotte time) on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the
purposes of Section 10.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have
been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00
p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding
Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each
such payment, the Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Lender at its
address for notices set forth herein its pro rata share of such payment in
accordance with such Lender's Commitment Percentage (except as specified below)
and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment
to the Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent's fees or expenses shall be
made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any
Lender under Sections 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 or 12.2 shall be paid to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Subject to
Section 3.1(b)(ii) if any payment under this Agreement or any Construction Loan
Note shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it
shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if
payable along with such payment.

      SECTION 3.5 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the
Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Obligations when due and the Obligations
have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2, all payments received by the
Lenders upon the Construction Loan Notes and the other Obligations and all net
proceeds from the enforcement of the Obligations shall be applied first to all
expenses then due and payable by the Borrower hereunder

                                       30
<PAGE>
and under the other Loan Documents, then to all indemnity obligations then due
and payable by the Borrower hereunder, then to all Administrative Agent's fees
then due and payable, then to all commitment and other fees and commissions then
due and payable, then to accrued and unpaid interest on the Construction Loan
Notes, then to any termination payments due in respect of a Hedging Agreement
with any Lender or the Administrative Agent (which such Hedging Agreement is
permitted or required hereunder) (pro rata in accordance with all such amounts
due), and then to the principal amount of the Construction Loan Notes, in that
order.

      SECTION 3.6 Adjustments. If any Lender (a "Benefited Lender") shall at any
time receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it, or
interest thereon, or if any Lender shall at any time receive any collateral in
respect to the Obligations owing to it (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by
set-off or otherwise) in a greater proportion than any such payment to and
collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations
owing to such other Lender, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall
purchase for cash from the other Lenders such portion of each such other
Lender's Construction Loan Advances, or shall provide such other Lenders with
the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be
necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits
of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, that
if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered
from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase
price and benefits returned to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest. The Borrower agrees that each Lender so purchasing a portion of
another Lender's Construction Loan Advances may exercise all rights of payment
(including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion
as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion.

      SECTION 3.7 Nature of Obligations of the Lenders Regarding Construction
Loan Advances; Assumption by the Administrative Agent. The obligations of the
Lenders under this Agreement to make the Construction Loan Advances are several
and are not joint or joint and several. Unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from a Lender prior to a proposed borrowing date that such
Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable
portion of the amount to be borrowed on such date (which notice shall not
release such Lender of its obligations hereunder), the Administrative Agent may
assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative
Agent on the proposed borrowing date in accordance with Section 2.2(c), and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to
the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such amount is made
available to the Administrative Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such
Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid,
equal to the product of (a) the amount not made available by such Lender in
accordance with the terms hereof, times (b) the daily average Federal Funds Rate
during such period as determined by the Administrative Agent, times (c) a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and
including such borrowing date to the date on which such amount not made
available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof shall have become
immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of which
is 360. A certificate of the Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts
owing under this Section 3.7 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such
Lender's Commitment Percentage of such borrowing is not made available to the
Administrative Agent by such Lender within three (3) Business Days after such
borrowing date,

                                       31
<PAGE>
the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount made available
by the Administrative Agent with interest thereon at the rate per annum
applicable to such borrowing, on demand, from the Borrower. The failure of any
Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage of any Construction Loan
requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its
obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such
Construction Loan Advance available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Commitment
Percentage of such Construction Loan Advance available on the borrowing date.
Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, any Lender that fails
to make available its Commitment Percentage shall not (a) have any voting or
consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document or (b) constitute a
"Lender" (or be included in the calculation of Required Lenders hereunder) for
any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document.

      SECTION 3.8 Changed Circumstances.

      (a) Circumstances Affecting Eurodollar Rate Availability. If with respect
to any Interest Period the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after
consultation with Administrative Agent) shall determine that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally,
deposits in eurodollars, in the applicable amounts are not being quoted via any
applicable page or screen or otherwise offered to the Administrative Agent or
such Lender for such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer
exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans and the right
of the Borrower to convert any Construction Loan Advance to or continue any
Construction Loan Advance as a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be suspended, and the
Borrower shall repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then
outstanding principal amount of each such Eurodollar Rate Loan together with
accrued interest thereon, on the last day of the then current Interest Period
applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan or convert the then outstanding
principal amount of each such Eurodollar Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the
last day of such Interest Period.

      (b) Laws Affecting Eurodollar Rate Availability. If, after the date
hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law 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 Lender (or any of its Lending
Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall
make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their
respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or
maintain any Eurodollar Rate Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice
thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer
exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Loans and the
right of the Borrower to convert any Construction Loan Advance or continue any
Construction Loan Advance as a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be suspended and
thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans hereunder, and (ii) if
any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a Eurodollar Rate Loan
to the end of the then current

                                       32
<PAGE>
Interest Period applicable thereto as a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the applicable
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan for the
remainder of such Interest Period.

      (c) Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or
any change in, any Applicable Law, or 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 of the
Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of such Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency:

            (i) shall subject any of the Lenders (or any of their respective
      Lending Offices) to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to any
      Construction Loan Note or shall change the basis of taxation of payments
      to any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) of the
      principal of or interest on any Construction Loan Note or any other
      amounts due under this Agreement in respect thereof (except for changes in
      the rate of tax on the overall net income of any of the Lenders or any of
      their respective Lending Offices imposed by the jurisdiction in which such
      Lender is organized or is or should be qualified to do business or such
      Lending Office is located); or

            (ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including,
      without limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal
      Reserve System), special deposit, insurance or capital or similar
      requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or
      credit extended by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending
      Offices) or shall impose on any of the Lenders (or any of their respective
      Lending Offices) or the foreign exchange and interbank markets any other
      condition affecting any Construction Loan Note; and the result of any of
      the foregoing is to increase the costs to any of the Lenders of
      maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan or to reduce the yield or amount of
      any sum received or receivable by any of the Lenders under this Agreement
      or under the Construction Loan Notes in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Loan,
      then such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent, and the
      Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of such fact and
      demand compensation therefor and, within fifteen (15) days after such
      notice by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender
      such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or
      Lenders for such increased cost or reduction. The Administrative Agent
      will promptly notify the Borrower of any event of which it has knowledge
      which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section
      3.8(c);

provided, that the Administrative Agent shall incur no liability whatsoever to
the Lenders or the Borrower in the event it fails to do so. The amount of such
compensation shall be determined, in the applicable Lender's sole discretion,
based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Commitment Percentage of
the Eurodollar Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any
reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate
and practical. A certificate of such Lender setting forth the basis for
determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be
forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be
conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

                                       33
<PAGE>
      SECTION 3.9 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders
against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to each Lender's
obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect,
fund or maintain any Construction Loan Advance (a) as a consequence of any
failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder
in connection with a Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure of the
Borrower to borrow on a date specified therefor in a Draw Request or a Notice of
Continuation/Conversion or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of
any Eurodollar Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest
Period therefor. The amount of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the
applicable Lender's sole discretion, based upon the assumption that such Lender
funded its Commitment Percentage of the Eurodollar Rate Loans in the London
interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which
such Lender deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such Lender
setting forth the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to
compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the
Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for
manifest error.

      SECTION 3.10 Capital Requirements. If either (a) the introduction of, or
any change in, or in the interpretation of, any Applicable Law or (b) compliance
with any guideline or request from any central bank or comparable agency or
other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), has or
would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of, or has
affected or would affect the amount of capital required to be maintained by, any
Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with
reference to the Commitments and other commitments of this type, below the rate
which such Lender or such other corporation could have achieved but for such
introduction, change or compliance, then within five (5) Business Days after
written demand by any such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender from
time to time as specified by such Lender additional amounts sufficient to
compensate such Lender or other corporation for such reduction. A certificate as
to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such
Lender, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be presumed to be correct and
binding for all purposes.

      SECTION 3.11 Taxes.

      (a) Payments Free and Clear. Any and all payments by the Borrower
hereunder or under the Construction Loan Notes shall be made free and clear of
and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
deductions, charges or withholding, and all liabilities with respect thereto
excluding, (i) in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, income
and franchise taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or is or
should be qualified to do business or any political subdivision thereof and (ii)
in the case of each Lender, income and franchise taxes imposed by the
jurisdiction of such Lender's Lending Office or any political subdivision
thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges,
withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the
Borrower shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Construction Loan Note to any
Lender or the Administrative Agent, (A) the sum payable shall be increased as
may be necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings
(including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable
under

                                       34
<PAGE>
this Section 3.11) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be)
receives an amount equal to the amount such party would have received had no
such deductions or withholdings been made, (B) the Borrower shall make such
deductions or withholdings, (C) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted
to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with
Applicable Law, and (D) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
evidence of such payment to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental
Authority in the manner provided in Section 3.11(d).

      (b) Stamp and Other Taxes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present
or future stamp, registration, recordation or documentary taxes or any other
similar fees or charges or excise or property taxes, levies of the United States
or any state or political subdivision thereof or any applicable foreign
jurisdiction which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution,
delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, the
Construction Loan Advances, or the other Loan Documents, or the perfection of
any rights or security interest in respect thereof (hereinafter referred to as
"Other Taxes").

      (c) Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the
Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including,
without limitation, any Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section 3.11) paid by such Lender or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including
penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted.
Such indemnification shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such
Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand
therefor.

      (d) Evidence of Payment. Within thirty (30) days after the date of any
payment of Taxes or Other Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 12.1, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence of
payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

      (e) Delivery of Tax Forms. Each Lender organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof (a "Foreign
Lender") shall deliver to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent,
on the Closing Date or concurrently with the delivery of the relevant Assignment
and Acceptance, as applicable, (i) two United States Internal Revenue Service
Forms W-8ECI or Forms W-8BEN, as applicable (or successor forms) properly
completed and certifying in each case that such Lender is entitled to a complete
exemption from withholding or deduction for or on account of any United States
federal income taxes, and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI
or successor applicable form, as the case may be, to establish an exemption from
United States backup withholding taxes. Each such Lender further agrees to
deliver to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a Form W-8BEN
or W-8ECI, or successor applicable forms or manner of certification, as the case
may be, on or before the date that any such form expires or becomes obsolete or
after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form
previously delivered by it to the Borrower, certifying in the case of a Form
W-8BEN or W-8ECI that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this
Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income
taxes (unless in any such case an event (including, without limitation, any
change in treaty,

                                       35
<PAGE>
law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery
would otherwise be required which renders such forms inapplicable or the
exemption to which such forms relate unavailable and such Lender notifies the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not entitled to receive
payments without deduction or withholding of United States federal income taxes)
and, in the case of a Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, establishing an exemption from
United States backup withholding tax.

      (f) Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of
the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained
in this Section 3.11 shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and
the termination of the Commitments.

      SECTION 3.12 Security. The Obligations of the Borrower shall be secured as
provided in the Security Documents.

      SECTION 3.13 Replacement of Lenders.

      (a) If any Lender requests compensation pursuant to Section 3.8 or Section
3.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender
or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section
3.11, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different
lending office for funding or booking its Construction Loan Advances hereunder
or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices,
branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or
assignment (A) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section
3.8, Section 3.10 or Section 3.11, as the case may be, in the future and (B)
would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any
such designation or assignment.

      (b) If any Lender requests compensation pursuant to Section 3.8 or Section
3.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender
or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section
3.11, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such
Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate,
without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained
in Section 12.10), all its interests, rights and obligations under this
Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which
assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided
that (A) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (B) such
Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Construction Loan Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued
fees, breakage costs and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the
assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and
fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (C) in the case of
any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation pursuant to Section
3.8 or Section 3.10, such assignment will result in a reduction in such
compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such
assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such
Lender or otherwise,

                                       36
<PAGE>
the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and
delegation cease to apply.

      (c) To the extent that any Lender (a "Replaced Lender") is required to
assign all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an
Eligible Assignee (a "Replacement Lender") pursuant to this Section 3.13, upon
the execution of all applicable assignment documents and the satisfaction of all
other conditions set forth herein, the Replacement Lender shall become a Lender
hereunder and the Replaced Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder, except
with respect to the indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which
provisions shall survive as to such Replaced Lender.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                  CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

      SECTION 4.1 Closing. The closing shall take place at the offices of
Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P., 100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4200,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, at 10:00 a.m. on April 24, 2002, or on such
other date and time as the parties hereto shall mutually agree.

      SECTION 4.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Construction Loan Advance.
The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial
Construction Loan Advance is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following conditions:

            (a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, the Construction Loan
      Notes, the Guaranty Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Security
      Agreement, the Mortgage, the Assignment of Mortgage, the Collateral
      Assignment of Architect's Contract, the Collateral Assignment of
      Construction Contract, the Management Fee and Guaranty Fee Subordination
      Agreement, each Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement, together with
      any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized,
      executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto,
      shall be in full force and effect and no default or event of default shall
      exist thereunder, and the Borrower shall have delivered original
      counterparts thereof to the Administrative Agent.

            (b) Closing Certificates; etc.

                  (i) Officer's Certificate of the Borrower. The Administrative
            Agent shall have received a certificate from a Responsible Officer
            of the Management Company, in its capacity as the duly authorized
            and acting Manager of the Borrower, in form and substance
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to the effect that all
            representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this
            Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and
            complete; that the Borrower is not in violation of any of the
            covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
            that, after giving effect to the transactions

                                       37
<PAGE>
            contemplated by this Agreement, no Default or Event of Default has
            occurred and is continuing; and that the Borrower has satisfied each
            of the closing conditions.

                  (ii) Officer's Certificate of the Guarantors. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a
            Responsible Officer of the Parent, on behalf of itself and the other
            Guarantors, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
            Agent, to the effect that all representations and warranties of the
            Guarantors contained in the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan
            Documents are true, correct and complete; that the Guarantors are
            not in violation of any of the covenants contained in the Guaranty
            Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that, after giving effect to
            the transactions contemplated by the Guaranty Agreement, no Default
            or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and that the
            Guarantors have satisfied each of the closing conditions.

                  (iii) Certificate of Secretary of the Borrower. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the
            secretary or assistant secretary of the Management Company, in its
            capacity as the duly authorized Manager of the Borrower, certifying
            as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each
            officer of the Management Company executing Loan Documents to which
            the Borrower is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a
            true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles of organization
            of the Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent
            date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction
            of incorporation, (B) the operating agreement on behalf of the
            Borrower as in effect on the date of such certifications, (C)
            resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Borrower
            authorizing the borrowings contemplated hereunder and the execution,
            delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan
            Documents to which the Borrower is a party, (D) each certificate
            required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(v) and (E) the
            Management Agreement (if applicable).

                  (iv) Certificate of Secretary of the Guarantors. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the
            secretary or assistant secretary of each Guarantor certifying as to
            the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of
            each Guarantor executing Loan Documents to which it is a party,
            certifying that attached thereto is a true, complete and correct
            copy of (A) the articles of organization, the articles of
            incorporation or such other charter documents of such Guarantor and
            all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the
            appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of
            organization or incorporation, (B) the operating agreement, the
            bylaws or such other applicable documents governing management of
            such Guarantor as in effect on the date of such certification, (C)
            resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Guarantor
            authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan
            Documents to which it is a party and (D) each certificate required
            to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(v).

                                       38
<PAGE>
                  (v) Certificates of Good Standing.

                        (A) The Administrative Agent shall have received
            certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of the
            Borrower and of the Management Company under the laws of their
            respective jurisdictions of organization and certificates as of a
            recent date of the good standing of the Borrower and the Management
            Company under the laws of the State in which the Project is located
            and certificates of the relevant taxing authorities of such
            jurisdictions certifying that such Person has filed required tax
            returns and owes no delinquent taxes.

                        (B) The Administrative Agent shall have received
            certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each
            Guarantor (other than the Management Company) under the laws of its
            jurisdiction of organization and, to the extent requested by the
            Administrative Agent, each other jurisdiction where the each
            Guarantor is qualified to do business and a certificate of the
            relevant taxing authorities of such jurisdictions certifying that
            each Guarantor has filed required tax returns and owes no delinquent
            taxes.

                  (vi) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received favorable opinions of counsel to the Borrower and the
            Guarantors addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
            with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors, the Loan Documents
            and such other matters as the Lenders shall request.

                  (vii) Tax Forms. The Administrative Agent shall have received
            copies of the United States Internal Revenue Service forms required
            by Section 3.11(e) hereof.

            (c) Collateral.

                  (i) Filings and Recordings. All filings and recordations
            necessary to perfect the liens and security interests of the Lenders
            in the collateral described in the Security Documents shall have
            been executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent.

                  (ii) Pledged Collateral. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received original stock certificates or other certificates
            evidencing the capital stock or other ownership interests pledged
            pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, if any, together with an undated
            stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the
            registered owner thereof.

                  (iii) Lien Search. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received (A) the results of a Lien search (including a search as to
            judgments, pending litigation and tax matters) made against the
            Borrower under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial
            docket) as in effect in any state in which any of its assets are
            located, indicating among other things that its assets are free and
            clear of any Lien

                                       39
<PAGE>
            except for Liens permitted hereunder and (B) if required by the
            Administrative Agent, the results of a search of the appropriate
            judgment and tax lien records, showing no outstanding judgment or
            tax lien against the Borrower or any Guarantor.

                  (iv) Hazard (Builder's Risk) and Liability Insurance. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received certificates of insurance,
            evidence of payment of all insurance premiums for the current policy
            year of each insurance policy, and, if requested by the
            Administrative Agent, copies (certified by a Responsible Officer of
            the Management Company) of each insurance policy in the form
            required hereunder and under the Security Documents and otherwise in
            form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
            Agent.

                  (v) Title Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received a marked-up commitment for a policy of title insurance,
            insuring the Lenders' first priority Lien and showing no Liens prior
            to the Lenders' Lien other than for ad valorem taxes not yet due and
            payable and encumbrances on, and exceptions to, title acceptable to
            the Administrative Agent, with title insurance companies and
            coverages acceptable to the Administrative Agent on the property
            subject to the Mortgage, with the final title insurance policy being
            delivered within thirty (30) days after the Closing Date.
            Furthermore, the Borrower agrees to provide or obtain any customary
            affidavits and indemnities as may be required or necessary to obtain
            title insurance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (vi) Title Exceptions. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received copies of all recorded documents creating exceptions to the
            title policy referred to in Section 4.2(c)(v).

                  (vii) Matters Relating to Flood Hazard Properties. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received a certification from a
            nationally recognized reporting agency, certifying that none of the
            Land is located in a flood hazard area.

                  (viii) Boundary Survey. The Administrative Agent shall have a
            boundary survey of the Land as of a date not more than thirty (30)
            days prior to the Closing Date certified by a registered engineer or
            land surveyor. To the extent necessary to permit the issuance of
            title insurance without exception for matters of survey, such survey
            shall be accompanied by an affidavit (a "Survey Affidavit") of the
            Management Company, on behalf of the Borrower, in form and substance
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such survey shall show the
            area of the Land, all boundaries of the Land with courses and
            distances indicated, including chord bearings and arc and chord
            distances for all curves, and shall show dimensions and locations of
            all easements, private drives, roadways, and other facts materially
            affecting the Land, and shall show such other details as the
            Administrative Agent may reasonably request, including, without
            limitation, any encroachment (and the extent thereof in feet and
            inches) onto the Land or by any of the improvements on the property
            upon adjoining land or upon any easement

                                       40
<PAGE>
            burdening the Land; any improvements, to the extent constructed, and
            the relation of the improvements by distances to the boundaries of
            the Land, to any easements burdening the Land, and to the
            established building lines and the street lines; and if improvements
            are existing, (A) a statement of the number of each type of parking
            space required by applicable laws, ordinances, orders, rules,
            regulations, restrictive covenants and easements affecting the
            improvements, and the number of each such type of parking space
            provided, and (B) the location of all utilities serving the
            improvements (other than water and sewer).

                  (ix) Environmental Assessment. The Administrative Agent shall
            have received a Phase I environmental assessment and such other
            environmental reports reasonably requested by the Administrative
            Agent regarding the Land by an environmental engineering firm
            acceptable to the Administrative Agent showing no environmental
            conditions or liabilities in violation of Environmental Laws that
            could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (x) Plans. The Administrative Agent shall have received and
            approved a true and correct copy of all existing Plans (including
            the site plan), together with satisfactory evidence that all
            applicable Governmental Authorities, the Borrower, Architect,
            General Contractor and Construction Consultant have approved the
            same.

                  (xi) Contracts. The Administrative Agent shall have received
            and approved (a) a list containing the names and addresses of the
            General Contractor and Architect, their respective contract amounts,
            and a copy of their contracts; and (b) duly executed, acknowledged
            and delivered originals from the General Contractor and the
            Architect of (i) consents or other agreements reasonably
            satisfactory to Administrative Agent and (ii) agreements reasonably
            satisfactory to Administrative Agent subordinating all rights,
            liens, claims and charges they may have or acquire against the
            Borrower or the Property to the rights, liens and security interests
            of Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders.

                  (xii) Soil Reports. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received and approved a soil composition and test boring report with
            respect to the Land, which shall be satisfactory to the
            Administrative Agent and upon which the Administrative Agent shall
            be entitled to rely, made within thirty (30) days of the Closing
            Date of this Agreement by a licensed professional engineer
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (xiii) Access, Utilities, and Laws. The Administrative Agent
            shall have received and approved (a) satisfactory evidence that the
            Land abuts and has fully adequate direct access to a public street
            (indication of such access on the as-built survey noted in clause
            (viii) above being deemed satisfactory evidence); (b) evidence that
            all utilities (other than water and sewer) necessary for the
            Improvements are available at the Land in sufficient capacity
            (indication of such availability on the as-built survey noted in
            clause (viii) above being deemed

                                       41
<PAGE>
            satisfactory evidence); (c) satisfactory evidence that all
            applicable zoning ordinances, restrictive covenants and governmental
            requirements affecting the Land permit the use for which the
            Property is intended and have been or will be complied with without
            the necessity of variance and without the Property being a
            nonconforming use; (d) a true and correct copy of a valid building
            permit or grading permit, as applicable, for the Improvements,
            together with all other permits and approvals necessary for
            construction of the Improvements; and (e) evidence satisfactory to
            the Administrative Agent of compliance by the Borrower and the
            Property, and the proposed construction, use and occupancy of the
            Improvements, with such other applicable laws and governmental
            requirements as the Administrative Agent may request, including all
            laws and governmental requirements regarding access and facilities
            for handicapped or disabled persons including, without limitation
            and to the extent applicable, The Federal Architectural Barriers Act
            (42 U.S.C.ss.4151 et seq.), The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
            (42 U.S.C.ss.3601 et seq.), The Americans With Disabilities Act of
            1990 (42 U.S.C.ss.12101 et seq.), The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
            U.S.C.ss.794) and any applicable state requirements.

                  (xiv) Priority. The Administrative Agent shall have received
            and approved evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that
            (A) no activity or circumstance was visible on or near the Land
            which would constitute inception of a mechanic's or materialman's
            lien against the Land unless (1) such lien has been fully waived or
            subordinated or (2) the underlying obligation with respect to such
            lien has been paid in full, in each case to the Administrative
            Agent's satisfaction, (B) no contract, or memorandum thereof, for
            construction, design, surveying, or any other service relating to
            the Project has been filed for record in the county where the Land
            is located and (C) no mechanic's or materialman's lien claim or
            notice, lis pendens, judgment, or other claim or encumbrance against
            the Land has been filed for record in the county where the Land is
            located or in any other public record which by law provides notice
            of claims or encumbrances regarding the Land.

                  (xv) Bonds. The Administrative Agent shall have received and
            approved (a) a performance bond for the General Contractor, in
            amount, form and content reasonably satisfactory to the
            Administrative Agent and (b) a payment bond for the General
            Contractor, in amount, form and content reasonably satisfactory to
            the Administrative Agent.

                  (xvi) Tax and Standby Fee Certificates. The Administrative
            Agent shall have received and approved satisfactory evidence (a) of
            the identity of all taxing authorities and utility districts (or
            similar authorities) having jurisdiction over the Property or any
            portion thereof; (b) that all taxes, standby fees and any other
            similar charges have been paid, including copies of receipts or
            statements marked "paid" by the appropriate authority; and (c) that
            the Land is a separate tax lot or lots with separate assessment or
            assessments of the Land and Improvements, independent of any other
            land or improvements.

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<PAGE>
                  (xvii) Construction Contract. The Construction Contract shall
            be in full force and effect.

                  (xviii) Appraisal. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received and accepted a market value appraisal of the Property
            (including, without limitation, evidence that the Aggregate
            Commitment does not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the
            Appraised Value).

                  (xix) Budget and Draw Schedule. The Administrative Agent shall
            have received and approved (A) the Budget and (B) the Borrower's
            proposed cash flow, draw schedule and construction schedule for the
            Project.

                  (xx) Other Information. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received such other certificates, documents and information as are
            reasonably requested by the Lenders, including, without limitation,
            local opinions of counsel, engineering and structural reports and
            evidence of zoning compliance, each in form and substance
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

            (d) Consents; Defaults.

                  (i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Borrower shall
            have obtained all necessary approvals, authorizations and consents
            of any Person which are material to the conduct of its business and
            of all Governmental Authorities and courts having jurisdiction with
            respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
            other Loan Documents and the conduct of its business.

                  (ii) No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding, investigation,
            regulation or legislation shall have been instituted or threatened
            in writing before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain, or
            prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of, or which
            is related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan
            Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
            hereby or thereby, or which, in the Administrative Agent's sole
            discretion, would make it inadvisable to consummate the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement and such other Loan Documents.

                  (iii) No Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default
            shall have occurred and be continuing.

            (e) Financial Matters.

                  (i) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received the most recent audited Consolidated financial statements
            of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, all in form and substance
            reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and prepared in
            accordance with GAAP.

                                       43
<PAGE>
                  (ii) Financial Condition Certificate.

                        (A) The Borrower shall have delivered to the
            Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance reasonably
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and certified as accurate
            by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, that (1) the Borrower is
            Solvent, (2) the Borrower's payables are current and not past due
            except those contested in good faith and (3) the financial
            projections previously delivered to the Administrative Agent
            represent the good faith estimates (utilizing reasonable
            assumptions) of the financial condition and operations of the
            Borrower .

                        (B) The Parent shall have delivered to the
            Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance reasonably
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and certified as accurate
            by a Responsible Officer of the Parent, that (1) the Parent and each
            of its Subsidiaries are each Solvent, (2) the payables of the Parent
            and each of its Subsidiaries are current and not past due except
            those contested in good faith, (3) attached thereto are calculations
            evidencing compliance on a pro forma basis with the covenants
            contained in Section 12 of the Guaranty Agreement and (4) the
            financial projections previously delivered to the Administrative
            Agent represent the good faith estimates (utilizing reasonable
            assumptions) of the financial condition and operations of the Parent
            and its Subsidiaries.

                  (iii) Project Equity. The Administrative Agent shall have
            received evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that (i)
            the net cash proceeds of the Project Equity have been contributed to
            the Borrower or (ii) to the extent such net cash proceeds of the
            Project Equity have not been contributed to the Borrower, the
            Borrower shall have received an irrevocable letter of credit
            securing the irrevocable obligation of the equityholders to make
            such contribution, which letter of credit shall be in form and
            substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent .

                  (iv) Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. The Borrower shall have
            paid to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the fees set forth
            or referenced in Section 3.1 of the Commitment Agreement and Section
            3.3 hereof and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due
            thereunder or hereunder (including, without limitation, Attorney
            Costs of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.) and to any
            other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with
            the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and
            other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording,
            filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.

                  (v) Payment of Budget Amounts. The Borrower shall have paid
            all amounts required to be paid by the Borrower as described in
            Column (B) and (C) of the Budget.

                                       44
<PAGE>
            (f) Miscellaneous.

                  (i) Draw Request and Notice of Account Designation. The
            Administrative Agent shall have received a Draw Request from the
            Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2(a) and a Notice of Account
            Designation from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2(c).

                  (ii) Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other
            instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and
            substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
            shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and
            instruments reasonably requested thereby, with respect to the
            transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      SECTION 4.3 Conditions to All Construction Loan Advances. The obligations
of the Lenders to make any Construction Loan Advance (including the initial
Construction Loan Advance), or convert or continue any Construction Loan Advance
are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the
relevant borrowing, conversion or continuation date:

            (a) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
      representations and warranties contained in Article V hereof and Section 9
      of the Guaranty Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of such
      borrowing, conversion or continuation date with the same effect as if made
      on and as of such date, except for any representation and warranty made as
      of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true
      and correct as of such earlier date.

            (b) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have
      occurred and be continuing on such borrowing, conversion or continuation
      date with respect to such Construction Loan Advance or after giving effect
      to the Construction Loan Advances to be made, converted or continued on
      such date.

            (c) Additional Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have
      received each additional document, instrument or other item reasonably
      requested by it.

            (d) Mechanics Liens. No mechanic's or materialman's lien or other
      encumbrance shall have been filed and remain in effect against the
      Property (except Liens permitted under this Agreement), and releases or
      waivers of mechanics' liens and receipted bills showing payment of all
      amounts due to all parties who have furnished materials or services or
      performed labor of any kind in connection with the Property shall have
      been obtained.

            (e) Construction Consultant Certification. The Administrative Agent
      shall have received written certification by the Construction Consultant,
      and if required by the Administrative Agent, the Architect, that to the
      best of each such Person's knowledge, information, and belief,
      construction is in accordance with the

                                       45
<PAGE>
      Plans, the quality of the work for which the Construction Loan Advance is
      requested is in accordance with the applicable contract, the amount of the
      Construction Loan Advance requested represents work in place based on
      on-site observations and the data comprising the Draw Request, the work
      has progressed as indicated, and the applicable contractor is entitled to
      payment of the amount certified.

            (f) No Damage. The Improvements shall not have been materially
      damaged and not repaired.

            (g) Payment of Budgeted Amounts. The Borrower shall have paid all
      amounts required to be paid by the Borrower under Columns (B) and (C) of
      the Budget.

            (h) Applications for Payment. With respect to any Construction Loan
      Advance to pay a contractor, the Administrative Agent shall have received
      original applications for payment in form approved by the Administrative
      Agent, containing a breakdown by trade and/or other categories acceptable
      to the Administrative Agent, executed and certified by each contractor and
      the Architect, accompanied by invoices, and reasonably approved by
      Construction Consultant.

            (i) Title Updates. The Administrative Agent shall have received, at
      the discretion of the Administrative Agent or if required by the
      applicable title insurance company, updates of the title insurance policy
      referred to in Section 4.2(c)(v) (such updates in form and substance
      reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

            (j) Miscellaneous. (A) The cost to be funded with the Construction
      Loan Advance is contained in the Budget, other than costs in connection
      with Permitted Changes, (B) the Construction Loan Advance for any line
      item in the Budget, when added to all prior Construction Loan Advances for
      such line item, does not exceed the lesser of (i) the actual cost incurred
      by the Borrower for such line item or (ii) the sum allocated in the Loan
      Allocation column in the Budget for such item (which shall include any
      Cost Savings that have been allocated to such line pursuant to this
      Section 4.3), (C) with respect to any Construction Loan Advance for a
      contingency line item, the Administrative Agent shall have consented to
      such Construction Loan Advance, which consent shall not be unreasonably
      withheld, (D) the Lenders shall not be required to make any Construction
      Loan Advance to fund interest on the Construction Loan Facility after the
      earlier of (i) the Construction Loan Termination Date or (ii) commencement
      of operations in the Improvements if and to the extent that there is
      sufficient net operating income from the Property to pay such interest and
      (E) the Lenders shall not be required to make any Construction Loan
      Advance to fund any Improvement which requires a valid building permit
      unless the Borrower shall have delivered a true and correct copy of such
      valid building permit to the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 4.4 Final Construction Loan Advance for Improvements. The final
Construction Loan Advance for the Improvements (including retainage) shall not
be made until thirty (30) days after the date on which a final certificate of
occupancy for the Project has been issued. The Administrative Agent shall have
received the following as additional conditions precedent to the requested
Construction Loan Advance:

                                       46
<PAGE>
            (a) Construction Matters.

                  (i) Certificates from the Architect, the General Contractor
      and, if required by the Administrative Agent, the Construction Consultant,
      certifying that the Improvements (including any off-site improvements)
      have been completed substantially in accordance with, and as completed
      comply with, the Plans and all Applicable Laws; and

                  (ii) Two (2) sets of detailed "as built" Plans approved in
      writing by the Borrower, the Architect, the General Contractor and, if
      required by the Administrative Agent, the Construction Consultant.

            (b) Lien Affidavits. Final affidavits (in a form approved by the
      Administrative Agent) from the Architect and the General Contractor
      certifying that each of them and their subcontractors, laborers, and
      materialmen has been paid in full for all labor and materials for
      construction of the Improvements; and final lien releases or waivers (in a
      form approved by the Administrative Agent) executed by the Architect and
      the General Contractor, and all subcontractors, materialmen, and other
      parties who have supplied labor, materials, or services for the
      construction of the Improvements, or who otherwise might be entitled to
      claim a contractual, statutory or constitutional lien against the
      Property.

            (c) Title Insurance. The Title Insurer shall commit in writing to
      issue an endorsement to remove any exception for mechanics' or
      materialmen's liens or pending disbursements, with no additional title
      change or exception objectionable to the Administrative Agent, and such
      other endorsements as may be required by the Administrative Agent, such
      obligation to be conditioned only upon the making of the final
      Construction Loan Advance for the Improvements (including retainage).

            (d) Compliance with Laws. Evidence satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent that all material Applicable Laws have been satisfied
      in connection with the completion, use, occupancy and operation of the
      Improvements, including, without limitation, receipt by the Borrower of
      all material governmental licenses, certificates and permits (including
      certificates of occupancy, the license to operate the Hospital, the
      Medicare Certification and the Medicaid Certification (as applicable))
      with respect to the completion, use, occupancy and operation of the
      Improvements, together with evidence satisfactory to the Administrative
      Agent that all such material governmental licenses, certificates, and
      permits are in full force and effect and have not been revoked, cancelled
      or modified.

            (e) As-Built Survey. Two (2) copies of a final as-built survey of
      the Land and Improvements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                                       47
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE V

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER

      SECTION 5.1 Representations and Warranties. To induce the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to
make the Construction Loan Advances, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before and after giving effect
to the transactions contemplated hereunder that:

            (a) Organization; Power; Qualification. The Borrower is (i) duly
      organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
      jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (ii) has the power and
      authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
      and hereafter proposed to be conducted and (iii) is duly qualified and
      authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of
      its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification
      and authorization except where the failure to be so qualified and
      authorized could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect. The jurisdictions in which the Borrower is organized and qualified
      to do business as of the Closing Date are only (i) its state of formation
      and (ii) the state in which the Project is located.

            (b) Ownership. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries. As of the Closing
      Date, the capitalization of the Borrower consists of the membership
      interests, authorized, issued and outstanding, described on Schedule
      5.1(b). All outstanding membership interests have been duly authorized and
      validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, with no personal
      liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and not subject to any
      preemptive or similar rights. As of the Closing Date, there are no
      outstanding purchase warrants, subscriptions, options, securities,
      instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever, which are
      convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or permit the
      issuance of membership interests of the Borrower, except as set forth in
      the operating agreement of the Borrower.

            (c) Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing. Each
      of the Borrower and the Management Company has the right, power and
      authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
      authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
      each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with
      their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan
      Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized
      officers of the Management Company on behalf of the Borrower, and each
      such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
      Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
      enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
      moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to
      time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors' rights in
      general and the availability of equitable remedies.

                                       48
<PAGE>
            (d) Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws,
      Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan
      Documents to which the Borrower is a party, in accordance with their
      respective terms, the borrowings hereunder and the transactions
      contemplated hereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the
      giving of notice or otherwise, (i) require any Governmental Approval or
      violate any Applicable Law relating to the Borrower, (ii) conflict with,
      result in a breach of or constitute a default under the organizational
      documents of the Borrower or any indenture, agreement or other instrument
      to which the Borrower is a party or by which any of its properties may be
      bound or any Governmental Approval relating to the Borrower, (iii) result
      in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect
      to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower other than
      Liens arising under the Loan Documents or (iv) require any consent or
      authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator
      or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required
      in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or
      enforceability of this Agreement.

            (e) Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. The Borrower (i)
      has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to
      conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final
      and not subject to review or appeal and is not the subject of any pending
      or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or
      collateral proceeding, (ii) is in compliance with each Governmental
      Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws
      relating to it or any of its respective properties, except where the
      failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
      Adverse Effect, and (iii) has timely filed all material reports, documents
      and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws
      with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and
      documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law.

            (f) Tax Returns and Payments. The Borrower has duly filed or caused
      to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax returns required by
      Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate provision for
      the payment of, all federal, state, local and other material taxes,
      assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property,
      income, profits and assets which are due and payable, except for taxes (i)
      that are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good faith
      and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance
      with GAAP. Such returns accurately reflect in all material respects all
      liability for taxes of the Borrower for the periods covered thereby. There
      is no ongoing audit or examination or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
      other investigation by any Governmental Authority of the tax liability of
      the Borrower. No Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other
      claim against the Borrower with respect to unpaid taxes which has not been
      discharged or resolved. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of
      the Borrower in respect of federal, state, local and other taxes for all
      Fiscal Years and portions thereof since the organization of the Borrower
      are in the judgment of the Borrower adequate, and the Borrower does not
      anticipate any additional material taxes or assessments for any of such
      periods.

                                       49
<PAGE>
            (g) Intellectual Property Matters. The Borrower owns or possesses
      rights to use all franchises, licenses, copyrights, copyright
      applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications,
      trademarks, trademark rights, service mark, service mark rights, trade
      names, trade name rights, copyrights and rights with respect to the
      foregoing which are required to conduct its business. No event has
      occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
      permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and the Borrower
      is not liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with
      respect to any such rights as a result of its business operations, except
      for such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (h) Environmental Matters.

                  (i) The properties owned, leased or operated by the Borrower
            now or in the past do not contain, and to its knowledge have not
            previously contained, any Hazardous Materials in amounts or
            concentrations which (A) constitute or constituted a material
            violation of applicable Environmental Laws or (B) could give rise to
            material liability under applicable Environmental Laws;

                  (ii) The Borrower and such properties and all operations
            conducted in connection therewith are in compliance, in all material
            respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no
            contamination at, under or about such properties or such operations
            which could reasonably interfere with the continued operation of
            such properties or impair the fair saleable value thereof;

                  (iii) The Borrower has not received any notice of violation,
            alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability
            regarding environmental matters, Hazardous Materials, or compliance
            with Environmental Laws from (A) any Governmental Authority or (B)
            to the extent any such violation, alleged violation, non-compliance,
            liability or potential liability could reasonably be expected to
            have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Person, nor does the
            Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice
            will be received or is being threatened;

                  (iv) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed
            of to or from the properties owned, leased or operated by of the
            Borrower in violation of, or in a manner or to a location which
            could give rise to a material liability under, Environmental Laws,
            nor have any Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or
            disposed of at, on or under any of such properties in violation of,
            or in a manner that could give rise to a material liability under,
            any applicable Environmental Laws;

                  (v) No judicial proceedings or governmental or administrative
            action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened,
            under any Environmental Law to which the Borrower is or will be
            named as a potentially responsible party with respect to such
            properties or operations conducted in

                                       50
<PAGE>
            connection therewith, nor are there any consent decrees or other
            decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or
            other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any
            Environmental Law with respect to the Borrower or such properties or
            such operations; and

                  (vi) There has been no release, or to the best of the
            Borrower's knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at
            or from properties owned, leased or operated by the Borrower, now or
            in the past, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could
            give rise to a material liability under Environmental Laws.

            (i) ERISA.

                  (i) The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate is in material
            compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the
            regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to
            all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for
            which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of
            the Code has not yet expired and except where a failure to so comply
            could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
            Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under
            Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal
            Revenue Service to be so qualified, and each trust related to such
            plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the
            Code except for such plans that have not yet received determination
            letters but for which the remedial amendment period for submitting a
            determination letter has not yet expired. No liability has been
            incurred by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate which remains
            unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee
            Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that
            could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (ii) As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has been
            terminated, nor has any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined
            in Section 412 of the Code) been incurred (without regard to any
            waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code), nor has any funding
            waiver from the Internal Revenue Service been received or requested
            with respect to any Pension Plan, nor has the Borrower or any ERISA
            Affiliate failed to make any contributions or to pay any amounts due
            and owing as required by Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of
            ERISA or the terms of any Pension Plan prior to the due dates of
            such contributions under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
            ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure under
            Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any
            Pension Plan;

                  (iii) Except where the failure of any of the following
            representations to be correct in all material respects could not
            reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither
            the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (A) engaged in a nonexempt
            prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the

                                       51
<PAGE>
            ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (B) incurred any liability to the
            PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums
            and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (C)
            failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer
            Plan, or (D) failed to make a required installment or other required
            payment under Section 412 of the Code;

                  (iv) No Termination Event with respect to the Borrower or any
            ERISA Affiliate has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and

                  (v) Except where the failure of any of the following
            representations to be correct in all material respects could not
            reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no
            proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary
            course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to
            the best knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry, threatened
            concerning or involving any (A) employee welfare benefit plan (as
            defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or
            contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, (B) Pension
            Plan or (C) Multiemployer Plan.

            (j) Margin Stock. The Borrower is not engaged principally or as one
      of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
      "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (as each such term is
      defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the Board of
      Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any
      of the Construction Loan Advances will be used for purchasing or carrying
      margin stock or for any purpose which violates, or which would be
      inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of
      Governors.

            (k) Government Regulation. The Borrower is not an "investment
      company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" (as each
      such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
      amended) and the Borrower is not, or after giving effect to any
      Construction Loan Advance will not be, subject to regulation under the
      Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or the Interstate Commerce Act,
      each as amended, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to
      incur or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

            (l) Material Contracts. From and after the Closing Date, each
      Material Contract is, and after giving effect to the consummation of the
      transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will be, in full force and
      effect in accordance with the terms thereof. The Borrower has delivered to
      the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of each Material
      Contract listed on Schedule 5.1(l). Neither the Borrower nor, to the
      knowledge of the Borrower, any other party thereto, is in breach of or in
      default under any Material Contract, except where such breach or default
      could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (m) Employee Relations. As of the Completion Date, the Borrower has
      a stable work force in place. The Borrower knows of no pending, threatened
      or contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other collective labor disputes
      involving its employees.

                                       52
<PAGE>
            (n) Burdensome Provisions. The Borrower is not a party to any
      indenture, agreement, lease or other instrument, or subject to any
      corporate or partnership restriction, Governmental Approval or Applicable
      Law which is so unusual or burdensome as in the foreseeable future could
      be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower
      does not presently anticipate that future expenditures needed to meet the
      provisions of any statutes, orders, rules or regulations of a Governmental
      Authority will be so burdensome as to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (o) No Material Adverse Change. Since the Closing Date, there has
      been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Borrower and no event
      has occurred or condition arisen that could reasonably be expected to have
      a Material Adverse Effect.

            (p) Solvency. As of the Closing Date and both before and after
      giving effect to each Construction Loan Advance made hereunder, the
      Borrower and each Guarantor will be Solvent.

            (q) Title to Properties. The Borrower and each Guarantor has such
      title to the real property owned or leased by it, including, but not
      limited to, the Land and the Improvements, which are material to the
      conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all of its personal
      property and assets which are material to the conduct of its business,
      including, but not limited to, the Tangible Personalty, except those which
      have been disposed of by the Borrower or such Guarantor subsequent to such
      date which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as
      otherwise expressly permitted hereunder.

            (r) Liens. None of the properties and assets of the Borrower is
      subject to any Lien, except Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2. No
      financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any state which
      names the Borrower as debtor and which has not been terminated, has been
      filed in any state or other jurisdiction and the Borrower has not signed
      any such financing statement or any security agreement authorizing any
      secured party thereunder to file any such financing statement, except to
      perfect those Liens permitted by Section 9.2.

            (s) Debt and Guaranty Obligations.

                  (i) Schedule 5.1(s) is a complete and correct listing of all
            Debt and Guaranty Obligations of the Borrower as of the Closing
            Date.

                  (ii) As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has performed and is
            in compliance with all of the terms of all Debt and Guaranty
            Obligations set forth on Schedule 5.1(s) which are in excess of
            $1,000,000 and all instruments and agreements relating thereto, and
            no default or event of default, or event or condition which with
            notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default or
            event of default on the part of the Borrower exists with respect to
            any such Debt or Guaranty Obligation.

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<PAGE>
            (t) Litigation. Except for matters existing on the Closing Date and
      set forth on Schedule 5.1(t), there are no actions, suits or proceedings
      pending nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing
      against or in any other way relating adversely to or affecting the
      Borrower or any of its properties in any court or before any arbitrator of
      any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority which could reasonably
      be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (u) Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing
      which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, or which constitutes,
      or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would
      constitute, a default or event of default by the Borrower under any
      Material Contract or judgment, decree or order to which the Borrower is a
      party or by which the Borrower or any of its properties may be bound or
      which would require the Borrower to make any payment thereunder prior to
      the scheduled maturity date therefor which could reasonably be expected to
      have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (v) Budget. The Budget has been prepared by the Borrower and the
      Borrower represents to the Lenders that it includes all costs and
      expenses, the aggregate amount of which costs and expenses are
      specifically identified thereon (the "Aggregate Project Cost"), incident
      to the Construction Loan Advances and the Project (excluding costs and
      expenses attributable to any equipment which is subject to the Equipment
      Loan Financing), through the Construction Loan Termination Date, after
      taking into account the requirements of this Agreement.

            (w) Mortgage.

                  (i) As of the Closing Date, the Mortgage, and the rights of
            the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder, will have
            priority over all other Liens on the Land or Improvements,
            including, without limitation, any mechanic's or materialman's lien
            or similar lien.

                  (ii) After the Closing Date, the Mortgage, and the rights of
            the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder, will have
            priority over all other Liens on the Land or Improvements,
            including, without limitation, any mechanic's or materialman's lien
            or similar lien (other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section
            9.2(i)).

            (x) Plans. The Plans when completed will contain all detail
      necessary and will be adequate for the construction of the Improvements,
      and will comply with the Loan Documents, Applicable Laws, restrictive
      covenants, and governmental requirements, rules and regulations.

            (y) Separate Tax Lot. The Land is not part of a larger tract of land
      owned by the Borrower or its affiliates or any Guarantor and is not
      otherwise included under any unity of title or similar covenant with other
      lands not encumbered by the Mortgage, and

                                       54
<PAGE>
      the Borrower has obtained a separate tax lot or lots with a separate tax
      assessment or assessments for the Land and the Improvements, independent
      of any other lands or improvements.

            (z) Compliance with Laws. The Land and Improvements comply with all
      Applicable Laws, including all subdivision and platting requirements,
      without reliance on any adjoining or neighboring property, the violation
      of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (aa) Construction Schedule. The construction schedule for the
      Project is realistic and the Completion Date is a reasonable estimate of
      the time required to complete the Project.

            (bb) Healthcare Matters. From and after the Completion Date,

                  (i) The Borrower:

                        (A) has not been convicted of an offense or committed an
            act or omission which could reasonably form a basis under 42 U.S.C.
            ss. 1320a-7 and any statutes succeeding thereto and any regulations
            promulgated thereunder for the Secretary of HHS to exclude the
            Borrower from participation in a "Federal health care program" (as
            that term is defined by 42 U.S.C. ss.1320a-7b(f), or any successor
            statute thereto); and

                        (B) is not in default in the performance, observance or
            fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions
            contained in any Medicaid Provider Agreement, any Medicare Provider
            Agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Borrower
            is a party, which default has resulted in, or if not remedied within
            any applicable grace period could result in, the revocation,
            termination, cancellation or suspension of the Medicaid
            Certification of the Borrower or the Medicare Certification of the
            Borrower.

                  (ii) Reimbursement from Third Party Payors.

                        (A) Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable of the
      Borrower have been and will continue to be adjusted to reflect
      reimbursement policies of third party payors such as Medicare, Medicaid,
      Blue Cross/Blue Shield, private insurance companies, health maintenance
      organizations, preferred provider organizations, alternative delivery
      systems, managed care systems, government contracting agencies and other
      third party payors. In particular, accounts receivable relating to such
      third party payors do not and shall not exceed amounts any obligee is
      entitled to receive under any capitation arrangement, fee schedule,
      discount formula, cost-based reimbursement or other adjustment or
      limitation to its usual charges.

                                       55
<PAGE>
                        (B) Filings and Reports. The Borrower has timely filed
            all material reports, administrative forms and filings required to
            be filed in connection with the Medicare Regulations and the
            Medicaid Regulations (as applicable) due on or before the date
            hereof, and all required reports and administrative forms and
            filings are true and complete in all material respects, in each case
            except to the extent that any such failure could not reasonably be
            expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; there are no claims,
            actions, proceedings or appeals pending (and the Borrower has not
            filed anything that would result in any claims, actions or appeals)
            before any Governmental Authority with respect to any cost reports
            required to be filed by the Medicare Regulations or the Medicaid
            Regulations (as applicable) or claims filed by the Borrower on or
            before the date hereof, or with respect to any adjustments, denials,
            recoupments or disallowances by any intermediary, carrier, other
            insurer, commission, board or agency in connection with any cost
            reports or claims; no validation review, survey, inspection, audit,
            investigation or program integrity review related to the Borrower
            has been conducted with respect to the Borrower by any Governmental
            Authority or government contractor in connection with the Medicare
            program or the Medicaid program (as applicable), and no such reviews
            are scheduled, pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened
            against or affecting the Borrower; and the Borrower has timely filed
            all material reports, data and other information required by any
            other Governmental Authority with authority to regulate the Borrower
            or its business in any manner.

                  (iii) Licensing and Accreditation. The Borrower has, to the
            extent applicable: (A) obtained (or been duly assigned) and
            maintains in good standing all required (if any) certificates of
            need or determinations of need as required by the relevant state
            Governmental Authority for the acquisition, construction, expansion
            of, investment in or operation of its businesses as currently
            operated; (B) obtained and maintains in good standing all required
            licenses, permits, certificates, approvals and other authorizations
            (or waivers thereof) required by any Governmental Authority which
            are necessary to the conduct of its business; (C) to the extent
            prudent and customary in the industry in which it is engaged,
            obtained and maintains accreditation from all generally recognized
            accrediting agencies; (D) obtained and maintains Medicaid
            Certification and Medicare Certification; and (E) entered into and
            maintains in good standing its Medicare Provider Agreement and its
            Medicaid Provider Agreement.

                  (iv) Fraud and Abuse. Neither the Borrower nor, to the
            knowledge of the Borrower's officers, any of its officers or
            directors, have engaged in any activities which are prohibited under
            the Medicare Regulations and Medicaid Regulations, 42 U.S.C. ss.
            1320a-7b, 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395nn, or the regulations promulgated
            pursuant to such statutes or related state or local statutes or
            regulations, or which are prohibited by binding rules of
            professional conduct, or which are prohibited under any statute
            which constitutes a "Federal health care offense" (as that term is
            defined by 18 U.S.C. ss. 24, or any successor statute thereto), or
            the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes, including but
            not

                                       56
<PAGE>
            limited to the following: (A) knowingly and willfully making or
            causing to be made a false statement or representation of a material
            fact in any applications for any benefit or payment; (B) knowingly
            and willfully making or causing to be made any false statement or
            representation of a material fact for use in determining rights to
            any benefit or payment; (C) failing to disclose knowledge by a
            claimant of the occurrence of any event affecting the initial or
            continued right to any benefit or payment on its own behalf or on
            behalf of another, with intent to secure such benefit or payment
            fraudulently; (D) knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving
            any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly
            or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind or offering
            to pay such remuneration (1) in return for referring an individual
            to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of
            any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in
            part by a Federal health care program or other applicable third
            party payors, or (2) in return for purchasing, leasing or ordering
            or arranging for or recommending the purchasing, leasing or ordering
            of any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be
            made in whole or in part by a Federal health care program or other
            applicable third party payors; (E) knowingly or willfully offering
            or paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or
            rebate) directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in
            kind to any Person to induce such Person (1) to refer an individual
            to a person for the furnishing or arranging for the furnishing of
            any item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in
            part under a Federal health care program, or (2) to purchase, lease,
            order, or arrange for or recommend purchasing, leasing, or ordering
            any good, facility, service, or item for which payment may be made
            in whole or in part under a Federal health care program.

            (cc) Senior Debt Status. The Obligations of the Borrower and each
      Guarantor under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents ranks
      and shall continue to rank at least senior in priority of payment to all
      Subordinated Debt.

            (dd) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written
      information, reports, statements and other papers and data produced by or
      on behalf of the Borrower and furnished to the Administrative Agent or any
      Lender in connection with this Agreement, or any of the other Loan
      Documents, were, at the time the same were so furnished, complete and
      correct in all material respects to the extent necessary to give the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender complete, true and accurate knowledge
      of the subject matter based on the Borrower's knowledge thereof (other
      than projections, budgets or other estimates which shall be determined in
      good faith utilizing reasonable assumptions). No document furnished or
      written statement made to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the
      Borrower in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of
      this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents contains or will contain any
      untrue statement of a fact material to the creditworthiness of the
      Borrower or omits or will omit to state a fact necessary in order to make
      the statements contained therein not misleading to the extent material to
      the creditworthiness of the Borrower. The Borrower is not aware of any
      facts which it has not disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent

                                       57
<PAGE>
      having a Material Adverse Effect, or insofar as the Borrower can now
      foresee, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

      SECTION 5.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this Article V and all
representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan
Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty
made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute
representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations
and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at
and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a
specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                        FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND REPORTS

      Until all the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been
obtained in the manner set forth in Section 12.11, the Borrower will furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's
Office at the address set forth in Section 12.1 and to the Lenders at their
respective addresses as set forth Schedule 1.1(a), or such other office as may
be designated by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to time:

      SECTION 6.1 Financial Statements.

      (a) Monthly and Quarterly Financial Statements.

            (i) Monthly Financial Statements. Commencing with the first full
      month after the Completion Date and continuing for the first twelve months
      after the Completion Date, as soon as practicable and in any event within
      thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month, an unaudited balance
      sheet of the Borrower as of the close of such fiscal month and unaudited
      statements of income and expenses and cash flow for the fiscal month then
      ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, all in reasonable
      detail and prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP (without
      footnotes) and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to
      present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the
      Management Company on behalf of the Borrower as of their respective dates
      and the results of operations of the Borrower for the respective periods
      then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments; provided that (A) with
      respect to each fiscal month end which is also fiscal quarter end, the
      Borrower shall provide such monthly financial statements as soon as
      practicable and in any event within fifty-five days after the end of each
      such fiscal month and (B) with respect to each fiscal month end which is
      also Fiscal Year end, the Borrower shall provide such monthly financial
      statements as soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred
      (100) days after the end of each such fiscal month.

                                       58
<PAGE>
            (ii) Quarterly Financial Statements. With respect to each fiscal
      quarter ending after the date which is twelve (12) months after the
      Completion Date, as soon as practicable and in any event within fifty-five
      (55) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, an unaudited balance sheet
      of the Borrower as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited
      statements of income and expenses and cash flow for the fiscal quarter
      then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, all in
      reasonable detail and prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP
      (without footnotes) and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower
      to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the
      Borrower as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the
      Borrower for the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year end
      adjustments.

      (b) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event
within one hundred (100) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, commencing with
the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2003, an audited balance sheet of the
Borrower as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited statements of income
and expenses, retained earnings and cash flow for the Fiscal Year then ended,
including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance
with GAAP and accompanied by a report thereon prepared by Deloitte & Touche,
LLP, or another independent certified public accounting firm of nationally
recognized standing which is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent,
that such financial statements are not qualified with respect to scope
limitations imposed by the Borrower or with respect to accounting principles
followed by the Borrower not in accordance with GAAP.

      (c) Annual Forecasts. As soon as practicable and in any event no later
than thirty (30) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, an annual
forecast prepared by management of the Borrower, in reasonable detail and in the
form customarily prepared by management of the Borrower for its internal use and
setting forth an explanation for the principal assumptions on which such
forecasts were based, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow
statements on a quarterly basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter until the
Maturity Date.

      (d) Other Information. Such other information regarding the operations,
business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request.

      SECTION 6.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 6.1(a)(ii) or 6.1(b) and at such
other times as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request a certificate
of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of Borrower in the form of
Exhibit I attached hereto (an "Officer's Compliance Certificate"):

            (a) stating that such officer has reviewed such financial statements
      and, to the best of his knowledge, such financial statements fairly
      present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower
      as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and cash flows
      for the periods indicated;

                                       59
<PAGE>
            (b) stating that to such officer's knowledge, based on a reasonable
      examination, no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if such is not the
      case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it
      occurred, whether it is continuing and the steps being taken by the
      Borrower with respect to such Default or Event of Default;

            (c) stating that the Borrower is in compliance with the covenants
      and restrictions set forth in Articles VII, VIII and IX of this Agreement
      and, with respect to the covenants set forth in Article VIII, the
      calculations applicable thereto; and

            (d) setting forth any other information reasonably required by the
      Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this Agreement.

      SECTION 6.3 Accountant's Certificate. At each time financial statements
are delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b), a certificate of the independent
public accountants certifying such financial statements addressed to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders:

      (a) stating that in making the examination necessary for the certification
of such financial statements, they obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event
of Default or, if such is not the case, specifying such Default or Event of
Default and its nature and period of existence; and

      (b) including the calculations prepared by such accountants required to
establish whether or not the Borrower are in compliance with the financial
covenants set forth in Article VIII hereof as at the end of each respective
period.

      SECTION 6.4 Other Reports.

      (a) Accountants Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all
reports, if any, submitted to the Borrower or its Board of Directors by its
independent public accountants in connection with their auditing function,
including, without limitation, any management report and any management
responses thereto.

      (b) Clinical Procedures Reports. At such times as the Administrative Agent
shall reasonably request, and at least quarterly, a certificate of an executive
officer of the Borrower setting forth the types of clinical procedures performed
during such period, the number of the clinical procedures performed during such
period, the patient days related to the clinical procedures performed during
such period and any other operating statistics reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent, in a form prepared by the Borrower in the ordinary course
of its business.

      (c) Permitted Payment Certificate. Not less than ten (10) days prior to
the proposed date of any Permitted Distribution pursuant to Section 9.6, a
certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Management
Company on behalf of the Borrower:

                                       60
<PAGE>
            (i) stating that such officer has reviewed the most recent financial
      statements of the Borrower and, to the best of his knowledge, such
      financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial
      condition of the Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of its
      operations and cash flows for the periods indicated;

            (ii) setting forth the calculations required to establish that the
      Borrower shall be in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section
      9.6(c) both before and after giving effect to such Permitted Distribution;
      and

            (iii) setting forth any other information reasonably required by the
      Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this Agreement.

      (d) Other Reports. Such other information regarding the operations,
business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower as the Administrative
Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

      SECTION 6.5 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but in no
event later than ten (10) days after an officer of the Borrower obtains
knowledge thereof) telephonic and written notice of:

      (a) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before
any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or
before any arbitrator against or involving the Borrower or any of its
properties, assets or businesses which, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

      (b) any violation by the Borrower of any Applicable Law or any notice of
any violation received by the Borrower from any Governmental Authority
including, without limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws,
which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;

      (c) any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens to result in,
a strike or other work action against the Borrower or any contractor or any
material development in any labor controversy which if adversely determined
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

      (d) any actual or threatened condemnation of any portion of the Property,
any negotiations with respect to any such taking, or any loss of or substantial
damage to the Property (excluding any such condemnation which only affects a de
minimus portion of the Property);

      (e) any notice received by the Borrower with respect to the cancellation,
alteration or non-renewal of any insurance coverage maintained by the Borrower
except as in the ordinary course of the business of the Borrower solely in
connection with the replacement of any such insurance coverage;

                                       61
<PAGE>
      (f) any failure by the Borrower or any contractor to perform any material
obligation under any construction contract that is a Material Contract
(including, without limitation, the Construction Contract), any event or
condition which would permit termination of any such construction contract or
suspension of work thereunder, or any notice given by the Borrower or any
contractor with respect to any of the foregoing.

      (g) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding $500,000 that
may be assessed against the Borrower (to the extent such attachment, judgment,
lien, levy or order is not fully covered by insurance and with respect to which
the applicable insurance carrier has not acknowledged that such attachment,
judgment, lien, levy or order is fully covered by insurance);

      (h) (i) any Default or Event of Default or (ii) any event which
constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would
constitute a default or event of default under any Material Contract to which
the Borrower is a party or by which the Borrower or any of its properties may be
bound which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

      (i) (i) any unfavorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section
401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (ii) all notices received by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intent to terminate any Pension
Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (iii) all
notices received by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer
Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability
pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA and (iv) the Borrower obtaining knowledge or
reason to know that the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to
file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress
termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA;

      (j) from and after the Completion Date, any expiration, termination or
cancellation of the Borrower's license to operate, Medicare Certification or
Medicaid Certification or the receipt by the Borrower of any notice with respect
thereto; and

      (k) any event which makes any of the representations set forth in Section
5.1 inaccurate in any respect.

      SECTION 6.6 Accuracy of Information. All written information, reports,
statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower
to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Article VI, or any
other provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, shall be,
at the time the same is so furnished, in compliance with the representations and
warranties set forth in Section 5.1(dd).

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<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VII

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

      Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the
Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided
for in Section 12.11, the Borrower will:

      SECTION 7.1 Preservation of Existence and Related Matters. Preserve and
maintain its separate existence as a limited liability company and all rights,
franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to the conduct of its business,
and qualify and remain qualified as a foreign company and authorized to do
business in each jurisdiction where the nature and scope of its activities
require it to so qualify under Applicable Law, including in any event, the state
of its formation and the state in which the Project is located.

      SECTION 7.2 Maintenance of Property. In addition to the requirements of
any of the Security Documents, protect and preserve all properties useful in and
material to the conduct of its business, including copyrights, patents, trade
names, service marks and trademarks material to the conduct of its business;
maintain in good working order and condition, reasonable wear and tear and
casualty excepted, all buildings, items of equipment and other items of tangible
real and personal property material to the conduct of its business; and from
time to time make or cause to be made all renewals, replacements and additions
to such property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

      SECTION 7.3 Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of
accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be true and
complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to
permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and in
compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.

      SECTION 7.4 Payment and Performance of Obligations. Pay and perform all
Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and pay or
perform (a) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be
levied or assessed upon it or any of its property, and (b) all other
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade
practices; provided, that the Borrower may contest any item described in clauses
(a) or (b) of this Section 7.4 in good faith so long as adequate reserves are
maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

      SECTION 7.5 Compliance With Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in
compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws and maintain in
full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the
conduct of its business, except where the failure to observe or comply could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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<PAGE>
      SECTION 7.6 Environmental Laws. In addition to and without limiting the
generality of Section 7.5, (a) comply in all material respects with, and use its
best efforts to ensure such compliance in all material respects by all tenants
and subtenants (if any) with, all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and
comply in all material respects with and maintain, and use its best efforts to
ensure that all tenants and subtenants, if any, obtain and comply in all
material respects with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals,
notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental
Laws, (b) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and
testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under
Environmental Laws, and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful
orders and directives of any Governmental Authority regarding Environmental
Laws, except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and the pendency of such proceedings could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) defend,
indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their
respective parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, employees, agents, officers and
directors, from and against any claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities,
settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or
unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the
presence of Hazardous Materials, or the violation of, noncompliance with or
liability under any Environmental Laws applicable to the operations of the
Borrower, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities
related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's and
consultant's fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court
costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing
directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party
seeking indemnification therefor.

      SECTION 7.7 Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without limiting the
generality of Section 7.5, (a) except where the failure to so comply could not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (i) comply with all material applicable provisions of ERISA and
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all
Employee Benefit Plans, (ii) not take any action or fail to take action the
result of which could be a liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan,
(iii) not participate in any prohibited transaction that could result in any
civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (iv) operate each Employee
Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax liability under
Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified beneficiary as
defined in Section 4980B of the Code and (b) furnish to the Administrative Agent
upon the Administrative Agent's request such additional information about any
Employee Benefit Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative
Agent.

      SECTION 7.8 Compliance With Agreements. Comply in all respects with each
term, condition and provision of all leases, agreements and other instruments
entered into in the conduct of its business including, without limitation, any
Material Contract, except (i) where the failure to so comply could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where any such
term, condition or provision is contested in good faith through applicable
proceedings and where adequate reserves are maintained in accordance with GAAP.

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<PAGE>
      SECTION 7.9 Visits and Inspections.

      (a) Upon reasonable notice to the Borrower (unless there exists any
Default or Event of Default), permit representatives of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, from time to time, to visit and inspect its properties and any
materials thereon (including, without limitation, the Land and the
Improvements); inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and
files, including, but not limited to, management letters prepared by independent
accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its independent
accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of
operations and business prospects; provided that the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders shall use their best efforts not to unreasonably interfere with the
construction of the Improvements;

      (b) Upon reasonable notice to the Borrower (unless there exists any
Default or Event of Default), furnish to the Administrative Agent at any time
for inspection and copying all Plans, shop drawings, specifications, books and
records, and other documents and information required by the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders; and

      (c) Cooperate with the General Contractor in the performance of all
inspections performed thereby in order to use their best efforts to keep
construction on schedule.

      SECTION 7.10 Construction of the Improvements. Prosecute the construction
of the Improvements with diligence and continuity, in a good and workmanlike
manner, and in accordance with sound building and engineering practices, all
applicable laws and governmental requirements, the Loan Documents, and the
Plans. The Borrower shall not permit cessation of work for a period in excess of
twenty (20) days (whether or not consecutive but excluding weekends and legal
holidays), except for Excusable Delays. The Borrower shall complete construction
of the Improvements, and shall obtain a permanent unconditional certificate of
occupancy and all other permits, licenses, and approvals for the occupancy, use
and operation of the Improvements from all applicable Governmental Authorities
on or before the Completion Date, free and clear of all Liens except as
permitted pursuant to Section 9.2. The Borrower shall correct promptly (a) any
material defect in the Improvements, (b) any material departure from the Plans,
except with respect to Permitted Changes, or governmental requirements, or (c)
any encroachment by any Improvements or structure on any building setback line,
easement, property line or restricted area. All increases in the cost of
constructing the Improvements which result from Permitted Changes shall be
applied against the $1,000,000 building contingency in the Budget and, to the
extent such increases exceed $1,000,000 shall be paid by the Borrower from its
own funds.

      SECTION 7.11 Storage of Materials. Except as provided in Exhibit N, cause
all materials supplied for, or intended to be utilized in the construction of
the Improvements, but not yet affixed to or incorporated into the Improvements
on the Land, to be stored on the Land with adequate safeguards as required by
the Administrative Agent to prevent loss, theft, damage or commingling with
other materials or projects.

      SECTION 7.12 Advertising by the Lenders. At the Lenders' request and
expense, erect and maintain on the Property one or more advertising signs
approved by the Administrative

                                       65
<PAGE>
Agent and the Borrower indicating that the construction financing for the
property has been provided by the Lenders.

      SECTION 7.13 Annual Appraisal. Upon the request of the Administrative
Agent, during the continuance of any Event of Default, permit the Administrative
Agent to obtain, at the Borrower's expense, once in each calendar year an
appraisal of any part of the Property prepared in accordance with written
instructions from the Administrative Agent by a third-party appraiser engaged
directly by the Administrative Agent. Each such appraiser and appraisal shall be
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including satisfaction of applicable
regulatory requirements). The cost of each such appraisal shall be due and
payable by the Borrower on demand and shall be secured by the Security
Documents.

      SECTION 7.14 Construction Consultant. Cooperate with the Construction
Consultant and furnish Construction Consultant whatever documents or cooperation
the Construction Consultant considers reasonably necessary or useful to perform
its duties. The duties of the Construction Consultant run solely to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Construction Consultant shall have
no obligations or responsibilities whatsoever to the Borrower, the Architect,
the General Contractor or to any of their agents or employees. The Construction
Consultant may, among other duties, perform construction cost analyses, review
the Plans and any proposed changes thereto, observe work in place, and review
Draw Requests. Unless prohibited by Applicable Law, the reasonable fees, costs
and expenses of the Construction Consultant shall be paid by the Borrower. The
Administrative Agent shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Construction
Consultant acts promptly in the discharge of its duties in order to facilitate
construction as scheduled.

      SECTION 7.15 Reports and Vouchers.

      (a) Promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent copies of all reports,
studies, inspections and tests made on the Land, the Improvements or the
materials to be incorporated into the Improvements (including, without
limitation, any such report, study, inspection or test which indicates any
material adverse condition in the Land or the Improvements);

      (b) Make additional tests as the Administrative Agent or any Lender
reasonably requires; and

      (c) Deliver to the Administrative Agent, on demand, any contracts, bills
of sale, statements, receipted vouchers or agreements under which the Borrower
claims title to any materials, fixtures or articles incorporated or to be
incorporated in the Improvements or otherwise subject to a lien or security
interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders.

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<PAGE>
      SECTION 7.16 Equipment Financing.

      (a) Within nine (9) months following the Closing Date, secure a binding
commitment from MedCath Incorporated or one or more third party lenders (each,
in such capacity, an "Equipment Lender" and collectively, the "Equipment
Lenders") to finance the purchase or lease by the Borrower of the equipment to
be included within the Project (the "Equipment Loan Financing"). The terms and
conditions of each such commitment shall be in form and substance satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent. Such terms and conditions shall include, without
limitation, the following: (a) an interest rate not to exceed the Five-Year US
Treasury Yield plus 7%, (b) a term of not less than thirty-six (36) months or
more than one hundred twenty (120) months and (c) an amount equal to not less
than eighty percent (80%) or more than one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of
the equipment.

      (b) Maintain the Equipment Loan Financing (after obtaining it as required
pursuant to Section 7.16(a)); provided that the terms and conditions of the
Equipment Loan Financing shall not be amended, modified or changed in a manner
which is adverse in any respect to the rights or interests of the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders unless approved in writing by the Administrative Agent

      SECTION 7.17 Maintenance of Licenses, Etc. In addition to and without
limiting the generality of Section 7.5, (a) observe and remain in compliance in
all material respects with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation,
Medicare Regulations and Medicaid Regulations (as applicable), in connection
with the ownership or operation of the Hospital, (b) obtain and preserve, to the
fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, all certifications and
authorizations necessary to ensure that the Hospital and the Borrower are
eligible for reimbursement under the Medicare Regulations and the Medicaid
Regulations (as applicable), and (c) obtain and preserve all material licenses,
permits, authorizations and qualifications required under Applicable Laws in
connection with the ownership or operation of the Hospital.

      SECTION 7.18 Insurance.

      (a) Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies against such risks and in such amounts as are customarily maintained
by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law and as are
required by any Security Documents (including, without limitation, Sections 1.4
through 1.8 of the Mortgage), and on the Closing Date and from time to time
thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent upon its request a detailed list
of the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies,
the amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and
the properties and risks covered thereby.

      (b) For the purpose of Section 1.6 of the Mortgage, decisions to be made
by the Administrative Agent regarding the application of net cash proceeds under
any insurance policy shall be made by the Administrative Agent at the direction
of the Required Lenders.

      SECTION 7.19 Further Assurances.

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<PAGE>
      (a) Make, execute and deliver all such additional and further acts,
things, deeds and instruments as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
reasonably require to document and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and to vest completely in and insure the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders their respective rights under this Agreement, the Construction Loan
Notes and the other Loan Documents.

      (b) Within one hundred twenty (120) days following the Closing Date, (i)
Kelly J. McHugh or Northlake Environmental Engineering Services, Inc. or any of
their respective Affiliates and the Borrower shall have entered into a fixed
price construction contract for the building of the Treatment Plant (the
"Treatment Plant Construction Contract") and a services agreement with respect
to the usage of such plant (the "Treatment Plant Services Agreement"), (ii) the
Borrower shall have pledged to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders the Treatment Plant Construction Contract and Treatment Plant Services
Agreement as additional collateral for the Obligations, pursuant to such
assignment documents as reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
(collectively, the "Treatment Plant Collateral Assignments") and (iii) the
Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent (A) the detailed plans and
specifications for the construction of the Treatment Plant, (B) satisfactory
evidence that all applicable zoning ordinances, restrictive covenants and
governmental requirements affecting the Land permit the construction and use of
the Treatment Plant and have been or will be complied with without the necessity
of variance and without the Treatment Plant being a nonconforming use, (C) a
true and correct copy of a valid building permit or grading permit, as
applicable, together with all other permits and approvals necessary for
construction of the Treatment Plant and (D) certificates of insurance, evidence
of payment of all insurance premiums for the current policy year of each
insurance policy, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, copies
(certified by a Responsible Officer of the Management Company) of each insurance
policy in the form required hereunder and under the Security Documents and
otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent with respect to the Treatment Plant.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               FINANCIAL COVENANTS

      Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the
Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth
in Section 12.11, the Borrower will not:

      SECTION 8.1 Minimum EBITDA. As of the end of each of the fourth (4th) full
fiscal quarter and the fifth (5th) full fiscal quarter following the Completion
Date, permit EBITDA for such fiscal quarter to be less than $0.

      SECTION 8.2 Debt Service Coverage Ratio. As of the end of any fiscal
quarter, commencing with the end of the sixth (6th) full fiscal quarter
following the Completion Date, permit the ratio of (a) Adjusted EBITDA for the
fiscal quarter then ended to (b) Adjusted Debt Service for such fiscal quarter
to be less than the corresponding ratio set forth below:

                                       68
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Period                                          Ratio
               ------                                          -----

      <S>                                                   <C>     <C>
      Sixth full fiscal quarter following                   1.25 to 1.00
      the Completion Date
</TABLE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

      Until all of the Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and the
Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth
in Section 12.11, the Borrower will not:

      SECTION 9.1 Limitations on Debt. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Debt except:

            (a) the Obligations;

            (b) Debt incurred in connection with the Equipment Loan Financing in
      an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $18,000,000 at any time (or
      any refinancing, but not any increase in the principal amount, thereof);

            (c) Debt incurred after the Closing Date consisting of Capital
      Leases or other purchase money Debt incurred to provide all or a portion
      of the purchase price (or to finance such purchase price within ninety
      (90) days of acquisition) or the cost of construction of an asset;
      provided that (i) such Debt when incurred shall not exceed one hundred
      percent (100%) of the purchase price or the cost of construction of such
      asset; (ii) no such Debt shall be refinanced for a principal amount in
      excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such
      refinancing; and (iii) the total amount of all such Debt shall not exceed
      $5,000,000 on any date of determination;

            (d) Debt which may be deemed to exist pursuant to any performance,
      surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations obtained in the ordinary
      course of business;

            (e) Debt incurred in connection with a Hedging Agreement with a
      counterparty and upon terms and conditions (including interest rate)
      reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that any
      counterparty that is a Lender shall be deemed satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent; and

            (f) Subordinated Debt to MedCath Incorporated evidencing
      intercompany loans by MedCath Incorporated to the Borrower for short-term
      working capital and other general corporate purposes in an aggregate
      principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 (the "Subordinated Working
      Capital Loan"); provided that the Subordinated Working

                                       69
<PAGE>
      Capital Loan shall be subordinated pursuant to an Intercompany Loan
      Subordination Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 9.2 Limitations on Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of the Borrower's assets or properties
(including, without limitation, shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests), real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

            (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or
      levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of
      Environmental Laws) not yet due or as to which the period of grace (not to
      exceed thirty (30) days), if any, related thereto has not expired;

            (b) Liens consisting of deposits or pledges made in the ordinary
      course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of,
      obligations under workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or similar
      legislation;

            (c) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of
      the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

            (d) encumbrances on and exceptions to title contained in the Title
      Policy;

            (e) Liens securing Debt permitted under Section 9.1(b); provided
      that such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the
      equipment (and the proceeds thereof) of the Borrower to be included in the
      Project which is financed by such Debt;

            (f) purchase money Liens securing purchase money Debt (and
      refinancings thereof) to the extent permitted under Section 9.1(c);
      provided that (i) such purchase money Liens shall be created substantially
      simultaneously with the acquisition of the related asset and (ii) such
      purchase money Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than
      the property (and the proceeds thereof) financed by such Debt;

            (g) Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases to the extent
      permitted under Section 9.1(c); provided that (i) such Liens shall be
      created substantially simultaneously with the lease of the related asset
      and (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than
      the property (and the proceeds thereof) financed by such Debt;

            (h) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in
      circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.1(o);

            (i) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
      repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
      (i) which secure obligations which are not overdue for a period of more
      than sixty (60) days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith by
      appropriate proceedings;

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<PAGE>
            (j) Liens in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 which are
      being contested by the Borrower in good faith and which are dismissed,
      discharged, stayed, bonded off or quashed within thirty (30) days of
      issuance; and

            (k) Liens on accounts receivable of the Borrower in connection with
      the Subordinated Working Capital Loan; provided that such Liens are
      subordinated to the Liens on such accounts receivable in favor of the
      Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the
      Lenders) on the terms and conditions which are satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 9.3 Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and Acquisitions.
Purchase, own, invest in or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock, interests in any partnership, limited liability company or joint
venture (including, without limitation, the creation or capitalization or any
Subsidiary), evidence of Debt or other obligation or security, substantially all
or a portion of the business or assets of any other Person or any other
investment or interest whatsoever in any other Person, or make or permit to
exist, directly or indirectly, any loans, advances or extensions of credit to,
or any investment in cash or by delivery of property in, any Person, or enter
into, directly or indirectly, any commitment or option in respect of the
foregoing except investments in:

      (a) cash and marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally
guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof maturing within
120 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

      (b) commercial paper maturing no more than 120 days from the date of
creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

      (c) certificates of deposit maturing no more than 120 days from the date
of creation thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the laws of
the United States of America, each having combined capital, surplus and
undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a rating of "A" or
better by a nationally recognized rating agency; provided, that the aggregate
amount invested in such certificates of deposit shall not at any time exceed
$5,000,000 for any one such certificate of deposit and $10,000,000 for any one
such bank;

      (d) time deposits maturing no more than thirty (30) days from the date of
creation thereof with commercial banks or savings banks or savings and loan
associations each having membership either in the FDIC or the deposits of which
are insured by the FDIC and in amounts not exceeding the maximum amounts of
insurance thereunder;

      (e) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees and Affiliates
(including advances for travel and miscellaneous expenses) in the ordinary
course of business in an

                                       71
<PAGE>
aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000 on any date of determination (without
regard to write-offs or write-downs thereof);

      (f) investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with
the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of
delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers
arising in the ordinary course of business;

      (g) investments by the Borrower in Hedging Agreements permitted under
Section 9.1(e); and

      (h) investments by the Borrower in joint ventures; provided that (i) such
investments shall not exceed $150,000 individually or $300,000 in the aggregate
during the term of this Agreement, (ii) each such joint venture shall be in
substantially the same field of business as that to be conducted by the Borrower
on the Completion Date, (iii) the Borrower shall provide written notice of each
such joint venture not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed
date of consummation of such joint venture, (iv) the Borrower shall comply with
all terms and conditions of the Security Documents in connection with its
interest in each such joint venture within thirty (30) days of the date of
consummation of each such joint venture and (v) the Borrower shall provide to
the Administrative Agent all other agreements, certificates and other documents
reasonably requested thereby in connection with each such joint venture.

      SECTION 9.4 Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation. Merge, consolidate or
enter into any similar combination with any other Person or liquidate, wind-up
or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution).

      SECTION 9.5 Limitations on Sale of Assets. Convey, sell, lease, assign,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets
(including, without limitation, the sale of any receivables and leasehold
interests and any sale-leaseback or similar transaction), whether now owned or
hereafter acquired except:

            (a) the sale of obsolete assets no longer used or usable in the
      business of the Borrower;

            (b) the sale of not more than .75 acres of the Land for the purpose
      of constructing a medical office building on such Land; provided that, (i)
      the fair market value of the Land sold shall not exceed $100,000 and (ii)
      100% of the net cash proceeds of such asset disposition shall be promptly
      applied to the remaining scheduled principal installments of the
      Construction Loan Advances as required by Section 2.4(b) hereof;

            (c) the contribution of not more than .50 acres of the Land to Kelly
      J. McHugh or Northlake Environmental Engineering Services, Inc. or any of
      their respective Affiliates on which the Treatment Plant shall be
      constructed; and

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            (d) the sale of assets which are replaced in the ordinary course of
      business, the fair market value of which shall not exceed $500,000 with
      respect to any transaction and $2,000,000 in the aggregate for all such
      transactions during the term of this Agreement.

            Upon a sale, contribution or transfer of assets permitted by this
      Section 9.5, the Administrative Agent shall (to the extent applicable)
      deliver to the Borrower, upon the Borrower's request and at the Borrower's
      expense, such documentation as is reasonably necessary to evidence the
      release of the Administrative Agent's security interest, if any, in such
      assets.

      SECTION 9.6 Limitation on Distributions. Purchase, redeem, retire or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its ownership or equity
interests, or make any distribution of cash, property or assets among the
holders of its ownership or equity interests or make any changes in its capital
structure; provided that:

            (a) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
      and be continuing or will exist immediately after giving effect to the
      distributions described herein, the Borrower may make distributions to its
      equityholders, not otherwise permitted hereunder, in an aggregate amount
      not to exceed $200,000 during the term of this Agreement; provided that
      the Borrower shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent in writing prior to
      making any such distribution and (ii) provide to the Administrative Agent
      all documentation in connection therewith;

            (b) so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default under Sections
      10.1(a) or 10.1(b) shall have occurred and be continuing or will exist
      immediately after giving effect to the distributions described herein and
      (ii) no obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2(a), the
      Borrower may make quarterly distributions to its equityholders on their
      pro rata share of the income of the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to
      exceed in any year the amount of the income tax liability incurred by such
      equityholders as a result of the reporting of the Borrower's income,
      deductions, gains or losses on the federal or state income tax returns of
      the equityholders, the aggregate amount of which shall be calculated
      assuming all equityholders will pay taxes at the highest combined federal
      and state tax rate; provided that the Borrower shall provide to the
      Administrative Agent all documentation in connection therewith; and

            (c) the Borrower may declare or make distributions to its
      equityholders to the extent not otherwise permitted hereunder or redeem
      the membership interests of its equityholders to the extent provided for
      in the operating agreement of the Borrower (as in effect on the date of
      this Agreement or as subsequently amended, modified or changed in
      accordance with Section 9.10) (such distributions and payments, the
      "Permitted Distributions"); provided that:

                  (i) the aggregate amount of all Permitted Distributions made
            during any Fiscal Year of the Borrower shall not exceed Cash Flow
            Available for Distribution for the preceding Fiscal Year of the
            Borrower; and

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                  (ii) all Permitted Distributions made during any Fiscal Year
            must be made during the sixty (60) day period (A) commencing on the
            date of delivery by the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders of the
            annual financial statements for the prior Fiscal Year of the
            Borrower which are required to be delivered pursuant to Section
            6.1(b) and (B) ending on the date which is sixty (60) days after the
            date of such delivery (provided that no Permitted Distributions may
            be made until the first Fiscal Year following the date which is six
            (6) full fiscal quarters after the Completion Date);

                  (iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
            be continuing or will exist immediately after giving effect to any
            Permitted Distribution;

                  (iv) the sum of (A) the cash balance of the Borrower plus (B)
            the aggregate amount of unused availability under Section 11(l)(ii)
            of the Guaranty Agreement shall not be less than $2,000,000 (such
            amount, the "Required Cash Availability") as of the end of the
            Business Day on which any Permitted Distribution is made (such date,
            the "Permitted Distribution Date") (the Required Cash Availability
            to exist after the payment and disbursement of (A) all operating
            expenses due and payable as of the Permitted Distribution Date, (B)
            all principal and interest on any Senior Debt due and payable as of
            the Permitted Distribution Date, (C) all principal and interest on
            any Subordinated Debt due and payable as of the Permitted
            Distribution Date and (D) all other Permitted Distributions due and
            payable as of such date); and

                  (v) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, as
            required by Section 6.4(c), a certificate in form and substance
            satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance by
            the Borrower with the requirements set forth in this Section 9.6(c).

      SECTION 9.7 Amendments, Payments and Prepayments of Subordinated Debt.
Amend or modify (or permit the modification or amendment of) any of the terms or
provisions of any Subordinated Debt, or cancel or forgive, make any principal
payment on, make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on, or redeem
or acquire for value (including, without limitation, by way of depositing with
any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before due for the purpose
of paying when due) any Subordinated Debt; provided that if no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist immediately
after giving effect to the payments described below, the Borrower may:

      (a) make all scheduled interest payments on Subordinated Debt;

      (b) repay the Subordinated Working Capital Loan; and

      (c) increase the amount of the Subordinated Working Capital Loan (to the
extent any such increase is permitted under Section 9.1(f)).

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      SECTION 9.8 Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed on Schedule
9.8 attached hereto, directly or indirectly:

      (a) make any loan or advance to, or purchase or assume any note or other
obligation to or from, any of its officers, members, managers or other
Affiliates, or to or from any member of the immediate family of any of its
officers, members, managers, shareholders or other Affiliates, or subcontract
any operations to any of its Affiliates (other than loans and advances to
officers, directors, employees and Affiliates permitted pursuant to Section
9.3(e)), or

      (b) enter into, or be a party to, any other transaction not described in
subsection (a) above with any of its Affiliates, except in the ordinary course
of business pursuant to the reasonable requirements of its business and upon
fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to the Borrower than the
Borrower would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not
its Affiliate.

      SECTION 9.9 Restrictive Agreements. Enter into any Debt which contains any
negative pledge on assets (other than, with respect to assets financed thereby,
the Equipment Loan Financing) or any covenants more restrictive than the
provisions hereof, or which restricts, limits or otherwise encumbers its ability
to incur Liens on or with respect to any of its assets or properties other than
the assets or properties securing such Debt.

      SECTION 9.10 Certain Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents. (a)
Change its Fiscal Year end, or make any change in its accounting treatment and
reporting practices except as required by GAAP or (b) amend, modify or change
its articles of organization (or corporate charter or other similar
organizational documents) or amend, modify or change its operating agreement (or
other similar documents) in any manner adverse in any respect to the rights or
interests of the Lenders.

      SECTION 9.11 Changes to the Plans. Without the Administrative Agent's
prior written consent, which consent shall not to be unreasonably withheld,
change or modify the Plans, undertake any construction on the Land except as
shown in the Plans, agree to any change order, or allow any extras to any
contractor or any subcontractor, except Permitted Changes. The Administrative
Agent shall not be obligated to review a proposed change which requires the
Administrative Agent's consent unless it has received all documents necessary to
review such change, including the change order, cost estimates, plans and
specifications, and evidence that all approvals by all applicable parties have
been obtained. The Administrative Agent shall furnish the Lenders with timely
written notice of any change to the Plans consented to by the Administrative
Agent.

      SECTION 9.12 Contracts. Without the Administrative Agent's prior written
approval as to parties, terms and all other matters, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, (a) enter into any Material Contract for the performance
of any work or the supplying of any labor, materials or services for the design
or construction of the Improvements (other than the Construction Contract or the
Architect's Contract), (b) enter into any management or leasing contract with a
third party pertaining to the Property not described in clause (a) above

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that is not unconditionally terminable by the Borrower or any successor owner
without penalty or payment on not more than thirty (30) days notice to the other
party thereunder, or (c) materially modify, amend or terminate any such
contracts except for Permitted Changes. All such contracts shall provide that
all Liens of the applicable contractor, architect, supplier, surveyor or other
party and any right to remove removable Improvements are or will be subordinate
to rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Borrower shall not
default under any Material Contract or permit any Material Contract to terminate
by reason of any failure of the Borrower to perform thereunder, and the Borrower
shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any material default
thereunder. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon request
of the Administrative Agent, the names of all persons or entities with whom each
contractor has contracted or intends to contract for the construction of the
Improvements or for the furnishing of labor or materials therefor. The
Administrative Agent shall furnish the Lenders on a monthly basis with a written
report of all approvals granted by the Administrative Agent under this Section
9.12 and of any notice of default received from the Borrower.

                                    ARTICLE X

                              DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

      SECTION 10.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an
Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be
voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any
judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority or otherwise:

            (a) Default in Payment of Principal of Construction Loans. The
      Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any Construction
      Loan Advance or Construction Loan Note when and as due (whether at
      maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), and such default shall
      continue unremedied for two (2) Business Days.

            (b) Other Payment Defaults. The Borrower shall default in the
      payment of any interest on any Construction Loan Advance or Construction
      Loan Note or the payment of any other Obligation when and as due (whether
      at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), and such default
      shall continue unremedied for five (5) Business Days.

            (c) Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or deemed
      to be made by the Borrower or any Guarantor under this Agreement, any Loan
      Document or any amendment hereto or thereto, shall at any time prove to
      have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or
      deemed made.

            (d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. The Borrower shall
      default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement
      contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.5(h)(i) or Articles VIII or IX of this
      Agreement or any Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance
      of any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 10(a), 10(b),
      10(e)(v)(A), 11(l), 12 and 13 of the Guaranty Agreement.

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            (e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. The
      Borrower or any Guarantor shall default in the performance or observance
      of any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement
      (other than as specifically provided for otherwise in this Section 10.1)
      or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue for a period of
      thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to the
      Borrower or such Guarantor by the Administrative Agent.

            (f) Hedging Agreement. The Borrower shall default in the performance
      or observance of any terms, covenant, condition or agreement under any
      Hedging Agreement with the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

            (g) Specific Cross Defaults.

                  (i) The occurrence of an event of default under the Corporate
            Revolver.

                  (ii) Any Guarantor shall default in the performance of any of
            its obligations under any of the Related Guaranty Agreements;
            provided, however, that a default by any Affiliate of any Guarantor
            which owns or operates a hospital or diagnostic center under the
            terms of any instrument or loan to which it is a party and for which
            such Guarantor provided its guaranty shall not be considered a
            Default or an Event of Default of such Guarantor pursuant to this
            Section 10.1(g)(ii) unless (A) written demand for payment of all or
            a portion of such debt has been made against such Guarantor by the
            lender or lenders thereunder (or an agent or trustee acting on
            behalf of the lender or lenders) and (B) such Guarantor fails to
            immediately (1) pay such debt and (2) perform all other related
            obligations in connection therewith.

            (h) Other Debt Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Guarantor shall
      (i) default in the payment of any Debt (other than (A) Debt evidenced by
      the Construction Loan Notes and (B) any inter-company Debt, including any
      Debt of the Borrower to any Guarantor) beyond the period of grace, if any,
      provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Debt was created
      and provided that with respect to the Parent and MedCath Incorporated,
      such Debt exceeds an aggregate of $1,000,000 and with respect to the
      Borrower and any other Guarantor, such Debt exceeds an aggregate of
      $500,000, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other
      agreement or condition relating to any Debt (other than Debt evidenced by
      the Construction Loan Notes) or contained in any instrument or agreement
      evidencing, securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or
      condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition
      is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee
      or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of
      notice if required, any such Debt to become due prior to its stated
      maturity (any applicable grace period having expired); provided, however,
      that a default by any Affiliate of any Guarantor which owns or operates a
      hospital or diagnostic center under the terms of any instrument or loan to
      which it is a party and for which such Guarantor provided its guaranty
      shall not be considered a Default or an Event of Default of such Guarantor
      pursuant to this Section 10.1(h) unless

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      demand for payment of all or a portion of such debt has been made against
      such Guarantor by the lender or lenders thereunder (or an agent or trustee
      acting on behalf of the lender or lenders).

            (i) Other Cross-Defaults. The Borrower or any Guarantor shall
      default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance, of
      any material obligation or condition of any Material Contract and such
      default shall continue beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in
      such Material Contract unless, but only as long as, the existence of any
      such default is being contested by the Borrower or such Guarantor in good
      faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in respect thereof
      have been established on the books of the Borrower or such Guarantor to
      the extent required by GAAP.

            (j) Change in Control. (i) Any person or group of persons (within
      the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
      amended), other than any direct or indirect shareholder of the Parent
      existing immediately prior to the Initial Public Offering (as defined in
      the Commitment Agreement), shall obtain ownership or control in one or
      more series of transactions of more than fifty percent (50%) of the common
      stock or fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Parent entitled to
      vote in the election of members of the board of directors of the Parent,
      (ii) MedCath Incorporated shall cease to be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
      the Parent, (iii) the Management Company shall cease to be a wholly-owned
      Subsidiary of MedCath Incorporated or (iv) the Management Company shall be
      the beneficial owner of less than that percentage of the equity interests
      in the Borrower owned by the Management Company on the Closing Date or
      shall cease to be the manager of the Borrower (any such event, a "Change
      in Control").

            (k) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. The Borrower or any Guarantor
      shall (i) commence a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws (as
      now or hereafter in effect), (ii) file a petition seeking to take
      advantage of any other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
      insolvency, reorganization, winding up or composition for adjustment of
      debts, (iii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate
      manner any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under such
      bankruptcy laws or other laws, (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to
      contest in a timely and appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the
      taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of
      itself or of a substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign, (v)
      admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (vi)
      make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vii) take any
      corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.

            (l) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding
      shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Guarantor in any court of
      competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under the federal bankruptcy
      laws (as now or hereafter in effect) or under any other laws, domestic or
      foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or
      adjustment of debts, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
      custodian, liquidator or the like for the Borrower or any Guarantor or for
      all or any substantial part of their respective assets, domestic or
      foreign, and such case or proceeding shall continue undismissed or
      unstayed for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days, or an order granting

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      the relief requested in such case or proceeding (including, but not
      limited to, an order for relief under such federal bankruptcy laws) shall
      be entered.

            (m) Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this Agreement or of any
      other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on
      the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person party thereto or the
      Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Person party thereto shall so state
      in writing, or this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall for any
      reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien on, or
      security interest in, any of the collateral purported to be covered
      thereby, in each case other than in accordance with the express terms
      hereof or thereof, the priority of which shall be subject only to Liens
      permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.

            (n) ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following events: (i)
      the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full
      payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Pension
      Plan or Section 412 of the Code, the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA
      Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto, (ii) an accumulated
      funding deficiency in excess of $2,000,000 occurs or exists, whether or
      not waived, with respect to any Pension Plan of the Borrower, any
      Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate, (iii) a Termination Event with respect
      to the Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate or (iv) the
      Borrower, any Guarantor or any ERISA Affiliate as an employer under one or
      more Multiemployer Plans makes a complete or partial withdrawal from any
      such Multiemployer Plan and the plan sponsor of any such Multiemployer
      Plan notifies such withdrawing employer that such employer has incurred a
      withdrawal liability requiring payment in an amount exceeding $2,000,000.

            (o) Judgment. A judgment or order by any court for the payment of
      money which causes the aggregate amount of all judgments and orders by any
      court in any Fiscal Year (which are not fully covered by insurance or with
      respect to which the applicable insurance carrier has not acknowledged
      that such judgment is fully covered by insurance) to exceed (i) $500,000
      with respect to the Borrower, (ii) $1,000,000 with respect to any
      Guarantor (other than MedCath Parent Entities), (iii) $1,500,000 in the
      aggregate with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors (other than the
      MedCath Parent Entities) or (iv) $2,000,000 with respect to any of the
      MedCath Parent Entities, and such judgment or order shall continue without
      discharge or stay for a period of thirty (30) days.

            (p) Certificate of Occupancy; Medicare Certification and Medicaid
      Certification. The Borrower shall fail to obtain a final certificate of
      occupancy, a license to operate, Medicare Certification and Medicaid
      Certification (as applicable) within eighteen (18) months after the
      Closing Date or after the receipt thereof, such license to operate,
      Medicare Certification or Medicaid Certification (as applicable) shall
      expire, terminate, be cancelled or otherwise lost.

            (q) Operating Agreement. The Borrower shall amend the Borrower's
      operating agreement in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect
      without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

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            (r) Management Agreement. The Management Agreement shall be amended
      in a manner which would have a Material Adverse Effect, without the prior
      written consent of the Required Lenders, or shall cease to be valid and
      binding in accordance with its terms.

            (s) Environmental. Any one or more Environmental Claims shall have
      been asserted against the Borrower or any Guarantor; the Borrower or any
      Guarantor would be reasonably likely to incur liability as a result
      thereof; and such liability would be reasonably likely, individually or in
      the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 10.2 Remedies.

      (a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, with the consent of the
Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the request of the
Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, do any one or more of the
following:

            (i) declare the principal of and interest on the Construction Loan
      Advances and the Construction Loan Notes at the time outstanding, and all
      other amounts owed to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this
      Agreement or any other Loan Document and all other Obligations (other than
      obligations owing under any Hedging Agreement), to be forthwith due and
      payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable
      without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
      which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or any other Loan
      Document to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Construction
      Loan Facility, any right of the Borrower to request borrowings thereunder
      and any obligation to disburse any sum from the Project Deposit; provided,
      that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section
      10.1(k) or (l), the Construction Loan Facility, any right of the Borrower
      to request borrowings thereunder and any obligation to disburse any sum
      from the Project Deposit shall be automatically terminated and all
      Obligations (other than obligations owing under any Hedging Agreement)
      shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand,
      protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived,
      anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary
      notwithstanding;

            (ii) institute an action to reduce any claim to judgment;

            (iii) exercise any and all rights and remedies afforded by this
      Agreement, the other Loan Documents, Applicable Law, equity or otherwise;

            (iv) set-off and apply, to the extent thereof and to the maximum
      extent permitted by law, any and all deposits, funds or assets at any time
      held and any and all other indebtedness at any time owing by any Lender to
      or for the credit or account of the Borrower against any Obligations
      (other than Obligations owing under any Hedging Agreement); or

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            (v) in its own name or in the name of the Borrower, enter into
      possession of the Property, perform all work necessary to complete the
      construction of the Improvements substantially in accordance with the
      Plans, the Loan Documents, laws and governmental requirements, and
      continue to employ the Architect and any engineer or contractor pursuant
      to the applicable contracts or otherwise.

      (b) The Borrower hereby appoints the Administrative Agent as the
attorney-in-fact of the Borrower, which power of attorney is irrevocable and
coupled with an interest, with full power of substitution and in the name of the
Borrower, if the Administrative Agent elects to do so, upon the occurrence of a
Default or an Event of Default, to:

            (i) use such sums as are necessary, including any proceeds of the
      Construction Loan Advances and the Project Deposit, make such changes or
      corrections in the Plans and employ such architects, engineers and
      contractors as may be required for the purpose of completing the
      construction of the Improvements substantially in accordance with the
      Plans, the Loan Documents, laws and governmental requirements, or as
      otherwise may be reasonably necessary for purposes of completing such
      construction;

            (ii) execute all applications and certificates in the name of the
      Borrower which may be required for completion of construction of the
      Improvements;

            (iii) endorse the name of the Borrower on any checks or drafts
      representing proceeds of any insurance policies, or other checks or
      instruments payable to the Borrower with respect to the Property;

            (iv) do every act with respect to the construction of the
      Improvements which the Borrower may do;

            (v) prosecute or defend any action or proceeding incident to the
      Property,

            (vi) pay, settle or compromise all bills and claims so as to clear
      title to the Property; and

            (vii) take over and use all or any part of the labor, materials,
      supplies and equipment contracted for, owned by or under the control of
      the Borrower, whether or not previously incorporated into the
      Improvements.

Any amounts expended by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall be a
demand obligation owing by the Borrower to the Lenders. The Lenders shall have
no liability to the Borrower for the sufficiency or adequacy of any such actions
taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders unless such actions constitute
gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Administrative Agent
or the Lenders.

      SECTION 10.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc. The
enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders set forth in

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this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude
the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative,
and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under
the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity
or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be
construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective
agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any
provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute
a waiver of any Event of Default.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

      SECTION 11.1 Appointment and Authorization of the Administrative Agent.
Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 11.9) appoints, designates
and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under
the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise
such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the
terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as
are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative
Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set
forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants,
functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read
into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the
Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence,
the use of the term "agent" herein and in the other Loan Documents with
reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary
or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any
Applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom,
and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between
independent contracting parties.

      SECTION 11.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute
any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through
agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of
counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to
such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the
absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

      SECTION 11.3 Liability of the Administrative Agent. No Administrative
Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or the transactions

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contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct
in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible
in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement,
representation or warranty made by the Borrower, any Guarantor or any officer
thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate,
report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received
by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure
of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any other party to any Loan Document to
perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Administrative Agent-Related
Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain
or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements
contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to
inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any
Affiliate thereof.

      SECTION 11.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent.

      (a) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully
protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution,
representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or
conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed,
sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of
legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower and the Guarantors),
independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take
any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or
concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so
requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders
against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason
of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall
in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or
consent of the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, if required hereunder, and
such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be
binding upon all the Lenders and participants. Where this Agreement expressly
permits or prohibits an action unless the Required Lenders otherwise determine,
the Administrative Agent shall, and in all other instances, the Administrative
Agent may, but shall not be required to, initiate any solicitation for the
consent or a vote of the Lenders.

      (b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified
in Section 4.2, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to
have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document
or other matter either sent by the Administrative Agent to such Lender for
consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction, or required thereunder to be
consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender.

      SECTION 11.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be
deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest
and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent

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shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to
this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that
such notice is a "notice of default." The Administrative Agent will notify the
Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be directed
by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article X; provided, however, that
unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the
Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of
Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

      SECTION 11.6 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by the
Administrative Agent. Each Lender acknowledges that no Administrative
Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no
act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any consent to and
acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower, any
Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by any Administrative Agent-Related Person to any
Lender as to any matter, including whether Administrative Agent-Related Persons
have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents
to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon
any Administrative Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and
investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and
other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, the Guarantors and their
respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Applicable
Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision
to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder.
Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance
upon any Administrative Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as
it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and
the Guarantors. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly
required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects,
operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the
Borrower or any of the Guarantors or any of their respective Affiliates which
may come into the possession of any Administrative Agent-Related Person.

      SECTION 11.7 Indemnification of the Administrative Agent. Whether or not
the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall
indemnify upon demand each Administrative Agent-Related Person (to the extent
not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Guarantors promptly upon
demand therefor and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower and the
Guarantors to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Administrative
Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities
incurred by it; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the
payment to any Administrative Agent-Related Person of any portion of such
Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Person's

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gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken
in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to
constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section
11.7. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the
Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or
out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative
Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration,
modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document
contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative
Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower
promptly upon demand therefor. The undertaking in this Section 11.7 shall
survive termination of the Commitments, the payment of all Obligations hereunder
and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 11.8 The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Bank of
America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the
account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally
engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other
business with the Borrower and each of the Guarantors and their respective
Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent hereunder
and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that,
pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive
information regarding the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof
(including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in
favor of the Borrower, any Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof) and acknowledge
that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such
information to them. With respect to its Construction Loan Advances, Bank of
America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the
Administrative Agent, and the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" include Bank of
America in its individual capacity.

         SECTION 11.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent
may resign as Administrative Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice to the Lenders.
If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders
shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the
Lenders which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by the
Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default
(which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of
the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may
appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor
administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, such successor
administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the
retiring Administrative Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean
such successor administrative agent and the retiring Administrative Agent's
appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated.
After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article XI and Sections 5.2 and
10.3 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken
by

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it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor
administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the
date which is thirty (30) days following a retiring Administrative Agent's
notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation shall
nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the
duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the
Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

      SECTION 11.10 Syndication Agent; Documentation Agent; Co-Lead Arranger.
None of the Lenders identified on the facing page or signature pages of this
Agreement as a "syndication agent", "documentation agent" or "co-lead arranger"
shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under
this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without
limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders so identified shall have or be
deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender
acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders so
identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking
action hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      SECTION 12.1 Notices.

      (a) Method of Communication. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing, or by
telephone subsequently confirmed in writing. Any notice shall be effective if
delivered by hand delivery or sent via telecopy, recognized overnight courier
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall be presumed to be
received by a party hereto (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand or
sent by telecopy, (ii) on the next Business Day if sent by recognized overnight
courier service and (iii) on the third Business Day following the date sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested. A telephonic notice to the
Administrative Agent as understood by the Administrative Agent will be deemed to
be the controlling and proper notice in the event of a discrepancy with or
failure to receive a confirming written notice.

      (b) Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent to it at the
following addresses, or any other address as to which all the other parties are
notified in writing.

      If to the Parent:            MedCath Corporation
                                   10720 Sikes Place
                                   Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
                                   Attention:      James E. Harris
                                   Telephone No.:  (704) 708-6610
                                   Telecopy No.:   (704) 708-5035

      If to the Borrower:          Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC
                                   c/o  Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc.

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                                   10720 Sikes Place
                                   Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
                                   Attention:      James E. Harris
                                   Telephone No.:  (704) 708-6610
                                   Telecopy No.:   (704) 708-5035

      With copies to:              Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
                                   Bank of America Corporate Center
                                   100 North Tryon Street, Floor 47
                                   Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                   Attention:      Hal A. Levinson, Esq.
                                   Telephone No.:  (704) 331-1050
                                   Telecopy No.:   (704) 331-1159

      If to Bank of America as     Bank of America, N.A.
       Administrative Agent:       IL1-231-08-03
                                   231 South LaSalle Street
                                   Chicago, Illinois 60604
                                   Attention:      Kristine Hyde
                                   Telephone No.:  (312) 828-1657
                                   Telecopy No.:   (877) 206-8412

      With copies to:              Bank of America, N.A.
                                   Commercial Construction Administration
                                   1111 East Main Street
                                   Richmond, Virginia 23219
                                   Attention:      Kathryn V. Traylor
                                   Telephone No.:  (804) 788-3873
                                   Telecopy No.:   (804) 788-2248

      With copies to:              Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.
                                   Bank of America Corporate Center
                                   100 North Tryon Street
                                   Suite 4200
                                   Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                                   Attention:      J. Donnell Lassiter, Esq.
                                   Telephone No.:  (704) 331-7444
                                   Telecopy No.:   (704) 331-7598

      If to any Lender:            To the address set forth on Schedule 1.1(a)
                                   hereto

      (c) Administrative Agent's Office. The Administrative Agent hereby
designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent
office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the
Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent's Office referred to herein,
to which payments due are to be made and at which Construction Loan Advances
will be disbursed.

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      SECTION 12.2 Expenses; Indemnity.

      (a) The Borrower agrees (i) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent
and the Syndication Agent for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other
modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the
consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, including, without limitation, all out-of-pocket syndication and due
diligence expenses and all Attorney Costs (provided that such Attorney Costs
shall be limited to the fees and expenses of a single law firm representing the
Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent), and (ii) to pay or reimburse
the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any
rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including
all such costs and expenses incurred during any "workout" or restructuring in
respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including, without limitation, all
Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search,
filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes
related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative
Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts
retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. The agreements in this
Section 12.2(a) shall survive the termination of the Commitments and repayment
of all the other Obligations.

      (b) Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated,
the Borrower agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each Agent-Related
Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers,
employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the
"Indemnitees") from and against: (i) any and all claims, demands, actions or
causes of action that are asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (other
than the Administrative Agent or any Lender) relating directly or indirectly to
a claim, demand, action or cause of action that such Person asserts or may
assert against the Borrower, any Guarantor, any Affiliate thereof or any of
their respective officers or directors; (ii) any and all claims, demands,
actions or causes of action that may at any time (including at any time
following repayment of the Obligations and the resignation or removal of the
Administrative Agent or the replacement of any Lender) be asserted or imposed
against any Indemnitee, arising out of or relating to, the Loan Documents, any
predecessor loan documents, the Commitments, the use or contemplated use of the
proceeds of any Construction Loan Advance, or the relationship of the Borrower,
the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document; (iii) any administrative or investigative proceeding by
any Governmental Authority arising out of or related to a claim, demand, action
or cause of action described in clause (i) or (ii) above; and (iv) any and all
liabilities (including liabilities under indemnities), losses, costs or expenses
(including Attorney Costs) that any Indemnitee suffers or incurs as a result of
the assertion of any foregoing claim, demand, action, cause of action or
proceeding, or as a result of the preparation of any defense in connection with
any foregoing claim, demand, action, cause of action or proceeding, in all
cases, whether or not arising out of the negligence of an Indemnitee, and
whether or not an Indemnitee is a party to such claim,

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demand, action, cause of action or proceeding (all the foregoing, collectively,
the "Indemnified Liabilities"); provided that no Indemnitee shall be entitled to
indemnification for any claim caused by its own gross negligence or willful
misconduct or for any loss asserted against it by another Indemnitee. The
agreements in this Section 12.2(b) shall survive the termination of the
Commitments and repayment of all the other Obligations.

      SECTION 12.3 Set-off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted
under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon and
after the occurrence of any Event of Default and during the continuance thereof,
the Lenders and any assignee or participant of a Lender in accordance with
Section 12.10 are hereby authorized by the Borrower at any time or from time to
time, without notice to the Borrower or to any other Person, any such notice
being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any
and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, including, but not limited
to, indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or
unmatured) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by the Lenders,
or any such assignee or participant to or for the credit or the account of the
Borrower against and on account of the Obligations irrespective of whether or
not (a) the Lenders shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents or (b) the Administrative Agent shall have declared any
or all of the Obligations to be due and payable as permitted by Section 10.2 and
although such Obligations shall be contingent or unmatured. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application, provided that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application.

      SECTION 12.4 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTES
AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN,
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW
PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL
RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

      SECTION 12.5 Jurisdiction and Venue.

      (a) Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to the personal
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of any
dispute in connection with this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes and the
other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the
performance of such rights and obligations. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
consents to the service of a summons and complaint and other process in any
action, claim or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in
connection with this Agreement, the Construction Loan Notes or the other Loan
Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the performance
of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its property, in the
manner specified in Section 12.1. Nothing in this Section 12.5 shall affect the
right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to serve legal process in any
other manner

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permitted by Applicable Law or affect the right of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender to bring any action or proceeding against the Borrower or its
properties in the courts of any other jurisdictions.

      (b) Venue. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives any objection it may
have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid jurisdiction
in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder. The Borrower irrevocably waives, in connection with such
action, claim or proceeding, any plea or claim that the action, claim or other
proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

      SECTION 12.6 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY TO THIS
AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY
CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR
ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED
THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER
FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND
CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED
BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN
ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 12.6 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN
EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY.

      SECTION 12.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent the Borrower makes a
payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders or the Administrative Agent receives any payment or proceeds of the
collateral which payments or proceeds or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or
required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to
the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Obligations or part thereof
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect
as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative
Agent.

      SECTION 12.8 Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.

      (a) The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to
perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this
Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lenders.
Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at the Lenders' option, shall
be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case
without the necessity of proving actual damages.

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      (b) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower (on behalf of
itself and the Guarantors) hereby agree that no such Person shall have a remedy
of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan Document and
each such Person hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or exemplary
damages that it may now have or which may arise in the future in connection with
any dispute, whether such dispute is resolved through arbitration or judicially.

      SECTION 12.9 Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting
calculations, measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to
this Agreement, including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the
Borrower or the Guarantors to determine compliance with any covenant contained
herein, shall, except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there
is an express written direction by the Administrative Agent to the contrary
agreed to by the Borrower, be performed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on
the Closing Date. In the event that changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, or any similar accounting body of
comparable standing, or shall be recommended by the Borrower's certified public
accountants, to the extent that such changes would modify such accounting terms
or the interpretation or computation thereof, such changes shall be followed in
defining such accounting terms only from and after the date the Borrower and the
Required Lenders shall have amended this Agreement to the extent necessary to
reflect any such changes in the financial covenants and other terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

      SECTION 12.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations.

      (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns
permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without
such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties
hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the
extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

      (b) Any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Construction Loan Advances at the time owing
to it); provided that:

            (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining
      amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Construction Loan
      Advances at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a
      Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a
      Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose
      includes Construction Loan Advances outstanding thereunder) of the
      assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the
      date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is
      delivered to the Administrative Agent, shall not be less than $5,000,000,
      unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of
      Default has occurred and is

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      continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
      unreasonably withheld or delayed);

            (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
      proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations
      under this Agreement with respect to the Construction Loan Advances or the
      Commitment assigned; and

            (iii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to
      the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a
      processing and recordation fee of $3,500.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to subsection (c) of this Section 12.10, from and after the effective date
specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the Eligible Assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under
this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its
obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under
this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue
to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 and 12.2). Upon
request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver new or
replacement Construction Loan Notes to the assigning Lender and the assignee
Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under
this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection (b) shall be treated
for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in
such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section
12.10.

      (c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent
of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a copy of
each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of,
and principal amount of the Construction Loan Advances owing to, each Lender
pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in
the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register
pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this
Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

      (d) Any Lender may, with notice to, but without the consent of, the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks
or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights
and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its
Commitment and/or the Construction Loan Advances owing to it); provided that (i)
such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
and the other Lenders shall

                                       92
<PAGE>
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide
that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to
approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such
Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment,
waiver or other modification that would (i) postpone any date upon which any
payment of money is scheduled to be paid to such Participant, (ii) reduce the
principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable to such Participant, (iii)
release any Guarantor from the Guaranty or (iv) release all or substantially all
of the Collateral. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 12.10, the Borrower
agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections
3.8(c), 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11; provided that, subject to subsection (e) of this
Section 12.10, no Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater amount
pursuant to such Sections 3.8(c), 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11 than the transferor Lender
would have been entitled to receive in respect of the amount of the
participation transferred by such transferor Lender to such Participant had no
such transfer occurred. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also
shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.3 as though it were a Lender;
provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 3.6 as though it were
a Lender.

      (e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Sections 3.8(c), 3.10 or 3.11 than the applicable Lender would have been
entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant,
unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the
Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender
if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.11 unless
the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such
Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section
3.11(e) as though it were a Lender.

      (f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all
or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its
Construction Loan Notes, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including
any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank;
provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release a Lender from any of
its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such
Lender as a party hereto.

      (g) If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment or to an Eligible
Assignee is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does
not meet the minimum assignment threshold specified in clause (i) of the proviso
to the first sentence of Section 12.10(b)), the Borrower shall be deemed to have
given its consent ten (10) Business Days after the date notice thereof has been
delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such
consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such fifth (5th) Business
Day.

      (h) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

                                       93
<PAGE>
            "Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a
      Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; or (d) any other Person (other than a
      natural Person) approved by the Administrative Agent and, unless (i) such
      Person is taking delivery of an assignment in connection with physical
      settlement of a credit derivatives transaction or (ii) an Event of Default
      has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be
      unreasonably withheld or delayed).

            "Fund" means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or
      will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in
      commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course
      of its business.

            "Approved Fund" means any Fund that is administered or managed by
      (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an
      Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

      SECTION 12.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents.

      (a) Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any Loan
Document, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and any
consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent
is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent
with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative
Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that
no amendment, waiver or consent shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender,
(ii) reduce the rate of interest or fees payable on any Construction Loan
Advance, (iii) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Construction Loan
Advance, (iv) extend the originally scheduled time or times of payment of the
principal of any Construction Loan Advance or the time or times of payment of
interest on any Construction Loan Advance or any fee or commission with respect
thereto, (v) permit any subordination of the principal or interest on any
Construction Loan Advance, (vi) release the Borrower from the Obligations
hereunder, (vii) release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty
Agreement (other than as specifically permitted or contemplated in this
Agreement or the Guaranty Agreement), (viii) permit any assignment (other than
as specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement) of any of the
Borrower's rights and obligations hereunder, (ix) release all or any material
portion of the Collateral or release any Security Document (other than asset
sales permitted pursuant to Section 9.5 and as otherwise specifically permitted
or contemplated in this Agreement or the applicable Security Document) or (x)
amend the provisions of this Section 12.11 or the definition of Required
Lenders, in each case, without the prior written consent of each Lender. In
addition, no amendment, waiver or consent to the provisions of Article XI shall
be made without the written consent of the Administrative Agent.

      (b) In the case of any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification in
connection with this Agreement for which a substantially similar corresponding
amendment, waiver, consent or other modification with regard to any the Related
Credit Documents will be made effective thereunder contemporaneously, each
Lender must vote in the same manner with

                                       94
<PAGE>
respect to each such amendment, waiver, consent or other modification in
connection with this Agreement and all such other Related Credit Documents.

      SECTION 12.12 Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent and each of the
Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined
below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure
is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and
instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested
by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party
to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section 12.12, to (i) any Eligible
Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or
Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii)
any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or
such contractual counterparty's or prospective counterparty's professional
advisor) to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the
Borrower and the Guarantors; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the
extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of
a breach of this Section 12.12 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the
Borrower and the Guarantors; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners or any other similar organization or any nationally recognized
rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender's or its
Affiliates' investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect
to such Lender or its Affiliates. For the purposes of this Section 12.12,
"Information" means all information received from the Borrower and the
Guarantors relating to the Borrower and the Guarantors or the business, other
than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or the
Guarantors; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower
or any Guarantor after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified
in writing at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to
maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 12.12
shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person
has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

      SECTION 12.13 Performance of Duties. The Borrower's obligations under this
Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by the
Borrower at its sole cost and expense.

      SECTION 12.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and
other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any
Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any
provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed
coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the
Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Construction Loan Facility has
not been terminated.

                                       95
<PAGE>
      SECTION 12.15 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XII and any other
provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full
force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
against events arising after such termination as well as before.

      SECTION 12.16 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles,
Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are
for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this
Agreement.

      SECTION 12.17 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 12.18 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding
upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      SECTION 12.19 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect
from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations
shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full. The
Administrative Agent is hereby permitted to release all Liens on the Collateral
in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the
Lenders, upon repayment of the outstanding principal of and all accrued interest
on the Construction Loan Advances, payment of all outstanding fees and expenses
hereunder and the termination of the Lender's Commitments. No termination of
this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto
arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this
Agreement which survives such termination.

      SECTION 12.20 Advice of Counsel. Each of the parties represents to each
other party hereto that it has discussed this Agreement with its counsel.

      SECTION 12.21 No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated
jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an
ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall
be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or
burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the
authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

      SECTION 12.22 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of
Covenants.

      (a) In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this
Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall
control; provided, that any provision

                                       96
<PAGE>
of the Security Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or
the Guarantors or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or the Guarantors
or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights shall not be
deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given
full force and effect.

      (b) The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant
contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections 11, 12 and 13 of the
Guaranty Agreement shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the Borrower
shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any
covenant contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections 11, 12 and
13 of the Guaranty Agreement if, before or after giving effect to such
transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other
covenant contained in Articles VII, VIII and IX hereof and Sections 11, 12 and
13 of the Guaranty Agreement.

                           [Signature pages to follow]

                                       97
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and
year first written above.

[CORPORATE SEAL]                  LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC,
                                  as Borrower

                                        By: Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc.,
                                               its Manager

                                        By: /s/ James A. Parker
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name: James A. Parker
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Title: Treasurer
                                            ------------------------------------

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

                                  By: /s/ Kristine Thennes
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: Kristine Thennes
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------

                                  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

                                  By: /s/ Charles R. Dickerson
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: Charles R. Dickerson
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Senior Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------

                                  BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Syndication
                                    Agent and as Lender

                                  By: /s/ Diane F. Rolfe
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: Diane F. Rolfe
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President

                                  WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
                                  ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent
                                  and as Lender

                                  By: /s/ Douglas T. Davis
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: Douglas T. Davis
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Director
                                      ------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                   GE HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SERVICES, as
                                    Lender

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

                                   SIEMENS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC., as Lender

                                   By: /s/ James E. Schwartz
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: James E. Schwartz
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------

                                   JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Lender

                                   By: /s/ Dawn Lee Lum
                                      ------------------------------------
                                       Name: Dawn Lee Lum
                                      ------------------------------------
                                       Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------

                                   FIFTH THIRD BANK (WESTERN OHIO), as Lender

                                   By: /s/ Brian B. Bergmann
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Name: Brian B. Bergmann
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LAND
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                LEGAL DESCRIPTION
                               (Hospital Property)

A certain parcel of land situated in Sections 8 and 17, Township 8 South, Range
13 East, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and more fully described as follows:

Commence at the Section corner common to Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, Township 8
South, Range 13 East and measure EAST a distance of 2,641.00 feet; thence South
00 degrees 59 minutes 07 seconds East a distance of 284.39 feet to the POINT OF
BEGINNING.

From the POINT OF BEGINNING continue South 00 degrees 59 minutes 07 seconds East
a distance of 986.28 feet; thence North 59 degrees 18 minutes 11 seconds West a
distance of 1,320.98 feet; thence North 30 degrees 54 minutes 01 seconds East a
distance of 1,218.86 feet; thence South 61 degrees 05 minutes 26 seconds East a
distance of 800.48 feet; thence South 30 degrees 54 minutes 01 seconds West a
distance of 404.53 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and containing 27.633 acres
of land, more or less.

LESS AND EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING TWO PARCELS:

Parcel 1 (Right of Way)

      A certain parcel of land situated in Sections 8 and 17, Township 8 South,
Range 13 East, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and more fully described as
follows.

      Commence at the Section corner common to Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18,
Township 8 South, Range 13 East and measure EAST a distance of 2641.00 feet;
thence South 00 degrees 59 minutes 07 seconds East a distance of 1,270.67 feet;
thence North 59 degrees 18 minutes 11 seconds West a distance of 1,270.98 feet
to the POINT OF BEGINNING.

      From the POINT OF BEGINNING continue North 59 degrees 18 minutes 11
seconds West a distance of 50.00 feet; thence North 30 degrees 54 minutes 01
seconds East a distance of 1,218.86 feet; thence South 61 degrees 05 minutes 26
seconds East a distance of 50.03 feet; thence South 30 degrees 54 minutes 01
seconds West a distance of 1,220.42 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and
containing 1.400 acres of land, more or less, all as per survey and plat by
Kelly J. McHugh and Associates, Inc., dated 7-20-01, last revised 3-4-02 and
numbered A01-190-1.

      Parcel 2 (Fire Department)

      A certain parcel of land situated in Sections 8 and 17, Township 8 South,
Range 13 East, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana and more fully described as
follows.
<PAGE>
      Commence at the Section corner common to Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18,
Township 8 South, Range 13 East and measure EAST a distance of 2641.00 feet;
thence South 00 degrees 59 minutes 07 seconds East a distance of 1,270.67 feet;
thence North 59 degrees 18 minutes 11 seconds West a distance of 1,270.98 feet;
thence North 30 degrees 54 minutes 01 seconds East a distance of 1100.35 feet to
the POINT OF BEGINNING.

      From the POINT OF BEGINNING continue North 30 degrees 54 minutes 01
seconds East a distance of 120.07 feet; thence South 61 degrees 05 minutes 26
seconds East a distance of 363.00 feet; thence South 30 degrees 54 minutes 01
seconds West a distance of 120.07 feet; thence North 61 degrees 05 minutes 26
seconds West a distance of 363.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and containing
1.000 acres of land, more or less, all as per survey and plat by Kelly J. McHugh
and Associates, Inc., dated 7-20-01, last revised 3-4-02 and numbered A01-190-1.

All the above parcels being shown on a survey and plat numbered A01-190-1 by
Kelly J. McHugh and Associates, Inc., which has been recorded as Instrument No.
__________ in the records of St. Tammany Parish.
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT B
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                         FORM OF CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE

                                       2
<PAGE>
                             CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE

$__________                                                       April __, 2002

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a
North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to
the order of ______________________________ (the "Lender"), at the place and
times provided in the Loan Agreement referred to below, the principal sum of
____________________ DOLLARS ($__________) or, if less, the principal amount of
all Construction Loan Advances made by the Lender pursuant to that certain
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of April __, 2002 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement") by and among the Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become a party
thereto, as Lenders (collectively, the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein
and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      The unpaid principal amount of this Construction Loan Note from time to
time outstanding is subject to mandatory repayment from time to time as provided
in the Loan Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 3.1 of the
Loan Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on this Construction Loan
Note shall be payable in lawful currency of the United States of America in
immediately available funds to the account designated in the Loan Agreement.

      This Construction Loan Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences
Obligations incurred under, the Loan Agreement, to which reference is made for a
description of the security for this Construction Loan Note and for a statement
of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to
make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by
this Construction Loan Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be
immediately due and payable.

      THIS CONSTRUCTION LOAN NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS
OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

      The Debt evidenced by this Construction Loan Note is senior in right of
payment to all Subordinated Debt referred to in the Loan Agreement.

      The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Loan Agreement) notice
of any kind with respect to this Construction Loan Note.
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Construction Loan
Note under seal as of the day and year first above written.

[CORPORATE SEAL]                 LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC,
                                 as Borrower

                                       By: Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc.,
                                           its Manager

                                       By:____________________________________
                                          Name:_______________________________
                                          Title:______________________________

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT C
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                              FORM OF DRAW REQUEST
<PAGE>
                                  DRAW REQUEST

                              DRAW REQUEST NO. ___

      PURSUANT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF APRIL 24,
      2002 (AS AMENDED, RESTATED SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO
      TIME, THE "LOAN AGREEMENT") BY AND AMONG LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, AS
      BORROWER (THE "BORROWER"), THE LENDERS WHO ARE OR MAY BECOME PARTY
      THERETO, AS LENDERS (THE "LENDERS"), AND BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS
      ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (THE "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT").

TO: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent             Date:  __________

BORROWER: Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC

PROJECT: _______________________________

DRAW REQUEST
NUMBER: ________________________________                TOTAL AMOUNT:$__________

DRAW BREAKDOWN:

      (a)   Borrower                           $__________
      (b)   General Contractor                 $__________
      (c)   Architect                          $__________
      (d)   Administrative Agent
              [for fees and expenses]          $__________

PERIOD COVERED:  _____________________  THROUGH _______________

      BEFORE ME, the undersigned Notary, on this day personally appeared the
person executing this affidavit, who, being by me first duly sworn, deposed and
said:

      1. He is the duly authorized representative of Louisiana Hospital
Management, Inc., the duly authorized and acting Manager of the Borrower (the
"Management Company"), the office which he holds in the Management Company being
indicated on the execution line of this affidavit; and he is duly authorized to
make this affidavit and to execute and deliver the related request for payment
on behalf of the Borrower.

      2. All reports, statements, and other documentation heretofore or herewith
delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent are
substantially true and correct and in all material respects what they purport
and appear to be.
<PAGE>
      3. Attached is a Draw Request for Work Completed Summary, and if a
Construction Loan Advance for hard costs is requested, also attached are AIA
Document G-702 and G-703 (1983 Edition) forms executed by the General Contractor
and approved by the Borrower's Architect, all completed for the above amount and
period, together with all supporting documentation required by the Loan
Agreement for the Project, all of which are true and correct and in all respects
what they purport and appear to be.

      4. The Borrower has not been served with any written notice that a lien
will be claimed for any amount unpaid for materials delivered, labor performed,
or services provided in connection with the Project, or any part thereof.

      5. This affidavit is made to induce the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders to advance funds to the Borrower, which funds shall be applied by the
Borrower in accordance with the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and, in so lending funds, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are relying
upon the accuracy of matters stated in this affidavit.

      6. All representations and warranties contained in the Loan Agreement and
the other Loan Documents are true and accurate in all material respects as of
the date of this Draw Request and will be true in all material respects as of
the date on which the requested Construction Loan Advance is disbursed, except
as follows (if any):__________________.

      7. No Default or Event of Default exists (or would result from the
Construction Loan Advance herein requested).

      8. No part of the Property has been taken by eminent domain proceedings,
and the Borrower has not received written notice of any proceedings or
negotiations therefor which are pending.

      9. All previously disbursed funds received in connection with Construction
Loan Advances have been expended, or are being held in trust, for the sole
purpose of paying Project costs included in the Budget and previously incurred
by the Borrower as set forth in previous Draw Requests; and no part of said
funds has been used for any other purpose.

      10. The Borrower has previously or concurrently disclosed to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders all matters known to the Borrower that are
required to be so disclosed under the Loan Documents.

      11. All conditions precedent to the Borrower's right to receive the
requested Construction Loan Advance have been met in accordance with the terms
of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

      12. The amounts and percentages set forth in this Draw Request (including
the Draw Request for Work Completed Summary and any AIA Document G-702 and G-703
submitted in connection herewith) are true and correct.

      13. The aggregate sum of (i) Construction Loan Advance funds previously
disbursed for hard costs, plus (ii) the Construction Loan Advance funds included
in this Draw Request for hard costs, plus (iii) the existing retainage required
under Section 2.2(b)(i) of the Loan Agreement, does not exceed
<PAGE>
the aggregate amount incurred and/or expended to date for hard costs included in
the Work (as defined in the Construction Contract) incorporated into the
Improvements and for stored materials.

      14. No portion of the materials included within this Draw Request are
stored off the Land except as follows (if any): ___________________.

      15. Upon disbursement by the Borrower of the funds advanced by the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders as requested in this Draw Request, all
obligations for Work (as defined in the Construction Contract) and other costs
heretofore incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Project and which are
due and payable will be fully paid and satisfied.

      16. The actual cost required to complete all matters of a type included in
any line item in the Budget does not exceed the amount allocated to that line
item in the Budget, except as follows (if any): ________________________.

      17. All change orders to the Plans have been submitted to the
Administrative Agent and all change orders for which a Construction Loan Advance
is requested hereby have been consented to by the Administrative Agent and
Required Lenders to the extent required under the Loan Agreement and the other
Loan Documents.

      18. All lien waivers or payment receipts required under the terms of the
Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents for this Draw Request have been
submitted to the Administrative Agent.

      19. The construction of the Improvements is progressing in a satisfactory
manner so as to assure completion thereof on or before the Completion Date in
accordance with the Plans, the Loan Agreement and the Loan Documents.

      20. As of the date hereof, the Borrower has no claims, causes of action,
demands against the Administrative Agent, demands against the Lenders, or
defenses or offsets to payment of the Construction Loan Advances or any other
amounts due under Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

      21. The Borrower has undertaken all investigation necessary to make all of
the foregoing statements.

      22. The acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of this
Draw Request will in no way operate as a waiver by the Administrative Agent or
the Lenders of any term, condition, covenant or agreement contained in the Loan
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or of any right of the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders to enforce any term, condition, covenant or agreement
therein.

      23. This Draw Request includes Pre-Opening Operating Costs of $__________
to be reimbursed to the Borrower.
<PAGE>
      All capitalized, undefined terms used herein shall have the meanings
assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Draw Request as of
the date first written above.

                                     AFFIANT:

[SEAL]                               LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC,
                                     as Borrower

                                        By: Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc.,
                                            its Manager

                                        By:____________________________________
                                           Name:_______________________________
                                           Title:______________________________

STATE OF _____________________      )
                                    )
COUNTY OF ____________________      )

      SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN BEFORE ME, on this ____ day of _______________,
200__.

                                      _____________________________________
                                      Notary Public:_______________________
                                      Printed Name:________________________
                                      My Commission Expires:_______________
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT D
                                       to
                      Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                      and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                            as Administrative Agent

                     FORM OF NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION
<PAGE>
                          NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION

                           Dated as of: April 24, 2002

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This Notice of Account Designation is delivered to you under Section
2.2(c) of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 24, 2002 (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina
limited liability company, (the "Borrower"), the lenders who are or may become
party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent (the "Administrative Agent").

      1. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse the proceeds
of all Construction Loan Advances requested by the Borrower to be disbursed
thereto into the following account(s):

                          Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC
                         ABA Routing Number: ___________
                          Account Number: ____________

      2. This authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or until a
subsequent Notice of Account Designation is provided to the Administrative
Agent.

      3. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Account
Designation as of the __ day of April, 2002.

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, [SEAL]
                                        as Borrower

                                        By: LOUISIANA HOSPITAL
                                            MANAGEMENT, INC., its Manager

                                            By:_______________________________
                                            Name:_____________________________
                                            Title:____________________________
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT E
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                          FORM OF NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT
<PAGE>
                              NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT

                           Dated as of: _____________

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention: Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This irrevocable Notice of Prepayment is delivered to you under Section
2.4(a) of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 24, 2002 (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, a North Carolina
limited liability company (the "Borrower"), the lenders who are or may become
party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative
agent (the "Administrative Agent").

      1. The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative Agent that it
shall repay the following [Base Rate Loans] and/or [Eurodollar Rate Loans]:
____________________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.4(a)
of the Loan Agreement.)

      2. The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Construction Loan
Advances on the following Business Day: ____________________. (Complete with a
Business Day at least three (3) Business Days subsequent to date of this Notice
of Prepayment.)

      3. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Prepayment
as of the ____ day of __________, ____.

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, [SEAL]
                                        as Borrower

                                        By:      LOUISIANA HOSPITAL
                                                 MANAGEMENT, INC., its Manager

                                                 By:___________________________
                                                 Name:_________________________
                                                 Title:________________________
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT F
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                    FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

                        NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION

                           Dated as of: _____________

Bank of America, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28244
Attention:  Syndication Agency Services

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This irrevocable Notice of Conversion/Continuation (the "Notice") is
delivered to you under Section 3.2 of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated as of April 24, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart
Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), the
lenders who are or may become party thereto (the "Lenders") and Bank of America,
N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

      1. This Notice is submitted for the purpose of: (Check one and complete
applicable information in accordance with the Loan Agreement.)

            | |   Converting all or a portion of a Base Rate Loan into a
                  Eurodollar Rate Loan
<PAGE>
            (a)   The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

            (b)   The principal amount of such Construction Loan Advance to be
                  converted is $_______________.

            (c)   The requested effective date of the conversion of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            (d)   The requested Interest Period applicable to the converted
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            | |   Converting a portion of Eurodollar Rate Loan into a Base Rate
                  Loan

            (a)   The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

            (b)   The last day of the current Interest Period for such
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            (c)   The principal amount of such Construction Loan Advance to be
                  converted is $_______________.

            (d)   The requested effective date of the conversion of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            | |   Continuing all or a portion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan as a
                  Eurodollar Rate Loan

            (a)   The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is $_______________.

            (b)   The last day of the current Interest Period for such
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            (c)   The principal amount of such Construction Loan Advance to be
                  continued is $_______________.

            (d)   The requested effective date of the continuation of such
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

            (e)   The requested Interest Period applicable to the continued
                  Construction Loan Advance is _______________.

                                       3
<PAGE>
      2. The principal amount of all Construction Loan Advances outstanding as
of the date hereof does not exceed the maximum amount permitted to be
outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement.

      3. All of the conditions applicable to the conversion or continuation of
the Construction Loan Advance requested herein as set forth in the Loan
Agreement have been satisfied or waived as of the date hereof and will remain
satisfied or waived to the date of such Construction Loan Advance.

      4. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

                                       4
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Conversion/Continuation as of the ____ day of __________, ____ .

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, [SEAL]
                                        as Borrower

                                        By:  LOUISIANA HOSPITAL
                                             MANAGEMENT, INC., its Manager

                                             By:_____________________________
                                             Name:___________________________
                                             Title:__________________________

                                       5
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT G
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                        FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
<PAGE>
                            ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

      Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
dated as of April 24, 2002 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart
Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), the
lenders who are or may become party thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of
America, N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent").

      The assignor identified on the signature page hereto (the "Assignor") and
the assignee identified on the signature page hereto (the "Assignee") agree as
follows:

      1.    (a) Subject to paragraph 11 hereof, effective as of the date
      specified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"), the Assignor hereby
      irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, without recourse to the
      Assignor, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from
      the Assignor, without recourse to the Assignor, the interest described on
      Schedule 1 hereto (the "Assigned Interest") in and to the Assignor's
      rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement.

            (b) From and after the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a
      party under the Loan Agreement and will have all the rights and
      obligations of a Lender for all purposes under the Loan Agreement and the
      other Loan Documents to the extent of the Assigned Interest and be bound
      by the provisions thereof, and (ii) the Assignor shall relinquish its
      rights and be released from its obligations under the Loan Agreement to
      the extent of the Assigned Interest. The Assignor and/or the Assignee, as
      agreed by the Assignor and the Assignee, shall deliver, in immediately
      available funds, any applicable assignment fee required under Section
      12.10(b) of the Agreement.

      2. On the Effective Date, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor, in
immediately available funds, an amount equal to the purchase price of the
Assigned Interest as agreed upon by the Assignor and the Assignee.

      3. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make
all payments under the Loan Agreement and the Notes, if any, in respect of the
Assigned Interest (including all payments of principal, interest and fees with
respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all
appropriate adjustments in payments under the Agreement and the Notes, if any,
for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.

      4. The Assignor represents and warrants to the Assignee that:

            (a) the Assignor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned
      Interest, and the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any adverse
      claim;

            (b) the Assigned Interest listed on Schedule 1 accurately and
      completely sets forth the outstanding amount of all Construction Loan
      Advances relating to the Assigned Interest as of the Effective Date;
<PAGE>
            (c) the Assignor has the power and authority and the legal right to
      make, deliver and perform, and has taken all necessary action, to
      authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and
      Acceptance, and any and all other documents delivered by it in connection
      herewith and to fulfill its obligations under, and to consummate the
      transactions contemplated by, this Assignment and Acceptance, the Loan
      Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and no consent or authorization
      of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of any Governmental
      Authority, is required in connection herewith or therewith; and

            (d) this Assignment and Acceptance constitutes the legal, valid and
      binding obligation of the Assignor.

         The Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower, the
Guarantors or any of their Affiliates or the performance by the Borrower, the
Guarantors or any of their Affiliates of their respective obligations under the
Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and assumes no responsibility with
respect to any statements, warranties or representations made under or in
connection with the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or the execution,
legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the
Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document other than as expressly set forth
above.

      5. The Assignee represents and warrants to the Assignor and the
Administrative Agent that:

            (a) the Assignee is an Eligible Assignee;

            (b) the Assignee has the full power and authority and the legal
      right to make, deliver and perform, and has taken all necessary action, to
      authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Assignment and
      Acceptance, and any and all other documents delivered by it in connection
      herewith and to fulfill its obligations under, and to consummate the
      transactions contemplated by, this Assignment and Acceptance, the Loan
      Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and no consent or authorization
      of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of any Governmental
      Authority, is required in connection herewith or therewith;

            (c) this Assignment and Acceptance constitutes the legal, valid and
      binding obligation of the Assignee;

            (d) under all Applicable Laws no tax will be required to be withheld
      by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower with respect to any payments
      to be made to the Assignee hereunder or under the Loan Agreement or any
      other Loan Document, and unless otherwise indicated in the space opposite
      the Assignee's signature below, no tax forms described in Section 3.11(e)
      of the Loan Agreement are required to be delivered by the Assignee; and
<PAGE>
            (e) the Assignee has received a copy of the Loan Agreement and the
      other Loan Documents, together with copies of the most recent financial
      statements of the Borrower and the Guarantors delivered pursuant thereto,
      and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to
      make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment
      and Acceptance. The Assignee has independently and without reliance upon
      the Assignor or the Administrative Agent and based on such information as
      the Assignee has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
      decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance. The Assignee will,
      independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any
      Lender, and based upon such documents and information as it shall deem
      appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in
      taking or not taking action under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
      Documents.

      6. The Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take
such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion
under the Loan Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or
document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are
incidental thereto.

      7. The Assignor attaches the Construction Loan Note delivered to it under
the Loan Agreement and the Assignor and the Assignee request that the Borrower
exchange such Construction Loan Note for new Construction Loan Notes payable to
each of the Assignor and the Assignee as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Construction Loan Note                             Principal Amount of
      Payable to the Order of:                        Construction Loan Note:

      <S>                                                   <C>
      ---------------------------                           $----------

      ---------------------------                           $----------
</TABLE>

      8. The Assignor and the Assignee agree to execute and deliver such other
instruments, and take such other action, as either party may reasonably request
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Assignment and
Acceptance.

      9. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns; provided,
however, that the Assignee shall not assign its rights or obligations hereunder
without the prior written consent of the Assignor and any purported assignment,
absent such consent, shall be void.

      10. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed by facsimile signatures
with the same force and effect as if manually signed and may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Assignment and
Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
North Carolina, without reference to the conflicts or choice of law principles
thereof.
<PAGE>
      11. The effectiveness of the assignment described herein is subject to:

      (a) if such consent is required by the Loan Agreement, receipt by the
Assignor and the Assignee of the consent of the Administrative Agent and/or the
Borrower to the assignment described herein. By delivering a duly executed and
delivered copy of this Assignment and Acceptance to the Administrative Agent,
the Assignor and the Assignee hereby request any such required consent and
request that the Administrative Agent register the Assignee as a Lender under
the Loan Agreement effective as of the Effective Date; and

      (b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of (or other arrangements
acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect to) any applicable
assignment fee referred to in Section 12.10(b) of the Loan Agreement and any tax
forms required by Section 3.11(e) of the Loan Agreement.

      By signing below, the Administrative Agent agrees to register the Assignee
as a Lender under the Loan Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date with
respect to the Assigned Interest, and will adjust the registered Commitment
Percentage of the Assignor under the Loan Agreement to reflect the assignment of
the Assigned Interest.

      12. Attached hereto as Schedule 2 is all contact, address, account and
other administrative information relating to the Assignee.

      13. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and
Acceptance to be executed as of the date first above written by their respective
duly authorized officers.

                                             ASSIGNOR:

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

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

| |   Tax forms required by                  ASSIGNEE:
      Section 3.11(e) of the Loan
      Agreement included
                                             --------------------------------

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

                           [Signature Pages Continue]
<PAGE>
In accordance with and subject to Section 12.10 of the Loan Agreement, the
undersigned consent to the foregoing assignment as of the Effective Date:

LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, [SEAL]
as Borrower

      By:     LOUISIANA HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
      its Manager

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

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

By:
   -----------------------------
Name:
     ---------------------------
Title:
      --------------------------
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                            Assignment and Acceptance

                              THE ASSIGNED INTEREST

EFFECTIVE DATE:
                ----------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         TYPE AND AMOUNT OF OUTSTANDING
  ASSIGNED COMMITMENT        OBLIGATIONS ASSIGNED        ASSIGNED PRO RATA SHARE
  -------------------        --------------------        -----------------------

<S>                      <C>                             <C>
 $                         [type] $                                       %
   -----------------               ----------------      -----------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 2
                                       to
                            Assignment and Acceptance

                             ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

            [Assignee to list names of credit contacts, addresses, phone and
            facsimile numbers, electronic mail addresses and account and payment
            information]
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT H
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                           FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
                               GUARANTY AGREEMENT

      THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated as of April 24, 2002 is made by MEDCATH
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), and certain Subsidiaries of
the Parent as identified on the signature pages attached hereto or otherwise
joined as a party hereto (such subsidiaries collectively, the "Subsidiary
Guarantors", and each, a "Subsidiary Guarantor", and together with the Parent,
the "Guarantors"), in favor of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking
association, as Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the
ratable benefit of itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") from
time to time party to the Loan Agreement (as defined below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

      Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of even
date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the
"Loan Agreement"), by and among Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a North Carolina
limited liability company (the "Borrower"), the Lenders party thereto (the
"Lenders") and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to extend
certain credit facilities to the Borrower as more specifically described in the
Loan Agreement.

      The Borrower and the Guarantors, though separate legal entities, comprise
one integrated financial enterprise, and all Construction Loan Advances under
the Loan Agreement to the Borrower will inure, directly or indirectly, to the
benefit of each of the Guarantors.

      In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Agreement and
as a condition precedent thereto, the Lenders have requested that each Guarantor
execute and deliver this Guaranty, and each of the Guarantors has agreed to do
so pursuant to the terms hereof.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
set forth herein, and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to
enter into and to make available Construction Loan Advances pursuant to the Loan
Agreement, each Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent for the
ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

      SECTION 1. Definitions and Rules of Construction.

      (a) Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this
Guaranty including the preambles and recitals hereof, shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement. In the event of a conflict between
capitalized terms defined herein and in the Loan Agreement, this Guaranty shall
control. In addition, the following terms when used in this Guaranty shall have
the meaning assigned to them below:

      "Administrative Agent" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Preamble.
<PAGE>
      "Adjusted EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of the following
determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated
EBITDA of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period plus (or minus) (b) to
the extent deducted in determining Net Income (or to the extent added in
determining Net Income), the "minority interest share of earnings of the
consolidated subsidiaries" of the Parent for such period as reflected on the
consolidated statement of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries plus (c)
to the extent deducted in determining Net Income, the "equity in the net losses
of unconsolidated affiliates" attributable to Unconsolidated Entities for such
period as reflected on the consolidated statement of operations of the Parent
and its Subsidiaries minus (d) to the extent added in determining Net Income,
the "equity in the net profits of unconsolidated affiliates" attributable to
Unconsolidated Entities for such period as reflected on the consolidated
statement of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries plus (e)
Unconsolidated EBITDA of each Unconsolidated Entity for such period plus (f)
certain adjustments approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and set
forth on Schedule 1(a)(i) minus (g) to the extent in included in any of the
foregoing clauses (a) through (e), the aggregate amount of EBITDA of the
Developmental Pool for such period. For the purpose hereof, each item referred
to herein which is determined by reference to the consolidated statement of
operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries shall be calculated in the manner
required pursuant to Section 28.

      "Affiliate" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

      "Aggregate Commitment" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Applicable Insolvency Laws" means all Applicable Laws governing
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors,
dissolution, insolvency, fraudulent transfers or conveyances or other similar
laws (including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C. ss.547, ss.548, ss.550 and other
"avoidance" provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code) applicable in any
proceeding involving the bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of
debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar proceeding
with respect to any Guarantor or its assets or this Guaranty.

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

      "Available Cash" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the
following, without duplication, calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a) the
aggregate amount of all cash and cash equivalents of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries, which such cash or cash equivalents are readily marketable and
available without restriction or limitation for the immediate payment or
repayment of Debt thereof as of such date of determination plus (b) the
aggregate amount of all Unconsolidated Cash of the Unconsolidated Entities as of
such date of determination.

                                       2
<PAGE>
      "Borrower" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Statement of
Purpose.

      "Capital Lease" means any lease of any property by the Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries, as Lessee, that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified
and accounted for as a capital lease on a Consolidated balance sheet of Parent
and its Subsidiaries.

      "Cash Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
all Interest Expense paid in cash during such period.

      "Closing Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Collateral" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Commitments" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Completion Date" means, with respect to any Hospital Facility owned by
any Hospital Joint Venture, the date upon which such Hospital Joint Venture has
received (i) the final certificate of occupancy for such Hospital Facility and
(ii) all permits and licenses required under Applicable Law (including the
Medicare Certification and the Medicaid Certification) to operate such Hospital
Facility.

      "Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements or
financial statement items of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, such statements or
items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of
consolidation under GAAP.

      "Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to the Parent and its
Subsidiaries at any date of determination, the sum of the following determined
on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) the
amount of assets shown on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries less (b) all liabilities of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. For
purposes of this definition, assets shall include sums due from (i) physicians
or medical practices managed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
health care facilities owned or managed by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (iii) physicians with whom Borrower is affiliated, to the
extent that (x) the repayment of such sums constitutes valid and enforceable
obligations of such Persons and (y) such Persons have not defaulted in the
repayment of such sums.

      "Construction Loan Advances" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Loan Agreement.

      "Corporate Revolver" means the Loan Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998,
as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, by
and among MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc., as borrower, the lenders referred
to therein, as lenders, and Bank of America, N. A., as agent.

      "Debt" means, with respect to any Person at any date and without
duplication, the sum of the following calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a)
all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness

                                       3
<PAGE>
for borrowed money including, but not limited to, obligations evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person, (b)
all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of
any such Person (including, without limitation, all obligations under
non-competition agreements), except trade payables arising in the ordinary
course of business not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days past due, (c)
all obligations of any such Person as lessee under Capital Leases, (d) all Debt
of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset of any such Person, (e) all
Guaranty Obligations of any such Person, (f) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of any such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit,
whether or not drawn, and banker's acceptances issued for the account of any
such Person, (g) all obligations of any such Person to redeem, repurchase,
exchange, defease or otherwise make payments in respect of capital stock or
other securities or partnership interests of such Person, (h) all net payment
obligations incurred by any such Person pursuant to Hedging Agreements and (i)
all outstanding payment obligations of any such Person with respect to any
synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or
similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered
borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating
lease in accordance with GAAP.

      "Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

      "Developmental Pool" shall mean the collective reference to all Hospital
Joint Ventures which own a Hospital Facility with respect to which (i) the
Completion Date has not yet occurred or (ii) six (6) full fiscal quarters or
less have elapsed since the Completion Date of such Hospital Facility.

      "EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of the
following determined, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP: (a) Net
Income for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted
in determining Net Income for such period: (i) Interest Expense for such period,
(ii) income and franchise taxes for such period, (iii) amortization and
depreciation for such period, (iv) non-cash charges for such period solely with
respect to the impairment of goodwill in accordance with GAAP, (v) non-cash
impairment charges for such period solely with respect to management contracts
of MedCath Diagnostics LLC and its Subsidiaries and MedCath Cardiology
Consulting & Management, Inc. and its Subsidiaries, and (vi) non-cash impairment
charges for such period solely with respect to loan acquisition costs minus (c)
to the extent added in the determination of Net Income, extraordinary gains for
such period.

      "Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the Parent or
any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding six (6) years
been maintained for the employees of the Parent or any current or former ERISA
Affiliate.

      "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial
and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses,
approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities,
relating to the protection of human health or the environment, including, but
not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling,
reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous
Materials.

                                       4
<PAGE>
      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

      "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Parent is treated
as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of
the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

      "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Parent ending on September 30.

      "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent
basis for the Parent and its Subsidiaries or any other applicable Person
throughout the period indicated and (subject to Section 28) consistent with the
prior financial practice of the Parent and its Subsidiaries or any such other
Person.

      "Governmental Approval" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.

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

      "Guaranteed Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 2(b) of this Guaranty.

      "Guarantors" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

      "Guaranty" means this Guaranty Agreement, as amended, restated,
supplemented otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to any Person at any date and
without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person
pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed any Debt or
other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any
such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations
set

                                       5
<PAGE>
forth therein) be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranty
Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing Person
may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Guaranty
Obligation.

      "Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are or
become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human
health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental
Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under
any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of
which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other
Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed to constitute a nuisance or a
trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring
properties, (f) which consist of underground or aboveground storage tanks,
whether empty, filled or partially filled with any substance, or (g) which
contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived
substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

      "Hedging Agreements" means any agreement with respect to any Interest Rate
Contract, forward rate agreement, commodity swap, forward foreign exchange
agreement, currency swap agreement, cross-currency rate swap agreement, currency
option agreement or other agreement or arrangement designed to alter the risks
of any Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or
commodity prices, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time.

      "HFCA" means the Health Care Finance Administration or any successor
agency.

      "HHS" means the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and
any successor thereto.

      "Hospital Facility" shall mean any heart hospital and related facilities
or diagnostic facilities owned by a Hospital Joint Venture.

      "Hospital Joint Venture" means any business entity (a) formed for the
purpose of owning, operating or managing a heart hospital and related facilities
or diagnostic facilities, and (b) a portion of the capital stock, limited
liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership interest
of which is owned or beneficially controlled, either directly or indirectly, by
the Parent or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

      "Improvements" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Interest Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the
gross interest expense (including without limitation, interest expense
attributable to Capital Leases and all net payment obligations pursuant to
Hedging Agreements) of such Person, all determined for such period, without
duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

                                       6
<PAGE>
      "Interest Rate Contract" means any interest rate swap agreement, interest
rate cap agreement, interest rate floor agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, interest rate option or any other agreement regarding the hedging of
interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging the interest
rate exposure of any Person and any confirming letter executed pursuant to such
agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.

      "Joinder Agreement" means, collectively, each joinder agreement executed
in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the
Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

      "Land" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

      "Lease Expense" means, with respect to any Person for any period, all
obligations of such Person for payments under leases of real or personal
property, whether such leases presently exist or are hereafter entered into by
such Person.

      "Lenders" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

      "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect
of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person 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 Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Statement
of Purpose.

      "Loan Documents" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Material Adverse Effect" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Loan Agreement.

      "Material Contract" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Maturity Date" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Maximum Available Corporate Revolver Commitment" means the amount of the
unused portion of the aggregate commitment of the lenders under the Corporate
Revolver which is available for borrowing from time to time under the Corporate
Revolver to the extent that (a) no default or event of default shall have
occurred and be continuing under the Corporate Revolver on the date of any such
borrowing and after giving effect thereto and (b) the Parent and its
Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with Section 12(c) on the date of any such
borrowing and after giving effect thereto.

      "Medicaid Certification" means certification by HCFA or a Governmental
Authority under contract with HCFA that health care operations are in compliance
with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicaid Regulations.

                                       7
<PAGE>
      "Medicaid Regulations" means, collectively, (a) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XIX of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the medical assistance program established by Title XIX of the Social
Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; (b) all applicable provisions
of all federal rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all Governmental
Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described
in clause (a) above and all federal administrative, reimbursement and other
guidelines of all Governmental Authorities having the force of law promulgated
pursuant to or in connection with the statutes described in clause (a) above;
(c) all state statutes and plans for medical assistance enacted in connection
with the statutes and provisions described in clauses (a) and (b) above; and (c)
all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals and orders of all
Governmental Authorities promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the
statutes described in clause (c) above and all state administrative,
reimbursement and other guidelines of all Governmental Authorities having the
force of law promulgated pursuant to or in connection with the statutes
described in clause (b) above, in each case as may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Medicare Certification" means certification by HCFA or a Governmental
Authority under contract with HCFA that the health care operation is in
compliance with all the conditions of participation set forth in the Medicare
Regulations.

      "Medicare Regulations" means, collectively, (i) all federal statutes
(whether set forth in Title XVIII of the Social Security Act or elsewhere)
affecting the health insurance program for the aged and disabled established by
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and any statutes succeeding thereto; and
(ii) all applicable provisions of all rules, regulations, manuals, orders and
administrative, reimbursement and other guidelines having the force of law of
all Governmental Authorities (including without limitation, HHS, HCFA, the
Office of the Inspector General for HHS, or any person succeeding to the
functions of any of the foregoing) promulgated pursuant to or in connection with
any of the foregoing having the force of law, as each may be amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

      "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is
accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make
contributions within the preceding six (6) years.

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

      "Obligations" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 10(b) of this Guaranty.

      "Parent" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Preamble.

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

                                       8
<PAGE>
      "Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer
Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code and which (a) is maintained for the employees of the Parent or any
ERISA Affiliates or (b) has at any time within the preceding six (6) years been
maintained for the employees of the Parent or any of its current or former ERISA
Affiliates.

      "Permanent Principal Payment" means, with respect to the Debt of any
Person, an actual payment or repayment of the outstanding principal amount of
(a) term Debt (excluding voluntary prepayments thereof), which by its terms does
not permit any payments or repayments of principal to be re-borrowed, or (b)
Debt under a revolving credit facility (or other facility which permits the
re-borrowing of principal payments or repayments) so long as the aggregate
commitment of the lender thereunder to allow any such re-borrowing has been
permanently reduced by an amount equal to such payment or repayment.

      "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or any other form of entity or group thereof.

      "Required Lenders" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement.

      "Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the
time owned by or the management is otherwise controlled by such Person
(irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or other ownership
interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership,
limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power
by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified
references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the
Parent.

      "Subsidiary Guarantors" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the
Preamble.

      "Termination Event" means: (a) except for any such event that could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a "Reportable Event"
described in Section 4043 of ERISA for which the notice requirement has not been
waived by the PBGC, or (b) except for any withdrawal that could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the withdrawal of the Parent or
any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a
"substantial employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the
termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a
Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, each
under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to
terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by
the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds
under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien
pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or (g) except for
any such event or condition that could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition which results in the
reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245
of ERISA, or (h) except for any such event or condition that could not
reasonably

                                       9
<PAGE>
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any event or condition which
results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA
or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan
under Section 4042 of ERISA.

      "Total Capitalization" means, at any date of determination, the sum of (a)
Total Debt plus (b) Total Equity, each as of such date and calculated in
accordance with GAAP.

      "Total Debt" means, as of any date of determination, the sum of the
following, without duplication, calculated in accordance with GAAP: (a) all Debt
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries less (b) all Available Cash.

      "Total Equity" means, with respect to the Parent, its Subsidiaries and
each Hospital Joint Venture owned thereby, at any date of determination, the
stockholders' equity calculated in accordance with GAAP without duplication.

      "Unconsolidated Cash" means, with respect to each Unconsolidated Entity,
for any period, the greater of the following clause (a) or clause (b), as
applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in accordance with
GAAP:

            (a) an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt of such
      Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
      Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to (B) all Debt of
      such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such period times (ii)
      the aggregate amount of all cash and cash equivalents of such
      Unconsolidated Entity, which such cash or cash equivalents are readily
      marketable and available without restriction or limitation for the
      immediate payment or repayment of Debt thereof as of the last day of such
      period, and

            (b) an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total amount of
      issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests,
      partnership interests, or other ownership interests of such Unconsolidated
      Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of
      the last day of such period times (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash
      and cash equivalents of such Unconsolidated Entity, which such cash or
      cash equivalents are readily marketable and available without restriction
      or limitation for the immediate payment or repayment of Debt thereof as of
      the last day of such period.

      "Unconsolidated Cash Interest Expense" means, with respect to each
Unconsolidated Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a)
or clause (b), as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in
accordance with GAAP:

            (a) an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt of such
      Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
      Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to (B) all Debt of
      such Unconsolidated Entity as of the

                                       10
<PAGE>
      last day of such period times (ii) the amount of Cash Interest Expense of
      such Unconsolidated Entity for such period, and

            (b) an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total amount of
      issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests,
      partnership interests, or other ownership interests of such Unconsolidated
      Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of
      the last day of such period times (ii) the amount of Cash Interest Expense
      of such Unconsolidated Entity for such period.

      "Unconsolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to each Unconsolidated Entity,
for any period, the greater of the following clause (a) or clause (b), as
applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in accordance with
GAAP:

            (a) an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt of such
      Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
      Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to (B) all Debt of
      such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such period times (ii)
      the amount of EBITDA of such Unconsolidated Entity for such period, and

            (b) an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total amount of
      issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests,
      partnership interests, or other ownership interests of such Unconsolidated
      Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of
      the last day of such period times (ii) the amount of EBITDA of such
      Unconsolidated Entity for such period.

      "Unconsolidated Entity" means any Hospital Joint Venture the financial
information with respect to which is not included in the Consolidated financial
statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant
to Section 10(a)(i) hereof.

      "Unconsolidated Lease Expense" means, with respect to each Unconsolidated
Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a) or clause (b),
as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in accordance with
GAAP:

            (a) an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt of such
      Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
      Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to (B) all Debt of
      such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such period times (ii)
      the amount of Lease Expense of such Unconsolidated Entity for such period,
      and

            (b) an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total amount of
      issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests,
      partnership interests, or other ownership interests of such Unconsolidated
      Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of
      the last day of such period times (ii) the amount of Lease Expense of such
      Unconsolidated Entity for such period.

                                       11
<PAGE>
      "Unconsolidated Permanent Principal Payments" means, with respect to each
Unconsolidated Entity, for any period, the greater of the following clause (a)
or clause (b), as applicable, in each case determined, without duplication, in
accordance with GAAP:

            (a) an amount equal to (i) the proportion of (A) the Debt of such
      Unconsolidated Entity guaranteed by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned
      Subsidiary thereof as of the last day of such period to (B) all Debt of
      such Unconsolidated Entity as of the last day of such period times (ii)
      the amount of Permanent Principal Payments of such Unconsolidated Entity
      for such period, and

            (b) an amount equal to (i) the percentage of the total amount of
      issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests,
      partnership interests, or other ownership interests of such Unconsolidated
      Entity owned by the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary thereof as of
      the last day of such period times (ii) the amount of Permanent Principal
      Payments of such Unconsolidated Entity for such period.

      "Wholly-Owned" means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the shares
of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiary are, directly
or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Parent and/or one or more of its
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (except for directors' qualifying shares or other
shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a Person other than the
Parent).

      (b) General. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in this Guaranty to a
particular article, section, subsection, schedule or exhibit is a reference to
that article, section, subsection, schedule or exhibit of this Guaranty.
Wherever from the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the
singular or plural shall include the singular and plural, and pronouns stated in
the masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, the
feminine and the neuter. Any reference herein to "Charlotte time" shall refer to
the applicable time of day in Charlotte, North Carolina.

      (c) Reference to Agreement. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in this Guaranty shall refer to this
Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Guaranty.

      SECTION 2. Terms of the Guaranty.

            (a) Guaranty of Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby, jointly and
      severally with the other Guarantors, unconditionally guarantees to the
      Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders,
      and their respective permitted successors, endorsees, transferees and
      assigns, the prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration
      or otherwise) and performance of all Obligations of the Borrower, whether
      primary or secondary (whether by way of endorsement or otherwise), whether
      now existing or hereafter arising, whether or not from time to time
      reduced or extinguished (except by payment thereof) or hereafter increased
      or incurred, whether or not recovery may be or hereafter become barred by
      the statute of limitations, whether enforceable or unenforceable as
      against the Borrower, whether or not discharged, stayed or

                                       12
<PAGE>
      otherwise affected by any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or
      proceeding, whether created directly with the Administrative Agent or any
      Lender or acquired by the Administrative Agent or any Lender through
      assignment, endorsement or otherwise, whether matured or unmatured,
      whether joint or several, as and when the same become due and payable
      (whether at maturity or earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory
      repayment or otherwise), in accordance with the terms of any such
      instruments evidencing any such Obligations, including all renewals,
      extensions or modifications thereof.

            (b) Additional Guaranty of Performance. Additionally, each Guarantor
      hereby, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, unconditionally
      guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself
      and the Lenders, and their respective permitted successors, endorsees,
      transferees and assigns, the timely performance of all other obligations
      of Borrower under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
      including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that:

                  (i) the Improvements will be constructed upon the Land in
            accordance with this Agreement and the Plans; and

                  (ii) the Improvements will be completed and ready for
            occupancy, including delivery of any certificates required by
            Applicable Law, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, on
            or before the date required in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
            Documents.

      In the event the foregoing conditions are not complied with in any respect
      whatsoever, the Guarantors hereby agree to (i) assume all responsibility
      for the completion of the Improvements and, at the Guarantors' own cost
      and expense, to cause the Improvements to be fully completed in accordance
      with the Plans and in accordance with the Loan Agreement and the other
      Loan Documents; (ii) pay all bills in connection with the construction of
      the Improvements; and (iii) indemnify and hold the Administrative Agent
      and the Lenders harmless from any and all loss, cost, liability or expense
      that the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may suffer by reason of any
      such event (except with respect to the willful misconduct or the gross
      negligence of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders). The Administrative
      Agent shall accept performance by the Guarantors of the Borrower's
      obligations under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and so
      long as all of said obligations are being performed by the Borrower or the
      Guarantors, the Administrative Agent will make the proceeds of the
      Construction Loan Advances available under the terms of the Loan
      Agreement. If, after the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the
      Required Lenders are not satisfied with the progress of construction by
      the Borrower and/or the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent shall, if
      required by the Required Lenders, and on behalf of Lenders, after first
      having given notice to the Guarantors at the address and in the manner set
      forth in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement, complete the Improvements
      either before or after commencement of foreclosure proceedings or before
      or after any other remedy

                                       13
<PAGE>
      of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders against the Borrower or the
      Guarantors, with such changes or modifications in the Plans which the
      Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary and expend such sums as
      the Administrative Agent, in its discretion, reasonably deems necessary
      and proper in order to so complete the Improvements, and the Guarantors
      hereby waive any right to contest any such reasonably necessary
      expenditures. The amount of any and all expenditures made by the
      Administrative Agent for the foregoing purposes shall be due and payable
      to the Lenders upon demand and accrue interest at a rate two percent (2%)
      per annum above the rate then applicable under the Construction Loan Notes
      (or that would be applicable under the Construction Loan Notes if they
      were still outstanding). Neither the Borrower nor any Guarantor shall be
      liable to the Lenders for the cost of completing the Improvements to the
      extent that the aggregate cost of completing the Improvements exceeds the
      Aggregate Commitment, provided the entire principal of and interest on the
      Construction Loan Advances shall have been paid in full. The obligations
      and liability of the Guarantors under this Section 2(b) shall not be
      limited or restricted by the existence of (or any limitation on) the
      guaranty of payment under Section 2(a). For the purposes hereof, all of
      the Obligations of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
      under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including all of
      the Obligations specified in Section 2(a) and this Section 2(b), shall be
      hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Guaranteed Obligations".

            (c) Bankruptcy Limitations on Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything
      to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above, it is the intention of
      each Guarantor and the Lenders that, in any proceeding involving the
      bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of
      debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar proceeding with respect
      to any Guarantor or its assets, the amount of such Guarantor's obligations
      with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be in, but not in excess
      of, the maximum amount thereof not subject to avoidance or recovery by
      operation of any Applicable Insolvency Laws. To that end, but only in the
      event and to the extent that such Guarantor's obligations with respect to
      the Guaranteed Obligations or any payment made pursuant to the Guaranteed
      Obligations would, but for the operation of the first sentence of this
      Section 2(c), be subject to avoidance or recovery in any such proceeding
      under Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount of such Guarantor's
      obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be limited to
      the largest amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not, under
      Applicable Insolvency Laws, render such Guarantor's obligations with
      respect to such Guaranteed Obligations unenforceable or avoidable or
      otherwise subject to recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To the
      extent any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations
      exceeds the limitation of the first sentence of this Section 2(c) and is
      otherwise subject to avoidance and recovery in any such proceeding under
      Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount subject to avoidance shall in all
      events be limited to the amount by which such actual payment exceeds such
      limitation and the Guaranteed Obligations as limited by the first sentence
      of this Section 2(c) shall in all events remain in full force and effect

                                       14
<PAGE>
      and be fully enforceable against such Guarantor. The first sentence of
      this Section 2(c) is intended solely to preserve the rights of the
      Administrative Agent hereunder against such Guarantor in such proceeding
      to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and neither
      such Guarantor, the Borrower, any other guarantor nor any other Person
      shall have any right or claim under such sentence that would not otherwise
      be available under Applicable Insolvency Laws in such proceeding.

            (d) Mutual Grant of Present Right of Contribution and Indemnity. To
      the extent that the value as of the time of execution of this Guaranty of
      the benefits received by any Guarantor by reason of matters stated in the
      preamble (whether determined under a standard of "fair value," "reasonably
      equivalent value" or any other valuation standard under Applicable Law) is
      less than the sum of the Guaranteed Obligations incurred by such Guarantor
      to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders plus such Guarantor's
      liability under this Section 2(d), then subject only to Section 15 hereof
      and in addition to all other rights and remedies such Guarantor has or may
      have under Applicable Law, each remaining Guarantor respectively agrees
      that such Guarantor has the present right to recover the amount of such
      excess from the remaining Guarantors, which right shall be enforceable
      jointly and severally against the remaining Guarantors to the full extent
      that the Guaranteed Obligations are enforceable against such Guarantor.
      Without limiting the foregoing, in the event any Guarantor is required, by
      reason of this Guaranty, to pay an amount in excess of the value of the
      benefit such Guarantor is deemed to have received by reason of matters
      described in the preamble of this Guaranty, the remaining Guarantors
      jointly and severally agree to pay such Guarantor, upon demand, the amount
      of such excess. Subject only to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, such
      Guarantor shall be subrogated to any and all rights of the Administrative
      Agent and the Lenders against the remaining Guarantors to the extent of
      such excess payment.

      SECTION 3. Nature of Guaranty. Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty is
a continuing, unconditional guaranty of payment and performance and not of
collection, and that its obligations under this Guaranty shall be primary,
absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:

            (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any
      future amendment of, or change in, this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or
      any other Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to
      which the Borrower, any Subsidiary thereof or any Affiliate thereof is or
      may become a party;

            (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Guaranty, the Loan
      Agreement or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any of the provisions
      of this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document;

                                       15
<PAGE>
            (c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its
      Lien against, any security (including, without limitation, the Collateral)
      for or other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the
      absence of any action, by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in
      respect of such security or guaranty (including, without limitation, the
      release of any such security or guaranty);

            (d) any structural change in, restructuring of or other similar
      change of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or

            (e) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise
      constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or
      guarantor;

it being agreed by each Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence in Section
2(c) hereof, its obligations under this Guaranty shall not be discharged until
the final indefeasible payment and performance, in full, of the Guaranteed
Obligations and the termination of the Aggregate Commitment. To the extent
permitted by Applicable Law, each Guarantor expressly waives all rights it may
now or in the future have under any statute (including, without limitation,
North Carolina General Statutes Section 26-7, et seq. or similar law), or at law
or in equity, or otherwise, to compel the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
proceed in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower or any
other party or against any security (including, without limitation, the
Collateral) for or other guaranty of the payment and performance of the
Guaranteed Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to
proceeding against, such Guarantor. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
each Guarantor further expressly waives and agrees not to assert or take
advantage of any defense based upon the failure of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations
against the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person or
any security (including, without limitation, the Collateral) for the payment and
performance of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor agrees that any notice
or directive given at any time to the Administrative Agent or any Lender which
is inconsistent with the waivers in the preceding two sentences shall be null
and void and may be ignored by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and, in
addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation
relating to this Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction
would be at variance with the written terms of this Guaranty, unless the
Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders have specifically agreed otherwise
in writing. The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction
contemplated by the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, but for
this Guaranty and such waivers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders would
decline to enter into the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

      SECTION 4. Demand by the Administrative Agent. In addition to the terms
set forth in Section 3 hereof, and in no manner imposing any limitation on such
terms, if all or any portion of the then outstanding Guaranteed Obligations
under the Loan Agreement are declared to be immediately due and payable, then
the Guarantors shall, upon demand in writing therefor by the Administrative
Agent to the Guarantors, pay all or such portion of the outstanding Guaranteed
Obligations then declared due and payable. Payment by the Guarantors shall be

                                       16
<PAGE>
made to the Administrative Agent, to be credited and applied upon the Guaranteed
Obligations, in immediately available Dollars to an account designated by the
Administrative Agent or at the address referenced herein for the giving of
notice to the Administrative Agent or at any other address that may be specified
in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 5. Waivers. In addition to the waivers contained in Section 3
hereof, each Guarantor, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, waives and
agrees that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner
whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any appraisal, valuation,
stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws, or exemption, whether
now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise
affect the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations under, or the
enforcement by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of, this Guaranty. Each
Guarantor further hereby waives, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice (except as specifically
required herein) of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of the
Guaranteed Obligations and waives, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in conflict with the
terms of this Guaranty. Each Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that its
obligations under this Guaranty are not and shall not be subject to any
counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind against the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders or the Borrower whether now existing or which may arise in the
future.

      SECTION 6. Benefits of Guaranty. The provisions of this Guaranty are for
the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective
permitted successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein
contained shall impair, as between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders, the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents. In the
event all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations are transferred, endorsed or
assigned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Person or Persons as
permitted under the Loan Agreement, any reference to the "Administrative Agent",
or the "Lenders" herein shall be deemed to refer equally to such Person or
Persons.

      SECTION 7. Modification of Loan Documents etc. If the Administrative Agent
or the Lenders shall at any time or from time to time, with or without the
consent of, or notice to, the Guarantors:

            (f) change or extend the manner, place or terms of payment of, or
      renew or alter all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;

            (g) take any action under or in respect of the Loan Agreement or the
      other Loan Documents in the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege
      contained therein or available to it at law, in equity or otherwise, or
      waive or refrain from exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;

            (h) amend or modify, in any manner whatsoever, the Loan Agreement or
      the other Loan Documents;

                                       17
<PAGE>
            (i) extend or waive the time for performance by any Guarantor, any
      other guarantor, the Borrower or any other Person of, or compliance with,
      any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed
      under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, or waive such
      performance or compliance or consent to a failure of, or departure from,
      such performance or compliance;

            (j) take and hold security or collateral (including, without
      limitation, the Collateral) for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations
      or sell, exchange, release, dispose of, or otherwise deal with, any
      property (including, without limitation, the Collateral) pledged,
      mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders
      have been granted a Lien, to secure any Debt of any Guarantor, any other
      guarantor or the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders;

            (k) release anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment
      of any amounts owed by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower
      to the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

            (l) modify or terminate the terms of any intercreditor or
      subordination agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any
      Guarantor, any other guarantor or the Borrower are subordinated to the
      claims of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

            (m) apply any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any
      Guaranteed Obligations owing by any Guarantor, any other guarantor or the
      Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such manner as the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender shall determine in its reasonable
      discretion;

then neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability
to any Guarantor as a result thereof, and no such action shall impair or release
the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

      SECTION 8. Reinstatement. Each Guarantor agrees that, if any payment made
by the Borrower or any other Person applied to the Obligations is at any time
annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid or the proceeds of
any collateral are required to be refunded by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to the Borrower, its estate, trustee, receiver or any other party,
including, without limitation, any Guarantor, under any Applicable Law or
equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, each
Guarantor's liability hereunder (and any Lien securing such liability) shall be
and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been
made, and, if prior thereto, this Guaranty shall have been canceled or
surrendered (and if any Lien or collateral securing such Guarantor's liability
hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation
or surrender), this Guaranty (and such Lien) shall be reinstated in full force
and effect, and such prior cancellation or surrender

                                       18
<PAGE>
shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the
obligations of such Guarantor in respect of the amount of such payment (or any
Lien securing such obligation).

      SECTION 9. Representations and Warranties.

      (a) Representations and Warranties. To induce the Lenders to make the
Construction Loan Advances, each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders both before and after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated under the Loan Agreement:

            (i) Ownership. Each Subsidiary and each Hospital Joint Venture owned
      by the Parent, either directly or indirectly, is listed on Schedule
      9(a)(i) (as updated from time to time pursuant to Section 11(j)). As of
      the Closing Date, the capitalization of the Parent, its Subsidiaries and
      each Hospital Joint Venture consists of the number of shares or other
      ownership interests, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such classes
      and series, with or without par value, described on Schedule 9(a)(i). All
      outstanding shares or other ownership interests have been duly authorized
      and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, with no personal
      liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and not subject to any
      preemptive or similar rights. The shareholders of the Subsidiaries and the
      Hospital Joint Ventures owned by the Parent, either directly or
      indirectly, and the number of shares or other ownership interests owned by
      each as of the Closing Date are described on Schedule 9(a)(i). As of the
      Closing Date, there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants,
      subscriptions, options, securities, instruments or other rights of any
      type or nature whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or
      otherwise provide for or permit the issuance of capital stock or other
      ownership interests of the Parent, any Subsidiary, or any Hospital Joint
      Venture except as described on Schedule 9(a)(i).

            (ii) Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Guarantor is duly
      organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
      jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the power and
      authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being
      and hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and
      authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of
      its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification
      and authorization, except where the failure to so qualify could not
      reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The
      jurisdictions in which each Guarantor is organized and qualified to do
      business as of the Closing Date are described on Schedule 9(a)(ii) (as
      updated from time to time pursuant to Section 11(j)).

            (iii) Authorization of Guaranty and Loan Documents. Each Guarantor
      has the corporate or limited liability company right, power and authority
      to execute, deliver and perform this Guaranty and each of the other Loan
      Documents to which such Guarantor is a party and has taken all necessary
      corporate or limited liability company action to authorize its execution,
      delivery and

                                       19
<PAGE>
      performance of, this Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents to
      which such Guarantor is a party.

            (iv) Enforceability of Guaranty and Loan Documents. This Guaranty
      and each of the other Loan Documents to which each Guarantor is a party
      constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor
      enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
      limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar
      laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the
      availability of equitable remedies.

            (v) Compliance with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and
      performance of this Guaranty and each of the other Loan Documents to which
      each Guarantor is a party will not violate any Applicable Law or
      contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in the
      creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or
      revenues of such Guarantor.

            (vi) Consents and Authorizations. No consent or authorization of,
      filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or
      Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including,
      without limitation, any stockholder or creditor of each Guarantor), is
      required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity
      or enforceability of this Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents to
      which such Guarantor is a party, other than the approval of the board of
      directors of each Guarantor (which approval has been obtained prior to the
      date hereof).

            (vii) Litigation. Except for matters set forth on Schedule
      9(a)(vii), no actions, suits or proceedings before any arbitrator or
      Governmental Authority are pending or, to the knowledge of each Guarantor,
      threatened by or against such Guarantor or against any of its properties
      with respect to this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any of the
      transactions contemplated hereby or thereby which could reasonably be
      expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (viii) Title to Properties. Each Guarantor has such title to the
      real property owned by it and a valid leasehold interest in the real
      property leased by it, and has good and marketable title to all of its
      personal property sufficient to carry on its business free of any and all
      Liens of any type whatsoever.

            (ix) Solvency. As of the Closing Date (or such later date upon which
      such Guarantor became a party hereto), each Guarantor (A) has capital
      sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and
      transactions in which it engages and is able to pay its debts as they
      mature, (B) owns property having a value, both at fair valuation and at
      present fair saleable value on a going concern basis, greater than the
      amount required to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies)
      and (C) does not believe that it will incur debts or liabilities

                                       20
<PAGE>
      beyond its ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature,
      subject in each case to the first sentence in Section 2(c) hereof.

            (x) Financial Statements. The (A) audited Consolidated balance sheet
      of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of ________, ___ and the related
      audited statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the
      Fiscal Year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries then ended and (B)
      unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as
      of _________, ___ and the related unaudited statements of income and
      retained earnings and cash flows for the fiscal quarter of the Parent and
      its Subsidiaries then ended, copies of which has been furnished to
      Administrative Agent and the Lenders, are complete and correct in all
      material respects and fairly present on a Consolidated basis the assets,
      liabilities and financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as
      of such dates and the results of its operations and cash flows for the
      periods then ended.

            (xi) No Material Adverse Change. Since ________, ___, there has been
      no Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Guarantor or the Guarantors
      taken as a whole, as applicable, and no event has occurred or condition
      arisen that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

            (xii) Tax Returns and Payments. Each Guarantor has duly filed or
      caused to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax returns
      required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate
      provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and other material
      taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its
      property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable, except for
      taxes (i) that are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in
      good faith and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in
      accordance with GAAP; such returns accurately reflect in all material
      respects all liability for taxes of such Guarantor for the periods covered
      thereby; there is no ongoing audit or examination or, to the knowledge of
      the such Guarantor, other investigation by any Governmental Authority of
      the tax liability of such Guarantor; no Governmental Authority has
      asserted any Lien or other claim against such Guarantor with respect to
      unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or resolved; and the charges,
      accruals and reserves on the books of such Guarantor in respect of
      federal, state, local and other taxes for all Fiscal Years and portions
      thereof since the organization of such Guarantor are in the judgment of
      such Guarantor adequate, and such Guarantor does not anticipate any
      additional material taxes or assessments for any of such periods.

            (xiii) Environmental Matters.

                  (A) The properties owned, leased or operated by each Guarantor
            now or in the past do not contain, and to its knowledge have not
            previously contained, any Hazardous Materials in amounts or
            concentrations which (1) constitute or constituted a material
            violation of applicable Environmental

                                       21
<PAGE>
            Laws or (2) could give rise to a material liability under applicable
            Environmental Laws;

                  (B) Each Guarantor and such properties and all operations
            conducted in connection therewith are in compliance in all material
            respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no
            contamination at, under or about such properties or such operations
            which could reasonably interfere with the continued operation of
            such properties or impair the fair saleable value thereof;

                  (C) No Guarantor has received any notice of violation, alleged
            violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability
            regarding environmental matters, Hazardous Materials, or compliance
            with Environmental Laws from (A) any Governmental Authority or (B)
            to the extent any such violation, alleged violation, non-compliance,
            liability or potential liability could reasonably be expected to
            have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Person, nor does any
            Guarantor have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice
            will be received or is being threatened;

                  (D) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed
            of to or from the properties owned, leased or operated by of any
            Guarantor in violation of, or in a manner or to a location which
            could give rise to a material liability under, Environmental Laws,
            nor have any Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or
            disposed of at, on or under any of such properties in violation of,
            or in a manner that could give rise to a material liability under,
            any applicable Environmental Laws;

                  (E) No judicial proceedings or governmental or administrative
            action is pending, or, to the knowledge of any Guarantor,
            threatened, under any Environmental Law to which such Guarantor is
            or will be named as a potentially responsible party with respect to
            such properties or operations conducted in connection therewith, nor
            are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders,
            administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or
            judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with
            respect to such Guarantor or such properties or such operations; and

                  (F) There has been no release, or to the best of any
            Guarantor's knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at
            or from properties owned, leased or operated by such Guarantor, now
            or in the past, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that
            could give rise to a material liability under Environmental Laws.

                                       22
<PAGE>
            (xiv) ERISA.

                  (A) The Parent and each ERISA Affiliate is in material
            compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the
            regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to
            all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for
            which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of
            the Code has not yet expired and except where a failure to so comply
            could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
            Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under
            Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal
            Revenue Service to be so qualified, and each trust related to such
            plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the
            Code except for such plans that have not yet received determination
            letters but for which the remedial amendment period for submitting a
            determination letter has not yet expired. No liability has been
            incurred by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate which remains
            unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee
            Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan except for a liability that
            could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (B) As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has been
            terminated, nor has any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined
            in Section 412 of the Code) been incurred (without regard to any
            waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code), nor has any funding
            waiver from the Internal Revenue Service been received or requested
            with respect to any Pension Plan, nor has the Parent or any ERISA
            Affiliate failed to make any contributions or to pay any amounts due
            and owing as required by Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of
            ERISA or the terms of any Pension Plan prior to the due dates of
            such contributions under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
            ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure under
            Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any
            Pension Plan;

                  (C) Except where the failure of any of the following
            representations to be correct in all material respects could not
            reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither
            the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (1) engaged in a nonexempt
            prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the ERISA or
            Section 4975 of the Code, (2) incurred any liability to the PBGC
            which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and
            there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (3) failed
            to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan,
            or (4) failed to make a required installment or other required
            payment under Section 412 of the Code;

                  (D) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably
            expected to occur; and

                                       23
<PAGE>
                  (E) Except where the failure of any of the following
            representations to be correct in all material respects could not
            reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no
            proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary
            course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to
            the best knowledge of the Parent after due inquiry, threatened
            concerning or involving any (1) employee welfare benefit plan (as
            defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or
            contributed to by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate, (2) Pension
            Plan or (3) Multiemployer Plan.

            (xv) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written
      information, reports, statements and other papers and data produced by or
      on behalf of the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof and furnished to the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Guaranty, or
      any of the other Loan Documents, were, at the time the same were so
      furnished, complete and correct in all material respects to the extent
      necessary to give the Administrative Agent or any Lender complete, true
      and accurate knowledge of the subject matter based on Parent's knowledge
      thereof (other than projections, budgets or other estimates which shall be
      determined in good faith utilizing reasonable assumptions). No document
      furnished or written statement made to the Administrative Agent or the
      Lenders by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof in connection with the
      negotiation, preparation or execution of this Guaranty or any of the Loan
      Documents contains or will contain any untrue statement of a fact material
      to the creditworthiness of the Parent or its Subsidiaries or omits or will
      omit to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
      therein not misleading to the extent material to the creditworthiness of
      the Parent or its Subsidiaries. The Parent is not aware of any facts which
      it has not disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent having a
      Material Adverse Effect, or insofar as the Parent can now foresee, which
      could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (b) Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All representations
and warranties set forth in this Section 9 and all representations and
warranties of the Guarantors contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan
Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty
made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute
representations and warranties made under this Guaranty. All representations and
warranties made under this Guaranty shall be made or deemed to be made at and as
of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific
date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution
and delivery of this Guaranty, any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.

      SECTION 10. Financial Information and Reports. Until all Obligations have
been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of
the Lenders under the Loan Agreement have been terminated, unless consent has
been obtained in the manner provided for in Section 19, the Parent will furnish,
or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at their
respective addresses as set forth on Schedule 1, or

                                       24
<PAGE>
such other office as may be designated by the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders from time to time:

      (a) Financial Statements.

            (i) Quarterly and Annual Financial Statements.

                  (A) As soon as practicable and in any event within fifty-five
            (55) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, an unaudited
            Consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Parent and its
            Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited
            Consolidated and consolidating statements of income and expenses and
            cash flow for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the
            Fiscal Year then ended, all in reasonable detail and prepared by the
            Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP and certified by
            a Responsible Officer of Parent to present fairly in all material
            respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
            as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the
            Parent and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended,
            subject to normal year end adjustments.

                  (B) As soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred
            (100) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Parent and its
            Subsidiaries, commencing with Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2002,
            an audited Consolidated and unaudited consolidating balance sheet of
            Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and
            audited Consolidated and unaudited consolidating statements of
            income and expenses, retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal
            Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable
            detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP and accompanied by a
            report thereon prepared by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, or another
            independent certified public accounting firm of nationally
            recognized standing which is reasonably acceptable to the
            Administrative Agent, that such financial statements are not
            qualified with respect to scope limitations imposed by Parent and
            its Subsidiaries or with respect to accounting principles followed
            by Parent and its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP.

            (ii) Annual Forecasts. As soon as practicable and in any event no
      later than thirty (30) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, an
      annual forecast prepared by management of the Parent, in reasonable detail
      and in the form customarily prepared by management of the Parent for its
      internal use and setting forth an explanation for the principal
      assumptions on which such forecasts were based, of balance sheets, income
      statements and cash flow statements with respect to the Parent and its
      Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter until
      the Maturity Date.

            (iii) SEC Reports. Promptly after the same become publicly
      available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and
      other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
      Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said
      Commission, or with any national securities exchange.

                                       25
<PAGE>
            (iv) Other Information. Such other information regarding the
      operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent and its
      Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in each
      case in the form regularly prepared by the Parent and its Subsidiaries (if
      applicable).

      (b) Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time financial statements
are delivered pursuant to Sections 10(a)(i)(A) or 10(a)(i)(B) and at such other
times as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request a certificate of the
chief financial officer or the treasurer of Parent in the form of Exhibit B
attached hereto (an "Officer's Compliance Certificate"):

            (i) stating that such officer has reviewed such financial statements
      and, to the best of his knowledge, such financial statements fairly
      present in all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and
      its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their
      operations and cash flows for the periods indicated;

            (ii) stating that to such officer's knowledge, based on a reasonable
      examination, no Default or Event of Default exists, or, if such is not the
      case, specifying such Default or Event of Default and its nature, when it
      occurred, whether it is continuing and the steps being taken by the Parent
      and its Subsidiaries with respect to such Default;

            (iii) stating that Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
      with the covenants and restrictions set forth in Section 11, Section 12
      and Section 13 of this Guaranty applicable to Parent and its Subsidiaries
      and, with respect to the covenants set forth in Section 12, the
      calculations applicable thereto; and

            (iv) setting forth any other information reasonably required by the
      Administrative Agent to ensure compliance with this Guaranty.

      (c) Accountant's Certificate. At each time financial statements are
delivered pursuant to Section 10(a)(i)(B), a certificate of the independent
public accountants certifying such financial statements addressed to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders:

            (i) stating that in making the examination necessary for the
      certification of such financial statements, they obtained no knowledge of
      any Default or Event of Default or, if such is not the case, specifying
      such Default or Event of Default and its nature and period of existence;
      and

            (ii) including the calculations prepared by such accountants
      required to establish whether or not the Parent and its Subsidiaries are
      in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 12 hereof
      as at the end of each respective period.

                                       26
<PAGE>
      (d) Other Reports.

            (i) Accountants Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of
      all reports, if any, submitted to the Parent or its Board of Directors by
      its independent public accountants in connection with their auditing
      function, including, without limitation, any management report and any
      management responses thereto.

            (ii) Other Reports. Such other information regarding the operations,
      business affairs and financial condition of the Parent and its
      Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably
      request.

      (e) Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but in no event later
than ten (10) days after an officer of the Parent obtains knowledge thereof)
telephonic and written notice of:

            (i) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or
      before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any
      court or before any arbitrator against or involving the Parent or any
      Subsidiary thereof or any of its properties, assets or businesses which,
      individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
      Material Adverse Effect;

            (ii) any violation by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof of any
      Applicable Law or any notice of any violation received by the Parent or
      any Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority including, without
      limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws, which in any
      such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

            (iii) any labor controversy that has resulted in, or threatens to
      result in, a strike or other work action against the Parent or any
      Subsidiary thereof or any contractor or any material development in any
      labor controversy which if adversely determined could reasonably be
      expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

            (iv) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding
      $1,000,000 that may be assessed against the Parent or any Subsidiary
      thereof (to the extent such attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order is
      not fully covered by insurance and with respect to which the applicable
      insurance carrier has not acknowledged that such attachment, judgment,
      lien, levy or order is fully covered by insurance);

            (v) (A) any Default or Event of Default or (B) any event which
      constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both
      would constitute a default or event of default under any Material Contract
      to which the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof is a party or by which the
      Parent or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties may
      be bound which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect;

            (vi) (A) any unfavorable determination letter from the Internal
      Revenue Service regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan
      under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (B) all
      notices received by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of

                                       27
<PAGE>
      the PBGC's intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee
      appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (C) all notices received by the
      Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning
      the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202
      of ERISA and (D) the Parent obtaining knowledge or reason to know that the
      Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of
      intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress termination within
      the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA; and

            (vii) any event which makes any of the representations set forth in
      Section 9 inaccurate in any respect.

      (f) Accuracy of Information. All written information, reports, statements
and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of the Parent or its
Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Section
10, or any other provision of this Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents,
shall be, at the time the same is so furnished, in compliance with the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 9(a)(xv).

      SECTION 11. Affirmative Covenants. Until all of the Obligations have been
paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under the Loan
Agreement have been terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner
provided for in Section 19, each Guarantor will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to:

      (a) Preservation of Existence and Related Matters. Preserve and maintain:

            (i) its separate corporate existence, and will not sell, lease or
      otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its business or assets;
      provided that any Subsidiary Guarantor may be merged or consolidated with
      or into, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or substantially
      all of its business or assets may be conveyed, sold, assigned, leased,
      transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of
      transactions, to the Parent, any other Subsidiary Guarantor or the
      Borrower; and

            (ii) all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to
      the conduct of its business, and qualify and remain qualified to do
      business in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would
      have a Material Adverse Effect.

      (b) Compliance with Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in compliance
with all Applicable Laws and maintain in full force and effect all Governmental
Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business, except were
the failure to observe or comply could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.

      (c) Compliance with Agreements. Comply in all respects with each term,
condition and provision of each Material Contract to which it is a party or by
which it is bound and with all other material leases, agreements and other
instruments entered into in the conduct of its business, except (i) where the
failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or (ii) where any such term, condition or provision is contested in good

                                       28
<PAGE>
faith through applicable proceedings and where adequate reserves are maintained
in accordance with GAAP.

      (d) Maintenance of Properties. Protect and preserve all properties useful
in and material to its business, including copyrights, patents, trade names,
service marks and trademarks material to the conduct of its business; maintain
in good working order and condition, reasonable wear and tear and casualty
excepted, all buildings, items of equipment and other items of tangible real and
personal property material to the conduct of its business; and from time to time
make or cause to be made all renewals, replacements and additions to such
property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business carried
on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.

      (e) Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of
accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be true and
complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to
permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and in
compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.

      (f) Payment and Performance of Obligations. Pay and perform all
obligations under this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, and pay or perform
(i) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or
assessed upon it or any of its property, and (ii) all other indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade practices;
provided, that each Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries may contest any item
described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 11(f) in good faith so long as
adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.

      (g) Visits and Inspections. Upon reasonable notice to the Parent (unless
there exists any Default or Event of Default), permit representatives of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, from time to time, to visit and inspect its
properties and any materials thereon; inspect, audit and make extracts from its
books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management letters
prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal officers,
and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial
condition, results of operations and business prospects.

      (h) Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable
insurance companies against such risks and in such amounts as are customarily
maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law, and
on the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter deliver to the
Administrative Agent upon its request a detailed list of the insurance then in
effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and rates of
the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks
covered thereby.

      (i) Conduct of Business. Engage only in businesses in substantially the
same fields as the businesses conducted or proposed to be conducted in
accordance with business plans delivered to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date or in lines of business reasonably
related thereto.

                                       29
<PAGE>
      (j) New Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the creation or acquisition of any
Subsidiary by the Parent (other than any Hospital Joint Venture) which is not a
"controlled foreign corporation" under Section 957 of the Code, cause such
Subsidiary to:

            (i) execute a Joinder Agreement in substantially the same form as
      Exhibit A attached hereto; and

            (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent, with the Joinder
      Agreement, such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may
      reasonably request, including, certified resolutions and other
      organizational and authorizing documents of such Subsidiary, favorable
      opinions of counsel to such Subsidiary (which shall cover, among other
      things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the
      Joinder Agreement), all in form and substance satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent.

For the purposes of this Section 11(j), a Subsidiary shall not be deemed to have
been created or acquired until the earlier of (i) the date upon which such
Subsidiary begins to conduct business operations, (ii) the date upon which such
Subsidiary obtains assets with a fair market value in excess of $10,000.00 or
(iii) the date upon which such Subsidiary is initially capitalized.

      (k) Transactions with Affiliates. Conduct all transactions otherwise
permitted under this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents
with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and no less
favorable to such Guarantor or such Subsidiary than it would obtain in a
comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

      (l) Subordinated Working Capital Loan.

            (i) Cause MedCath Incorporated to make working capital advances to
      the Borrower in an amount necessary to ensure that the Borrower can meet
      all of its working capital and other general corporate needs (the "Working
      Capital Advances");

            (ii) Immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the
      Required Lenders, cause MedCath Incorporated to make additional Working
      Capital Advances to the Borrower (in addition to any Working Capital
      Advances made to the Borrower pursuant to clause (i) above); provided that
      MedCath Incorporated shall not be required to make such Working Capital
      Advances to the extent that the sum of (A) the aggregate amount of such
      Working Capital Advances plus (B) the aggregate amount of Subordinated
      Working Capital Loans outstanding as of any applicable date of
      determination would exceed $20,000,000; and

            (iii) Cause all Working Capital Advances to be subordinated pursuant
      to an Intercompany Loan Subordination Agreement in form and substance
      satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 12. Financial Covenants. Until all of the Obligations have been
paid and satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under the Loan
Agreement have been

                                       30
<PAGE>
terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided for in
Section 19, the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not:

            (a) Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio. As of the end of any fiscal quarter
      during any period set forth in the table below, permit the ratio of:

                  (i) the sum of (A) Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4)
            consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such
            date plus (B) the aggregate amount of Lease Expense of the Parent
            and its Subsidiaries for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
            quarters plus (C) Unconsolidated Lease Expense of the Unconsolidated
            Entities for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters
            minus (D) Lease Expense of the Developmental Pool (to the extent
            added above) for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
            quarters, to

                  (ii) the sum of:

                        (A) the aggregate amount of Cash Interest Expense of the
                  Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period of four (4)
                  consecutive fiscal quarters plus the aggregate amount of
                  Unconsolidated Cash Interest Expense of the Unconsolidated
                  Entities for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                  quarters minus the aggregate amount of Cash Interest Expense
                  of the Developmental Pool (to the extent added above) for such
                  period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters minus the
                  aggregate amount of Cash Interest Expense paid by the Parent,
                  its Subsidiaries and each Unconsolidated Entity to MedCath
                  Incorporated for such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal
                  quarters plus or minus the aggregate amount of certain
                  adjustments related to Cash Interest Expense approved by the
                  Administrative Agent and the Lenders as set forth on Schedule
                  12(a)(ii)(B); plus

                        (B) the aggregate amount of Permanent Principal Payments
                  of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period of four (4)
                  consecutive fiscal quarters plus the aggregate amount of
                  Unconsolidated Permanent Principal Payments of the
                  Unconsolidated Entities for such period of four (4)
                  consecutive fiscal quarters minus the aggregate amount of
                  Permanent Principal Payments of the Developmental Pool (to the
                  extent added above) for such period of four (4) consecutive
                  fiscal quarters plus or minus the aggregate amount of certain
                  adjustments related to Permanent Principal Payments approved
                  by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as set forth on
                  Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B); plus

                        (C) the aggregate amount of Lease Expense of the Parent
                  and its Subsidiaries for such period of four (4) consecutive
                  fiscal quarters plus the aggregate amount of Unconsolidated
                  Lease Expense of the Unconsolidated Entities for such period
                  of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters minus the aggregate
                  amount of Lease Expense of the

                                       31
<PAGE>
                  Developmental Pool (to the extent added above) for such period
                  of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters plus or minus the
                  aggregate amount of certain adjustments related to Lease
                  Expense approved by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
                  as set forth on Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B),

            to be less than the corresponding ratio set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Period                       Ratio
                           ------                       -----
                     <S>                             <C>
                     Closing Date through
                       March 30, 2002                1.20 to 1.00

                     March 31, 2002 and
                       thereafter                    1.25 to 1.00
</TABLE>

            (b) Maximum Debt to Capitalization Ratio. As of the end of any
      fiscal quarter, permit the ratio of (i) Total Debt on such date to (ii)
      Total Capitalization on such date to exceed 0.60 to 1.00.

            (c) Maximum Leverage Ratio. As of the end of any fiscal quarter
      during any period set forth in the table below, permit the ratio of (i)
      the sum of (A) Total Debt on such date less (B) Debt of or attributable to
      the Developmental Pool (to the extent included in the calculation of Total
      Debt) on such date to (ii) Adjusted EBITDA for the period of four (4)
      consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date,
      to exceed the corresponding ratio set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Period                     Ratio
                             ------                     -----
                     <S>                             <C>
                     Closing Date through
                       September 29, 2002            3.50 to 1.00

                     September 30, 2002 and
                       thereafter                    3.00 to 1.00
</TABLE>

            (d) Consolidated Net Worth. As of the Closing Date and as of the end
      of any fiscal quarter thereafter, permit Consolidated Net Worth on such
      date to be less than the sum of (i) $130,000,000 plus (ii) fifty percent
      (50%) of cumulative Net Income of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (if
      positive) after the Closing Date plus (iii) an amount equal to one hundred
      percent (100%) of the net cash proceeds received by the Parent or any
      Subsidiary thereof from any issuance of equity after the Closing Date.

            (e) Minimum Liquid Assets. As of the end of any fiscal quarter,
      permit the sum of (i) Available Cash as of such date of determination plus
      (ii) the Maximum Available Corporate Revolver Commitment as of such date
      of determination (in each

                                       32
<PAGE>
      case to be calculated on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in
      accordance with GAAP) to be less than $30,000,000.

      SECTION 13. Negative Covenants.

      (a) Negative Covenants. Until all of the Obligations have been paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments of the Lenders under the Loan Agreement
have been terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided
for in Section 19, the Guarantors will:

            (i) Comply with each and every covenant and agreement set forth in
      Section 5.02 of the Corporate Revolver (as such agreement may be amended
      from time to time) as if such Section 5.02 of the Corporate Revolver
      (including, without limitation, each defined term, article, section,
      exhibit or schedule referenced in or relating to such Section 5.02 of the
      Corporate Revolver) was written herein; provided that the aggregate amount
      of Debt permitted under Section 5.02(b)(iii) of the Corporate Revolver
      (including any amendment, restatement, refinancing or replacement thereof,
      the "Corporate Revolver Debt") shall not exceed $125,000,000 unless (A)
      the Obligations, the Guaranteed Obligations and all other obligations
      under the Related Credit Documents (as defined in the Loan Agreement)
      shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the Corporate Revolver Debt or
      (B) the Corporate Revolver Debt shall be unsecured; and

            (ii) Notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders promptly upon
      the execution of any amendment, restatement, supplement or other
      modification to the Corporate Revolver.

      (b) Rules of Construction.

            (i) The terms and conditions of the Corporate Revolver which are
      incorporated in this Guaranty by reference shall continue as such terms
      and conditions are set forth in the Corporate Revolver irrespective of any
      termination of the Corporate Revolver. Such terms and conditions shall
      include any amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications
      which are approved by the Required Lender pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii).

            (ii) All definitions and other provisions of the Corporate Revolver
      which are incorporated herein by reference shall be construed in such a
      manner so as to give such incorporated terms legal effect and meaning
      hereunder. More specifically, any references to the terms defined in both
      the Corporate Revolver and this Guaranty shall be deemed references to
      such terms as defined herein; provided that any references to the
      "Borrower" and the "Parent" in the Corporate Revolver shall be deemed to
      be references to MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc. and MedCath Holdings,
      Inc. hereunder. For example, references in the Corporate Revolver to the
      "Loan Documents", the "Commitments", the "Obligations", the
      "Administrative Agent" and the "Lenders" shall be deemed to be references
      to the Loan Documents, the Commitments, the Obligations, the
      Administrative Agent and the Lenders as defined in this Guaranty, in each
      case to the extent necessary to give any such incorporated provisions
      legal effect and meaning hereunder. In addition, any references to defined
      terms in the Corporate Revolver which are

                                       33
<PAGE>
      similarly defined in this Guaranty shall be deemed references to such
      similar terms as defined herein. For example, references in the Corporate
      Revolver to an "Advance" shall be deemed to be references to a
      "Construction Loan Advance" hereunder, in each case to the extent
      necessary to give any such incorporated provisions legal effect and
      meaning hereunder.

      SECTION 14. Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
any Default or Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the
Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the
Administrative Agent shall, enforce against the Guarantors their respective
obligations and liabilities hereunder and exercise such other rights and
remedies as may be available to the Administrative Agent hereunder, under the
Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents or otherwise.

      SECTION 15. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments by any
of the Guarantors hereunder, or any set-off or application of funds of any of
the Guarantors by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the receipt of any
amounts by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any of the
Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Guarantors shall be entitled to be
subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender
against the Borrower or the other Guarantors or any other guarantor or against
any collateral security (including, without limitation, the Collateral) held by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Guaranteed
Obligations nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the
Borrower or any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made by such
Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on account of the Guaranteed
Obligations are paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment is terminated. If any
amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at
any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in
full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly
endorsed by such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if required) to be
applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in
such order as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

      SECTION 16. Expenses. All costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees, legal expenses and court costs) incurred by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender in enforcing or protecting their rights or remedies
hereunder shall be payable by the Guarantors on demand and shall bear interest
(after as well as before judgment) until paid at the interest rate then
applicable to Base Rate Loans under the Loan Agreement and shall be additional
Guaranteed Obligations hereunder.

      SECTION 17. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be
made in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement; provided that
notices and communications to the Guarantors shall be directed to the Guarantors
at the address of the Parent set forth in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement.

                                       34
<PAGE>
      SECTION 18. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the benefit of
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their permitted successors and
assigns. This Guaranty shall be binding on each Guarantor and its successors and
assigns; provided that no Guarantor may assign any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders.

      SECTION 19. Amendments, Waivers and Consents. No term, covenant, agreement
or condition of this Guaranty may be amended or waived, nor may any consent be
given, except in the manner set forth in Section 12.11 of the Loan Agreement.

      SECTION 20. Powers Coupled with an Interest. All authorizations and
agencies herein contained with respect to the Collateral are irrevocable and
powers coupled with an interest.

      SECTION 21. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED
AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER
FEDERAL LAW.

      SECTION 22. Jurisdiction and Venue.

      (a) Jurisdiction. The Guarantors hereby irrevocably consent to the
personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of
any dispute in connection with this Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, any
rights or obligations hereunder, or the performance of such rights and
obligations. The Guarantors hereby irrevocably consent to the service of a
summons and complaint and other process in any action, claim or proceeding
brought by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this
Guaranty any the other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder, or
the performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its
property, in the manner specified in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement. Nothing
in this Section 22 shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or
affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to bring any action
or proceeding against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any other
jurisdictions.

      (b) Venue. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection it may
have now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid jurisdiction
in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in connection with
this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or the rights and obligations of the
parties hereunder. Each Guarantor irrevocably waives, in connection with such
action, claim or proceeding, any plea or claim that the action, claim or other
proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

      SECTION 23. Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. EACH PARTY TO THIS GUARANTY
HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION
OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS

                                       35
<PAGE>
GUARANTY OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS
OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY, OR THE
TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER
ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY
HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF
ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO
THIS GUARANTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 23 WITH
ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE
WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

      SECTION 24. Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.

      (a) Injunctive Relief. Each Guarantor recognizes that, in the event such
Guarantor fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or
liabilities under this Guaranty, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate
relief to the Lenders. Therefore, each Guarantor agrees that the Lenders, at the
Lenders' option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief
in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

      (b) Punitive Damages. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not have a
remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan
Document and each such Guarantor hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or
exemplary damages that it may now have or which may arise in the future in
connection with any dispute, whether the dispute is resolved by arbitration or
judicially.

      SECTION 25. Severability. If any provision hereof is invalid and
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
(a) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such
jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto
as nearly as may be possible; and (b) the invalidity or unenforceability of any
provisions hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 26. Headings. The various headings of this Guaranty are inserted
for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Guaranty or any provisions hereof.

      SECTION 27. Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed by the parties
hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same agreement.

      SECTION 28. Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting calculations,
measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to this Guaranty,
including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the Guarantors to
determine compliance with any covenant contained herein, shall, except as
otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there is an express written
direction by the Administrative Agent to the contrary agreed to by the Parent,
be

                                       36
<PAGE>
performed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the Closing Date. In the event
that changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board, or any similar accounting body of comparable standing, or shall be
recommended by the Parent's certified public accountants, to the extent that
such changes would modify such accounting terms or the interpretation or
computation thereof, such changes shall be followed in defining such accounting
terms only from and after the date the Parent and the Required Lenders shall
have amended this Guaranty to the extent necessary to reflect any such changes
in the financial covenants and other terms and conditions of this Guaranty.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       37
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has executed and delivered this
Guaranty under seal as of the date first above written.

                                        PARENT:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH CORPORATION

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

                                        SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH HOLDINGS, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH INCORPORATED

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

                           [Signature Pages Continue]
<PAGE>
                                        MEDCATH DIAGNOSTICS, LLC

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.

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

                                        HEART RESEARCH CENTERS
                                        INTERNATIONAL, LLC

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

                                        CHF CENTERS OF AMERICA, LLC

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH CARDIOLOGY CONSULTING &
                                        MANAGEMENT, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH MANAGEMENT OF OHIO, INC.

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

                           [Signature Pages Continue]
<PAGE>
[CORPORATE SEAL]                        WMS MANAGEMENT, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        AUSTIN MOB, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH NUCLEAR SERVICES, LLC

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

                                        LOUISIANA HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

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

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        METUCHEN NUCLEAR MANAGEMENT, LLC

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             ---------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              --------------------------
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1

                  Addresses of Administrative Agent and Lenders

[Bank of America, N.A.
ILI-231-08-03
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois  60604

The Bankers Trust Company
300 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90071

Wachovia Bank, National Association
301 South College Street, 6th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

GE Healthcare Financial Services
20225 Watertower Boulevard, Suite 200
Brookfield, Wisconsin 53045

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.
186 Wood Avenue South
Iselin, New Jersey 08830

The Chase Manhattan Bank
270 Park Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, New York 10017

Fifth Third Bank (Western Ohio)
110 North Main Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402

First National Bank of Southwestern Ohio
815 S. Breiel Boulevard
Middletown, Ohio 45042]
<PAGE>
                                Schedule 1(a)(i)

                         Adjustments to Adjusted EBITDA
<PAGE>
                                Schedule 9(a)(i)

                 Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification
<PAGE>
                                Schedule 9(a)(ii)

                                 Capitalization
<PAGE>
                               Schedule 9(a)(vii)

                                   Litigation
<PAGE>
                              Schedule 12(a)(ii)(B)

                     Permanent Principal Payment Adjustments
<PAGE>
                                    Exhibit A
                                       to
                               Guaranty Agreement

                            FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
                                Joinder Agreement

      THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of the ____ day of __________, ____ (the
"Agreement"), to the Guaranty Agreement referred to below is entered into by and
among MedCath Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware
(the "Parent"), ____________, a corporation organized under the laws of
__________ (the "New Subsidiary Guarantor"), and Bank of America, N.A., as
administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the ratable benefit of
itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") from time to time party to
the Loan Agreement referred to below.

                              Statement of Purpose

      ____________________, a __________ organized under the laws of __________
(the "Borrower"), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that
certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of _________, ____ (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Loan Agreement). In
connection with the Loan Agreement, the Parent and certain Subsidiaries of the
Parent who are or may become party thereto (collectively, the "Guarantors")
entered into that certain Guaranty Agreement dated as of __________, ____ in
favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the
Lenders (as supplemented hereby and as further amended, restated, supplemented
or otherwise modified, the "Guaranty Agreement").

      The New Subsidiary Guarantor has become a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
the Parent pursuant to [insert description of agreement or transaction relating
to creation of the New Subsidiary Guarantor]. Pursuant to Section 11(j) of the
Guaranty Agreement, the New Subsidiary Guarantor is required to execute and
deliver this joinder agreement.

      NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

      1.01 Guaranty Agreement Supplement. Pursuant to Section 11(j) of the
Guaranty Agreement, the New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that it is a
Guarantor and a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement as if a
signatory thereof on the Closing Date, and the New Subsidiary Guarantor shall
comply with and be subject to and have the benefit of all of the terms,
conditions, covenants, agreements and obligations set forth therein. The New
Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that each reference to a "Guarantor", the
"Guarantors", a "Subsidiary Guarantor" or the "Subsidiary Guarantors" in the
Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and other Loan Documents shall include
the New Subsidiary Guarantor, and each reference to the "Guaranty Agreement" or
"Guaranty" as used therein shall mean the Guaranty Agreement as supplemented
hereby.
<PAGE>
      2.01 Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by
the Administrative Agent of (a) an originally executed counterpart hereof, (b)
an update of Schedule (a)(i) and Schedule 9(a)(ii) and (c) any other agreement
or document required to be delivered in accordance with Section 11(j) of the
Guaranty Agreement (including, without limitation, any other agreement or
document required to be delivered in connection with any Loan Document) and (c)
all fees and expenses required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section
12.2 of the Loan Agreement.

      3.01 General Provisions.

      (a) Representations and Warranties of the New Subsidiary Guarantor.

            (i) The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby confirms that each
representation and warranty made under the Guaranty Agreement is true and
correct with respect to such New Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date hereof
(except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an
earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of the earlier
date).

            (ii) The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges it has
received a copy of the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and that it has read and understands the terms thereof.

      (b) Representations and Warranties of the Parent.

            (i) The Parent hereby confirms that that no Default or Event of
Default has occurred or is continuing under the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

            (ii) The Parent hereby represents and warrants that as of the date
hereof there are no claims or offsets against or defenses or counterclaims to
the obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the Loan Agreement, the
Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the other Loan Documents.

      (b) Limited Effect. Except as supplemented hereby, the Loan Agreement, the
Guaranty Agreement and each other Loan Document shall continue to be, and shall
remain, in full force and effect. This Agreement shall not be deemed (i) to be a
waiver of, or consent to, or a modification or amendment of, any other term or
condition of the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or any other Loan
Document or (ii) to prejudice any right or rights which the Administrative Agent
or any Lender may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with
the Loan Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or any other Loan Document or any of
the instruments or agreements referred to therein, as the same may be amended or
modified from time to time.

      (c) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.
<PAGE>
      (d) Definitions. All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall
have the meanings given thereto in the Guaranty Agreement.

      (e) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED, THAT
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER
FEDERAL LAW.
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned hereby causes this Agreement to be
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                        PARENT:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH CORPORATION

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

                                        NEW SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------
<PAGE>
                                        ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

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

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             ---------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              --------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    Exhibit B
                                       to
                               Guaranty Agreement

                    FORM OF OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
<PAGE>
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

      The undersigned, on behalf of MedCath Corporation, a corporation organized
under the laws of Delaware (the "Parent"), hereby certifies to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined below, as follows:

      1. This Certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 10(b) of the
Guaranty Agreement dated as of __________, ____ (as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Guaranty Agreement"),
made by the Parent and certain Subsidiaries of the Parent who are or may become
party thereto (collectively, the "Guarantors"), in favor of Bank of America,
N.A., as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the ratable
benefit of itself and the financial institutions (collectively, the "Lenders")
from time to time party to the Loan Agreement referred to therein. Capitalized
terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Guaranty Agreement.

      2. I have reviewed the financial statements of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries dated as of _______________ and for the _______________ period[s]
then ended and, to the best of my knowledge, such statements fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries
as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for
the period[s] indicated.

      3. I have reviewed the terms of the Guaranty Agreement, the Loan
Agreement, and the other related Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be
made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and
the condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period
covered by the financial statements referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such
review has not disclosed, to my knowledge, the existence during or at the end of
such accounting period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or
an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the existence of any such
condition or event as at the date of this Certificate [except, if such condition
or event existed or exists, describe the nature and period of existence thereof
and what action the Parent and its Subsidiaries have taken, are taking and
propose to take with respect thereto].

      4. The Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial
covenants contained in Section 12 of the Guaranty Agreement as shown on such
Schedule 1 and the Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the other
covenants and restrictions contained in the Guaranty Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>
      WITNESS the following signature as of the _____ day of _________, ____.

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        MEDCATH CORPORATION

                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

      [To be provided by Parent in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT I
                                       to
                                 Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                    FORM OF OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
<PAGE>
                        OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

      The undersigned, on behalf of Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC, a North
Carolina limited liability company (the "Borrower"), hereby certifies to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined below, as follows:

      1. This Certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 6.2 of the
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of April 24, 2002 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement"), by and among the Borrower, the lenders who are or may become party
thereto (the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (the
"Administrative Agent"). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan Agreement.

      2. I have reviewed the financial statements of the Borrower dated as of
_______________ and for the _______________ period[s] then ended and such
statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of
the Borrower as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and
cash flows for the period[s] indicated.

      3. I have reviewed the terms of the Loan Agreement, and the related Loan
Documents and have made, or caused to be made under my supervision, a review in
reasonable detail of the transactions and the condition of the Borrower during
the accounting period covered by the financial statements referred to in
Paragraph 2 above. Such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the
end of such accounting period of any condition or event that constitutes a
Default or an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the existence of
any such condition or event as at the date of this Certificate [except, if such
condition or event existed or exists, describe the nature and period of
existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes
to take with respect thereto].

      4. The Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants contained in
Article VIII of the Loan Agreement as shown on such Schedule 1 and the Borrower
is in compliance with the other covenants and restrictions contained in the Loan
Agreement.

      5. The Applicable Margin and calculations determining such figure are set
forth on the attached Schedule 2.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>
      WITNESS the following signature as of the _____ day of _________, 200__.

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, [SEAL]
                                        as Borrower

                                        By: LOUISIANA HOSPITAL
                                            MANAGEMENT, INC., its Manager

                                           By:
                                              -----------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ---------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 --------------------------
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 1
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

     [To be provided by Borrower in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]
<PAGE>
                                   Schedule 2
                                       to
                        Officer's Compliance Certificate

     [To be provided by Borrower in form acceptable to Administrative Agent]
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT J
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                           FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT

      THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of April 24, 2002, by
and between LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability
company (the "Grantor"), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking
association, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the
ratable benefit of itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") as are,
or may from time to time become, parties to the Loan Agreement (as defined
below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

      Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as
of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified,
the "Loan Agreement"), by and among the Grantor, as Borrower, the Lenders and
the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to extend a certain credit
facility to the Grantor as more particularly described therein.

      To induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into the Loan
Agreement, and as a condition to the extension of the credit facility
thereunder, the Lenders require that the Grantor grant a continuing security
interest in and to the "Collateral" (as hereinafter defined) to secure the
payment and performance of the "Obligations" (as hereinafter defined).

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

      SECTION 1. Grant of Security.

      (a) The Grantor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent,
for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and hereby
grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a security interest (the "Security
Interests") in all of the Grantor's right, title and interest in and to the
following, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the "Collateral"):

            (i) all inventory in all of its forms, wherever located, now or
      hereafter existing, including, but not limited to, all raw materials,
      other materials, supplies, work-in-process and finished goods (including
      all drugs, medical supplies, hospital supplies, books and uniforms), all
      accessions thereto, documents therefor and any products made or processed
      therefrom and all substances, if any, commingled therewith or added
      thereto (any and all such inventory, accessions, documents, products and
      substances, the "Inventory");

            (ii) (A) all accounts, commercial tort claims, contract rights,
      chattel paper, electronic chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts,
      letter of credit rights, general intangibles and other obligations of any
      kind, now or hereafter existing, whether or not arising out of or in
      connection with the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of services,
<PAGE>
      including, without limitation, all present or future accounts receivable,
      all rights to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by
      performance, for property sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise
      disposed of or to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise
      disposed of, for services rendered or to be rendered, for a policy of
      insurance issued or to be issued, for a secondary obligation incurred or
      to be incurred, or arising out of the use of a credit card or charge card
      or information contained on or for use with the card, all rights in any
      merchandise or goods which any of the same may represent, all notes
      receivable, health care insurance receivables, book debts, notes, bills,
      drafts, acceptances, choses in action, and all sums of money due or to
      become due thereon and all proceeds thereof and all rights, title,
      security interests and guarantees with respect to each of the foregoing,
      and (B) all rights now or hereafter existing in and to all security
      agreements, leases, and other contracts securing or otherwise relating to
      any such accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, electronic chattel
      paper, instruments, deposit accounts, letter of credit rights, general
      intangibles or obligations (any and all such accounts, contract rights,
      chattel paper, electronic chattel paper, instruments, deposit accounts,
      letter of credit rights, general intangibles and obligations being the
      "Receivables," and any and all such security agreements, leases and other
      contracts being the "Related Contracts"); provided, however, that the
      security interest granted herein in any accounts or contract rights
      referred to above is subject to any applicable legal restriction on such
      security interest, including under any Medicare Regulations or any
      Medicaid Regulations;

            (iii) all equipment of the Grantor, wherever located, now or
      hereafter existing, including, without limitation, all other machinery,
      furniture, equipment and goods (other than Inventory) and all other
      tangible assets of the Grantor used or bought for use primarily in the
      business of the Grantor, including all accessions, additions, attachments,
      improvements, alterations, modifications, substitutions, repairs and
      replacements thereto and therefor (any and all such equipment, machinery,
      accessions, and additions, the "Equipment"); provided, however, that
      Equipment does not include any and all equipment financed solely by an
      Equipment Lender that does not permit the Administrative Agent, on behalf
      of itself and the other Lenders, to encumber or obtain a security interest
      in such financed equipment (the "Excluded Equipment"), but does include
      (A) all equipment financed by an Equipment Lender that does not prohibit
      the grant of a security interest in such financed equipment and (B) all
      equipment financed with the proceeds obtained under the Loan Agreement.

            (iv) all right, title and interest in all now owned or hereafter
      acquired (A) patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names
      and similar intangible property and all registrations and applications, in
      respect thereof, (B) licenses and rights in, and the right to sue for all
      past, present and future infringements of, any and all such now owned or
      hereafter acquired patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade
      names and similar intangible property and registrations and applications
      in respect thereof, (C) all inventions and tangible property embodying or
      incorporating such now owned or hereafter acquired patents, copyrights,
      trademarks, service marks, trade names and similar intangible property and
      registrations and applications in respect thereof and (D) all goodwill
      relating to such now owned or hereafter acquired patents, copyrights,
      trademarks, service marks, trade

                                       2
<PAGE>
      names and similar intangible property and registrations and applications
      in respect thereof (collectively, the "Intellectual Property");

            (v) all general intangibles and all investment property, whether now
      existing or hereafter arising and wherever arising, including, but not
      limited to, (A) all partnership, corporate, and other interests of the
      Grantor in and to any Person, (B) all permits, licenses, contracts
      (including all Material Contracts), payment intangibles, agreements,
      software, franchises, instruments, indentures, certificates, records,
      customer lists, customer and supplier contracts, firm sales orders, bills
      of lading (negotiable and non-negotiable) and other rights, privileges and
      goodwill obtained or used in connection therewith or any of the
      Collateral, (C) all rights, title and interest of the Grantor (1) in or
      under the Project Deposit and to any and all funds therein, (2) in and to
      the Plans, and (3) in and to all construction contracts, architectural
      contracts, engineering contracts, drawings, plans, renderings, profiles,
      studies, shop drawings, plats, reports and specifications, building
      permits, sanitary sewer permits, environmental permits and similar items
      and all other documents of any kind relating to the design, construction
      and operation of the Hospital and (D) all tax refunds and other refunds or
      rights to receive payment from U.S. federal, state or local governments or
      foreign governments;

            (vi) all construction materials and supplies now or hereafter
      acquired by the Grantor, which are now or hereafter attached to or
      situated in, on or about the Property; and

            (vii) all proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing
      Collateral (including, without limitation, proceeds that constitute
      property of the types described in clauses (i) - (vi) of this Section
      1(a)) and, to the extent not otherwise included, all (i) all collateral
      security and supporting obligations given by any Person with respect to
      any of the foregoing Collateral, (ii) all payments under insurance
      (whether or not the Administrative Agent is the loss payee thereof), or
      any indemnity, warranty or guaranty, payable by reason of loss or damage
      to or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing Collateral and (iii)
      all cash.

      (b) Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Loan Agreement, terms in
Articles 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of North Carolina
(as in effect from time to time, the "Code") are used in this Agreement as
therein defined. In addition, to the extent any amendment, revision or other
modification of the Code after the date hereof results in the renumbering of
specific sections, revision of the order of specific sections or other changes
in the organization of the Code in effect as of the date hereof, all references
herein to specific sections of the Code in effect as of the date hereof shall be
deemed to refer to such new section or sections which correspond to such
original sections.

                                       3
<PAGE>
      SECTION 2. Security for Obligations.

      (a) This Agreement secures the payment and performance of all of the
Obligations, including, without limitation, all amounts that constitute part of
the Obligations and would be owed by the Grantor to the Administrative Agent or
the Lenders under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document but for the fact
that due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding
involving the Grantor such Obligations are unenforceable or not allowable.

      (b) For the purpose of this Agreement, "Obligations" means the Obligations
as defined in the Loan Agreement and any renewals or extensions of any of the
Obligations.

      SECTION 3. Grantor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, (a) the Grantor shall remain liable under the contracts and
agreements included in the Collateral to the extent set forth therein to perform
all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this
Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by the Administrative Agent of
any of the rights hereunder shall not release Grantor from any of its duties or
obligations under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral and
(c) neither the Lenders nor the Administrative Agent shall have any obligation
or liability under the contracts and agreements included in the Collateral by
reason of this Agreement, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Lenders be
obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of Grantor thereunder or
to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned
hereunder.

      SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. The Grantor represents and
warrants as follows:

            (a) All of the Inventory and the Equipment is located at the places
      specified on Schedule I hereto. The chief place of business and chief
      executive office of the Grantor and the office where the Grantor keeps its
      records concerning the Receivables, and the originals of all chattel paper
      that evidence Receivables, are located at the places specified on Schedule
      I hereto.

            (b) None of the Receivables is evidenced by a promissory note or
      other instrument.

            (c) The Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Collateral
      free and clear of any lien, security interest, option or other charge or
      encumbrance except for the security interest created by this Agreement and
      except as permitted under the Loan Agreement. No effective financing
      statement or other similar document used to perfect and preserve a
      security interest under the laws of any jurisdiction (a "Financing
      Statement") covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any
      recording office, except such as may have been filed in favor of the
      Administrative Agent relating to this Agreement or as permitted by the
      Loan Agreement. As of the date hereof, the Grantor has the trade names set
      forth on Schedule II hereto.

            (d) The Grantor has exclusive possession and control of the
      Inventory and the Equipment.

                                       4
<PAGE>
            (e) This Agreement creates a valid, first priority lien on and
      Security Interest in the Collateral, enforceable against all third parties
      and securing the payment of the Obligations. The financing statements
      naming the Grantor as debtor are in appropriate form and when filed in the
      offices specified on the Schedules attached hereto, the Security Interests
      will constitute valid and perfected Security Interests in the Collateral,
      prior to all other Liens and rights of others therein except for Permitted
      Liens (to the extent that a security interest therein may be perfected by
      filing pursuant to the Code) and all filings and other actions necessary
      or desirable to perfect and protect such Security Interests have been duly
      taken.

            (f) No consent of any other Person or entity and no authorization,
      approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
      governmental, administrative or judicial authority or regulatory body and
      no payment of any stamp or similar tax on, or in respect of, this
      Agreement is necessary or legally advisable (i) for the grant by the
      Grantor of the liens and security interests granted hereby or for the
      execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Grantor, (ii)
      for the perfection or maintenance of the Security Interest created hereby
      (including the first priority nature of such Security Interest) other than
      the filing of financing statements (and continuation, when applicable)
      referred to in clause (e) above and the Loan Agreement, (iii) for the
      assignment of any Material Contract or (iv) for the exercise by the Lender
      of its rights and remedies hereunder.

            (g) The execution, delivery and performance by the Grantor of this
      Agreement will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or
      otherwise, violate any material provision of any Applicable Law or any
      Material Contract and will not result in the creation or imposition of any
      Lien, other than the Security Interests granted to the Administrative
      Agent hereunder, upon or with respect to any property or revenues of the
      Grantor.

            (h) Material Contracts.

                  (i) The Grantor has performed all of its material obligations
      under each Material Contract to which it is a party and, to the best
      knowledge of the Grantor, each party to any Material Contract is in
      compliance in all material respects with each such Material Contract and
      there are no material defaults by the Grantor or, to the knowledge of the
      Grantor, by any other party under any such Material Contract.

                  (ii) Each Material Contract is in full force and effect and
      constitutes a legally enforceable obligation of the Grantor party thereto,
      and to the knowledge of the Grantor, each other party thereto, subject to
      the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
      reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws
      from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors'
      rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies and other
      similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general
      equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
      law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

                                       5
<PAGE>
                  (iii) No consent or authorization of, filing with or other act
      by or in respect of any Governmental Authority is required in connection
      with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of
      any of the Material Contracts by any party thereto other than those which
      have been duly obtained, made or performed, are in full force and effect
      and do not subject the scope of any such Material Contract to any material
      adverse limitation, either specific or general in nature.

                  (iv) The right, title and interest of the Grantor in, to and
      under the Material Contracts are not subject to any defenses, offsets,
      counterclaims or claims, which such defenses, offsets, counterclaims or
      claims could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (i) Intellectual Property.

                  (i) All Intellectual Property owned by the Grantor in its own
      name on the date hereof is listed on Schedule III attached hereto.

                  (ii) On the date hereof, all material Intellectual Property is
      valid, subsisting, unexpired and enforceable, has not been abandoned and
      does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any other Person.

                  (iii) Except as set forth in Schedule III on the date hereof,
      none of the Intellectual Property is the subject of any licensing or
      franchise agreement pursuant to which the Grantor is the licensor or
      franchisor.

                  (iv) No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any
      Governmental Authority which would limit, cancel or question the validity
      of, or the Grantor's rights in, any Intellectual Property in any respect
      that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (v) No action or proceeding is pending, or, to the knowledge
      of the Grantor, threatened, on the date hereof (i) seeking to limit,
      cancel or question the validity of any Intellectual Property or the
      Grantor's ownership interest therein, or (ii) which, if adversely
      determined, would have a material adverse effect on the value of any
      Intellectual Property.

            SECTION 5. Further Assurances.

            (a) The Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of the
      Grantor, the Grantor will promptly execute and deliver all further
      instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be
      necessary or desirable or reasonably requested by the Lender, in order to
      perfect and protect any security interest granted or purported to be
      granted hereby or to enable the Administrative Agent to exercise and
      enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.
      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing the Grantor will: (i)
      mark conspicuously each document included in the Inventory and each
      chattel paper included in the Receivables and each Related Contract and
      each of its records pertaining to the Collateral with a legend, in form
      and substance

                                       6
<PAGE>
      satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, indicating that such document,
      chattel paper, Related Contract or record is subject to the security
      interest granted hereby; (ii) if any Receivable shall be evidenced by a
      promissory note or other instrument, deliver and pledge to the
      Administrative Agent such note or instrument duly endorsed and accompanied
      by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment, all in form and
      substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (iii) if any Inventory
      or Equipment shall be put into the possession and control of any Person
      other than the Grantor, shall cause such Person to execute and deliver to
      the Grantor a lien waiver letter in respect of such Inventory and
      Equipment; and (iv) execute and file such financing statements or
      continuation statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments
      or notices, as may be necessary or reasonably requested by the
      Administrative Agent, in order to perfect and preserve the security
      interest granted or purported to be granted hereby.

            (b) In the event that any Collateral is in the possession of a third
      party, the Grantor will join with Administrative Agent in the notification
      to such third party of Administrative Agent's interest in the Collateral
      and the Grantor will assist Administrative Agent in obtaining the written
      acknowledgment of such third party that such third party is holding the
      Collateral for the benefit of Administrative Agent. Furthermore, the
      Grantor shall cooperate with Administrative Agent as necessary to permit
      Administrative Agent to obtain control (as such term is now or hereafter
      defined in the Code) over all Collateral consisting of deposit accounts,
      investment property, letter of credit rights or electronic chattel paper.

            (c) No Grantor will, except upon thirty (30) days' prior written
      notice to the Administrative Agent and delivery to the Administrative
      Agent of all additional executed financing statements and other documents
      reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to maintain the validity,
      perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein:

                  (i) change its jurisdiction of organization or the location of
            its chief executive office; or

                  (ii) change its name, identity or corporate structure to such
            an extent that any financing statement filed by the Administrative
            Agent in connection with this Agreement would become misleading.

            (d) The Grantor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file
      one or more financing statements or continuation statements, and
      amendments thereto, relating to all or any part of the Collateral without
      the signature of Grantor where permitted by law.

            (e) The Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent from time
      to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the
      Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as the
      Lender may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

      SECTION 6. Inventory. The Grantor shall keep the Inventory (other than
Inventory sold in the ordinary course of business) at the places therefor
specified on Schedule I or, upon 30 days'

                                       7
<PAGE>
prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, at such other places in a
jurisdiction where all action required by Section 5 shall have been taken with
respect to the Inventory.

      SECTION 7. Equipment.

            (a) The Grantor shall keep the Equipment at the places specified on
      Schedule I, or, upon 30 days' prior written notice to the Administrative
      Agent, at such other places in a jurisdiction where all action required by
      Section 5 shall have been taken with respect to the Equipment.

            (b) The Grantor shall maintain each item of Equipment in good
      working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear and obsolescence
      excepted), and in accordance with any manufacturer's manual, and will as
      quickly as practicable provide all maintenance, service and repairs
      necessary for such purpose and will promptly furnish to the Administrative
      Agent a statement respecting any loss or damage to any of the Equipment
      which may have a Material Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 8. Receivables.

            (a) The Grantor shall keep its chief place of business and chief
      executive office and the office where it keeps its records concerning the
      Receivables, and the originals of all chattel paper that evidence
      Receivables, at Grantor's address specified in Schedule I hereto or, upon
      30 days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, at any other
      locations in a jurisdiction where all actions required by Section 5 shall
      have been taken with respect to the Receivables. The Grantor will hold and
      preserve such records and chattel paper and will permit representatives of
      the Administrative Agent at any time during normal business hours upon
      reasonable notice to inspect and make abstracts from such records and
      chattel paper.

            (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), the Grantor
      shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to
      become due to the Grantor under the Receivables. In connection with such
      collections, the Grantor may take (and, at the Administrative Agent's
      direction following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default,
      shall take) such action as the Grantor or the Administrative Agent may
      deem necessary or advisable to enforce collection of the Receivables;
      provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall have the right at
      any time after the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of
      Default, upon written notice to Grantor of its intention to do so, to
      notify the account debtors or obligors under any Receivables of the
      assignment of such Receivables to the Administrative Agent and to direct
      such account debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to
      become due to Grantor thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent and,
      upon such notification and at the expense of Grantor, to enforce
      collection of any such Receivables, and to adjust, settle or compromise
      the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent
      as the Grantor might have done. After receipt by the Grantor of the notice
      from the Administrative Agent referred to in the proviso to the preceding
      sentence, (i) all amounts and proceeds (including instruments) received by
      the Grantor in respect of the Receivables shall be received in trust for
      the benefit of the Lenders, shall be segregated from other funds of the
      Grantor and shall

                                       8
<PAGE>
      be forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
      Lenders in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement)
      to be held as cash collateral and applied as provided by Section 13(b),
      and (ii) the Grantor shall not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or
      payment of any Receivable, release wholly or partly any account debtor or
      obligor thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon other than in the
      ordinary course of business. Promptly after request of the Administrative
      Agent following the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, the
      Grantor shall cause all collections of Receivables to be forwarded to such
      lockboxes as the Lender may direct, which lockboxes shall be under the
      exclusive control and dominion of the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 9. Material Contracts.

            (a) The Grantor will perform and comply in all material respects
      with all of its obligations under the Material Contracts.

            (b) The Grantor will not amend, modify, terminate or waive any
      provision of any Material Contract in any manner which could reasonably be
      expected to materially adversely affect the value of such Material
      Contract as Collateral.

            (c) The Grantor will exercise promptly and diligently each and every
      material right which it may have under each Material Contract (other than
      any right of termination), unless the failure to exercise any such
      material right could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

            (d) The Grantor will deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of
      each material demand, notice or document received by it relating in any
      way to any Material Contract that questions the validity or enforceability
      of such Material Contract.

      SECTION 10. Intellectual Property.

            (a) The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will (i)
      continue to use each material trademark applicable to its current business
      in order to maintain such trademark in full force free from any claim of
      abandonment for non-use, (ii) maintain as in the past the quality of
      products and services offered under such trademark, (iii) use such
      trademark with the appropriate notice of registration and all other
      notices and legends required by Applicable Laws, (iv) not adopt or use any
      trademark which is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such
      trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of
      itself and the Lenders, shall obtain a perfected security interest in such
      mark pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) not (and not permit any licensee
      or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any act
      whereby such trademark may become invalidated or impaired in any way.

            (b) The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any
      act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material patent may become
      forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public.

                                       9
<PAGE>
            (c) The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) (i) will employ
      each material copyright and (ii) will not (and will not permit any
      licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or knowingly omit to do any
      act whereby any material portion of the copyrights may become invalidated
      or otherwise impaired. The Grantor will not (either itself or through
      licensees) do any act whereby any material portion of the copyrights may
      fall into the public domain.

            (d) The Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will not do any
      act that knowingly uses any material Intellectual Property to infringe the
      intellectual property rights of any other Person.

            (e) The Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
      promptly after if it knows, or has reason to know, that any application or
      registration relating to any material Intellectual Property may become
      forfeited, abandoned or dedicated to the public, or of any adverse
      determination or development (including, without limitation, the
      institution of, or any such determination or development in, any
      proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United
      States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding
      the Grantor's ownership of, or the validity of, any material Intellectual
      Property or the Grantor's right to register the same or to own and
      maintain the same.

            (f) Whenever the Grantor, either by itself or through any agent,
      employee, licensee or designee, shall file an application for the
      registration of any Intellectual Property with the United States Patent
      and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar
      office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision
      thereof, the Grantor shall report such filing to the Administrative Agent
      within five (5) Business Days after the last day of the fiscal quarter in
      which such filing occurs. Upon request of the Administrative Agent, the
      Grantor shall execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all
      agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as the Administrative Agent
      may reasonably request to evidence the Administrative Agent's and the
      Lenders' security interest in any Copyright, Patent or Trademark and the
      goodwill and General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or
      represented thereby.

            (g) The Grantor will take all reasonable and necessary steps,
      including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the United States
      Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any
      similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision
      thereof, to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the
      relevant registration) and to maintain each registration of the material
      Intellectual Property, including, without limitation, filing of
      applications for renewal, affidavits of use and affidavits of
      incontestability.

            (h) In the event that any material Intellectual Property is
      infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, the Grantor shall
      (i) take such actions as the Grantor shall reasonably deem appropriate
      under the circumstances to protect such Intellectual Property and (ii) if
      such Intellectual Property is of material economic value, promptly notify
      the Administrative Agent after it learns thereof and sue for infringement

                                       10
<PAGE>
      misappropriation or dilution, to seek injunctive relief where appropriate
      and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation
      or dilution.

      SECTION 11. Insurance. The Grantor shall, at its own expense, maintain
insurance with respect to the Inventory in such amounts, against such risks, in
such form and with such insurers, as is specified in the Loan Agreement. The
Grantor shall, if so requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the
Administrative Agent original or duplicate policies of such insurance and, as
often as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, a report of a
reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance. Further, the Grantor
shall, at the request of the Administrative Agent, duly execute and deliver
instruments of assignment of such insurance policies to comply with the
requirements of the Loan Agreement and use its best efforts to cause the
insurers to acknowledge notice of such assignment.

      SECTION 12. Transfers and Other Liens. The Grantor shall not (i) except as
permitted by the Loan Agreement, sell, assign (by operation of law or otherwise)
or otherwise dispose of, or grant any option with respect to, any of the
Collateral or (ii) create or permit to exist any lien, security interest, option
or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the Collateral,
except for the security interest under this Agreement and except as permitted in
the Loan Agreement.

      SECTION 13. Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. The Grantor
hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent the Grantor's
attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of the Grantor and
in the name of the Grantor or otherwise, from time to time in the Administrative
Agent's discretion after and during the occurrence of a Default or an Event of
Default, to take any action and to execute any instrument that the
Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
of this Agreement (subject to the rights of the Grantor under Section 9),
including, without limitation:

            (a) to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compromise,
      receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due
      under or in connection with the Collateral,

            (b) to receive, endorse, and collect any drafts or other
      instruments, documents and chattel paper, in connection with subclause (a)
      above, and

            (c) to file any claims or take any action or institute any
      proceedings that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable
      for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the
      rights of the Administrative Agent with respect to any of the Collateral.

      SECTION 14. Administrative Agent May Perform. If the Grantor fails to
perform any agreement contained herein, the Administrative Agent may itself
perform, or cause the performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the
Administrative Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by
Grantor under Section 17(b).

      SECTION 15. The Administrative Agent's Duties. The powers conferred on the
Administrative Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the
Collateral and shall not

                                       11
<PAGE>
impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody
of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually
received by it hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty as to any
Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against
prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The
Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the
custody and preservation of any Collateral in its possession if such Collateral
is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Administrative Agent
accords its own property.

      SECTION 16. Remedies. If any Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing:

            (a) The Administrative Agent may exercise in respect of the
      Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein
      or otherwise available to it, all the rights and remedies of a secured
      party on default under the Code in effect at that time, and also may (i)
      require the Grantor to, and the Grantor hereby agrees that it will at its
      expense and upon request of the Administrative Agent forthwith, assemble
      all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Administrative Agent and
      make it available to the Administrative Agent at a place to be designated
      by the Administrative Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties;
      (ii) without notice except as specified below, sell the Collateral or any
      part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of
      the Administrative Agent's offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or
      for future delivery, and upon such other terms as the Administrative Agent
      may deem commercially reasonable; (iii) occupy any premises owned or
      leased by the Grantor where the Collateral or any part thereof is
      assembled for a reasonable period in order to effectuate its rights and
      remedies hereunder or under law, without obligation to the Grantor in
      respect of such occupation; and (iv) exercise any and all rights and
      remedies of the Grantor under or in connection with the Related Contracts
      or otherwise in respect of the Collateral, including, without limitation,
      any and all rights of the Grantor to demand or otherwise require payment
      of any amount under, or performance of any provision of, the Related
      Contracts. The Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be
      required by law, at least ten days' notice to the Grantor of the time and
      place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be
      made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Administrative Agent
      shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice
      of sale having been given. The Administrative Agent may adjourn any public
      or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place
      fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the
      time and place to which it was so adjourned.

            (b) Any cash held by the Administrative Agent as Collateral and all
      cash proceeds received by the Administrative Agent in respect of any sale
      of, collection from, or other realization upon, all or any part of the
      Collateral may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be held by
      the Administrative Agent as collateral for, and/or then or at any time
      thereafter be applied (after payment of any amounts payable to the
      Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 17) in whole or in part by the
      Administrative Agent against, all or any part of the Obligations, in such
      order and manner as the Administrative Agent may elect. Any surplus of
      such cash or cash proceeds held by the Administrative Agent and remaining
      after payment in full of all the Obligations shall be

                                       12
<PAGE>
      paid over to the Grantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to
      receive such surplus.

      SECTION 17. Indemnity and Expenses.

            (a) The Grantor agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent from
      and against any and all claims, losses and liabilities (including
      reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or resulting from this
      Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement of this Agreement),
      except claims, losses or liabilities resulting from the Administrative
      Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a
      non-appealable final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

            (b) The Grantor will upon demand pay to the Administrative Agent the
      amount of any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the
      reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and of any experts and agents,
      that the Administrative Agent may incur in connection with (i) the
      administration of this Agreement, (ii) the custody, preservation, use or
      operation of, or the sale of, collection from, or other realization upon,
      any of the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement, (iii) the
      exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Administrative Agent
      hereunder or (iv) the failure by the Grantor to perform or observe any of
      the provisions hereof.

      SECTION 18. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement, and no consent to any departure by the Grantor herefrom, shall
in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No failure
on the part of the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising
any right hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right.

      SECTION 19. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including teletransmission
communication) and mailed, transmitted or delivered, if to Grantor, to it at its
address specified in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement, if to the
Administrative Agent, to it at the address of the Administrative Agent specified
in Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement, or, as to any party, to it at such other
address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other
party complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section. All such notices
and other communications shall, when teletransmitted, telegraphed, telexed,
faxed or cabled, be effective when teletransmitted with receipt confirmed,
delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answerback, confirmed
received or delivered to the cable company, respectively, when delivered, be
effective upon delivery, and when mailed, be effective upon being deposited in
the mails, in each case addressed as aforesaid.

      SECTION 20. Continuing Security Interest; Assignments under Loan
Agreement. This Agreement shall create a continuing security interest in the
Collateral and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the indefeasible
payment in full of the Obligations (on or after their maturity) and all other
amounts payable under this Agreement, (ii) be binding upon the Grantor, its
successors and assigns and (iii) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
the Administrative

                                       13
<PAGE>
Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Upon the indefeasible payment
in full of the Obligations (on or after their maturity) and all other amounts
payable under this Agreement, the security interest granted hereby shall
terminate and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the Grantor. Upon any
such termination the Administrative Agent will, at the Grantor's expense,
execute and deliver to the Grantor such documents as the Grantor shall
reasonably request to evidence such termination.

      SECTION 21. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability
without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions
hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision
in any other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding
upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      SECTION 23. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

            (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
      ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE
      TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT THE
      ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

            (b) The Grantor hereby irrevocably consents to the personal
      jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg
      County, North Carolina, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising
      out of any dispute in connection with this Agreement, any rights or
      obligations hereunder, or the performance of such rights and obligations.
      The Grantor hereby irrevocably consents to the service of a summons and
      complaint and other process in any action, claim or proceeding brought by
      the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement, any rights or
      obligations hereunder, or the performance of such rights and obligations,
      on behalf of itself or its property, in the manner specified in Section
      19. Nothing in this Section 23(b) shall affect the right of the
      Administrative Agent to serve legal process in any other manner permitted
      by Applicable Law or affect the right of the Administrative Agent to bring
      any action or proceeding against the Grantor or its properties in the
      courts of any other jurisdictions.

            (c) The Grantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection it may have
      now or in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid jurisdiction
      in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in connection
      with this Agreement or the rights and obligations of the parties
      hereunder. The Grantor irrevocably waives, in connection with such action,
      claim or proceeding, any plea or claim that the action, claim or other
      proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

                                       14
<PAGE>
            (d) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
      TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING
      UNDER ANY THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR
      INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH
      RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH
      CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN
      CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS
      THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY
      COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE
      AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 23 WITH ANY COURT AS
      WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF
      THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

      SECTION 24. Waivers, Non-Exclusive Remedies. No failure on the part of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising and
no course of dealing with respect to, any right under the Loan Agreement, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof or
hereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender of any right under the Loan Agreement, this Agreement or any other
Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof, and the exercise
of any rights in this Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents
are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law. This
Agreement is a Loan Document executed pursuant to the Loan Agreement.

      SECTION 25. Headings. The various headings of this Agreement are inserted
for convenience only and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this
Agreement.

      SECTION 26. Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a
conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and the Loan Agreement, the
terms of the Loan Agreement shall control; provided, that any provision herein
which imposes additional burdens on the Grantor or further restricts the rights
of the Grantor or gives the Administrative Agent or Lenders additional rights
shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with the Loan Agreement
and shall be given full force and effect.

      SECTION 27. Limitation of Liability. No party to this Agreement, nor any
Affiliate thereof shall have any liability with respect to, any other party
hereto or Affiliate thereof and each party hereby waives, releases and agrees
not to sue upon, any claim for any special, indirect, punitive, exemplary or
consequential damages suffered by such party in connection with, arising out of,
or in any way related to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the
transactions contemplated herein or therein, or any act, omission or event
occurring in connection herewith or therewith.

      SECTION 28. Terms. All terms used, but not defined, herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.

                                       15
<PAGE>
                             [Signature Page Follow]

                                       16
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                        GRANTOR:

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LCC

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------,
                                           acting on behalf of
                                                               -----------

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

                                        ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

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

                                        By:
                                           --------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ---------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 --------------------------
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

                              Location of Inventory
                and Chief Place of Business and Executive Office
                                   of Grantor

                          [TO BE COMPLETED BY GRANTOR]

Chief Place of Business and Executive Office:

Inventory will be located at:

Equipment will be located at:

Evidence of Receivables will be located at:
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE II

                                   Trade Names

                          [TO BE COMPLETED BY GRANTOR]
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE III

                              Intellectual Property

                          [TO BE COMPLETED BY GRANTOR]
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT K
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            FORM OF PLEDGE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

      THIS PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as of April 24,
2002, by and among LOUISIANA HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., a North Carolina
corporation (the "Pledgor"), LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC, a North Carolina
limited liability company (the "Borrower") and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national
banking association, as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for
the ratable benefit of itself and the financial institutions (the "Lenders") as
are, or may from time to time become, parties to the Loan Agreement (as defined
below).

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

      Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as
of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders
and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders have agreed to extend a certain credit
facility to the Borrower as more particularly described therein.

      Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, the Pledgor
guaranteed the Obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Agreement. The Pledgor
is the legal and beneficial owner of the LLC Interests (as hereinafter defined)
in the Borrower listed on Schedule I hereto. Therefore, the Pledgor and the
Borrower are related financial enterprises and all loans to the Borrower will
inure directly or indirectly to benefit the Pledgor.

      In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Agreement and
as a condition precedent to the extensions of credit thereunder, the Lenders
have requested, and the Pledgor has agreed to execute and deliver, this
Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to execute the Loan Agreement and accept
the security contemplated hereby and the Lenders to make extensions of credit
under the Loan Agreement, the Pledgor hereby agrees with the Administrative
Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders as follows:

      SECTION 1. Defined Terms.

      (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms which are defined in the Loan
Agreement and used herein (including the preamble and statement of purpose) are
so used as so defined, and the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

            "Agreement" means this Pledge and Security Agreement, as amended,
      restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.
<PAGE>
            "Articles of Organization" means the articles of organization of the
      Borrower, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
      time to time.

            "Code" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State
      of North Carolina from time to time; provided that if by reason of
      mandatory provisions of law, the perfection or the effect of perfection or
      non-perfection of the security interests in any Collateral is governed by
      the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than
      North Carolina, "Code" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in
      such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to
      such perfection or effect of perfection or non-perfection.

            "Collateral" means all of the LLC Interests, including, without
      limitation, all books and records relating thereto, and all Proceeds
      therefrom.

            "Guaranty Agreement" means the Guaranty Agreement dated as of the
      date hereof executed by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries
      thereof in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the
      ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders.

            "LLC Interests" means the collective reference to the following (a)
      all membership interests of the Pledgor in the Borrower and all rights
      relating thereto, including, without limitation, the Pledgor's capital
      account, its interest as a member in the net cash flow, net profit and net
      loss, and items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the
      Borrower, its interest in all distributions made or to be made by the
      Borrower to the Pledgor and all of the other economic rights, titles and
      interests of the Pledgor as a member of the Borrower (the foregoing,
      collectively, the "Membership Interests"), (b) all management rights and
      interest of the Pledgor in the Borrower and all rights relating thereto,
      including, without limitation, any and all rights to request additional
      capital contributions from any members of the Borrower and any and all
      rights to restrict or limit distributions to members or set reserves with
      respect assets of the Borrower available for distribution to members of
      the Borrower and all of the other economic rights, titles and interests of
      the Pledgor as a manager of the Borrower (the foregoing, the "Management
      Interests"), and (c) any and all indemnification rights and voting rights
      arising on account of or relating to the Membership Interests of
      Management Interests, in the case of each of clause (a), (b) and (c),
      whether set forth in the Operating Agreement, by separate agreement or
      otherwise.

            "Obligations" means the Pledgor's Guaranteed Obligations as defined
      in the Guaranty Agreement.

            "Operating Agreement" means the operating agreement of the Borrower,
      as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
      time.

2
<PAGE>
            "Perfection Certificate" means a certificate dated as of even date
      herewith, setting forth the corporate or other name, chief executive
      office or principal place of business in each state and other current
      locations of the Pledgor and the Borrower and such other information as
      the Administrative Agent deems pertinent to the perfection of security
      interests, completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments
      contemplated thereby to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, and
      duly certified by the chief executive or chief financial officer of the
      Pledgor and the Borrower so authorized to act.

            "Permitted Liens" means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2 of
      the Loan Agreement.

            "Proceeds" means all "proceeds" as such term is defined in Section
      9-102 of the Code.

      (b) To the extent any amendment, revision or other modification of the
Code after the date hereof results in the renumbering of specific sections,
revision of the order of specific sections or other changes in the organization
of the Code in effect as of the date hereof, all references herein to specific
sections of the Code in effect as of the date hereof shall be deemed to refer to
such new section or sections which correspond to such original sections.

      SECTION 2. Pledge and Grant of Security Interest. The Pledgor hereby
grants, pledges and collaterally assigns to the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a first priority
security interest in all of the Pledgor's right, title and interest in the
Collateral, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and
performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) of the Obligations; provided that such pledge shall be effective only
to the extent that such pledge is not inconsistent with the Corporate Revolver
(as defined in the Loan Agreement).

      SECTION 3. Pledgor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, (a) the Pledgor shall remain liable to perform all of its
duties and obligations as a member of the Borrower to the same extent as if this
Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender of any of its rights hereunder shall not release Pledgor from any of
its duties or obligations as a member of the Borrower, and (c) neither the
Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation or liability as a
member of the Borrower by reason of this Agreement.

      SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. To induce the Administrative
Agent and Lenders to execute the Loan Agreement and to accept the security
contemplated hereby and the Lenders to make extensions of credit under the Loan
Agreement, the Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that:

            (a) The Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good
      and marketable title to, the Collateral, free of any and all Liens or
      options in favor of, or claims of, any other Person, except the Lien
      created by this Agreement.

3
<PAGE>
            (b) Schedule I accurately reflects the Pledgor's LLC Interest in the
      Borrower and the LLC Interest pledged by the Pledgor constitutes all of
      the outstanding ownership interests of the Pledgor in the Borrower.

            (c) Upon the filing of properly completed financing or other
      statements in the offices of the Secretary of State of North Carolina, the
      Lien on the Collateral granted pursuant to this Agreement will constitute
      a valid, perfected first priority Lien on the Collateral, enforceable as
      such against all creditors of the Pledgor.

            (d) None of the LLC Interests are represented by certificates.

            (e) None of the LLC Interests are a medium for investment which by
      their terms expressly provide that they are a security governed by Article
      8 of the Code.

            (f) The "jurisdiction" of the Borrower for purposes of Section
      8-110(d) of the Code is the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower, as
      set forth in the Perfection Certificate.

      SECTION 5. Certain Covenants. The Pledgor covenants and agrees with the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Administrative Agent and
Lenders, that from and after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations
are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated:

            (a) The Pledgor shall maintain the security interest created by this
      Agreement as a perfected security interest having at least the priority
      described in Section 4(c) and shall defend such security interest against
      the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.

            (b) The Pledgor will not without thirty (30) days prior written
      notice to the Administrative Agent (i) change its name, identity,
      jurisdiction of incorporation, or corporate structure, or (ii) permit the
      Borrower to change its name, identity, jurisdiction of incorporation,
      corporate structure, or its "jurisdiction" for purposes of Section
      8-110(d) of the Code, in any such case so as to make any financing or
      other statement filed as provided herein become seriously misleading.

            (c) The Pledgor will not (i) sell, assign (by operation of law or
      otherwise) or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral, except as
      permitted by the Loan Agreement, or (ii) create or suffer to exist any
      Lien or other charge or encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the
      Collateral to secure indebtedness of any Person or entity.

            (d) Upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, the Pledgor
      will, and will cause the Borrower to, execute such financing statements,
      notices of lien, notices of assignment and continuations or amendments to
      any of the foregoing, and other documents (and pay the costs of filing or
      recording the same in all public offices deemed necessary by the
      Administrative Agent) and do such other acts and things, including,
      without limitation, taking any actions necessary to enable the
      Administrative Agent to obtain "control" (within the meaning of the
      applicable Code) with respect to the LLC Interests, all as the

4
<PAGE>
      Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request to establish
      and maintain a valid perfected pledge and security interest in the
      Collateral. Each of the Pledgor and the Borrower hereby constitutes and
      appoints the Administrative Agent (and any of its officers) as its
      attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, exercisable after and
      during the occurrence of an Event of Default, to execute and deliver all
      documents necessary to perfect and keep perfected the security interests
      created hereby. This power of attorney hereby granted is a special power
      of attorney coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable by each of
      the Pledgor and the Borrower.

            (e) The Pledgor agrees that as a member of the Borrower it will
      abide by, perform and discharge each and every material obligation,
      covenant and agreement to be abided by, performed or discharged by a
      member under the terms of the Articles of Organization and the Operating
      Agreement, at no cost or expense to the Administrative Agent and the
      Lenders.

            (f) If the Pledgor shall, as a result of its ownership of the
      Collateral, become entitled to receive or shall receive any certificate,
      option or rights, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a
      conversion of, or in exchange for any of the Collateral, or otherwise in
      respect thereof, the Pledgor shall accept the same as the agent of the
      Administrative Agent, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent
      and deliver the same forthwith to the Administrative Agent in the exact
      form received, duly endorsed by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent,
      if required, to be held by the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms
      hereof, as additional collateral security for the Obligations. In
      addition, any sums paid upon or in respect of any Collateral upon the
      liquidation or dissolution of the Borrower shall be paid over to the
      Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral
      security for the Obligations, and upon the recapitalization or
      reclassification of the Borrower, any new securities issued in connection
      with or in exchange for any Collateral shall be delivered to the
      Administrative Agent to be held by it hereunder as additional collateral
      security for the Obligations. If any sums of money or property so paid or
      distributed in respect of any Collateral shall be received by the Pledgor,
      the Pledgor shall, until such money or property is paid or delivered to
      the Administrative Agent, hold such money or property in trust for the
      Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of the Pledgor, as
      additional collateral security for the Obligations.

            (g) At any time and from time to time, upon the reasonable written
      request of the Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of the
      Pledgor, the Pledgor and the Borrower will promptly and duly execute and
      deliver such further instruments and documents and take such further
      actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request for the
      purposes of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Agreement
      and of the rights and powers herein granted. If any amount payable under
      or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced
      by any promissory note, other instrument or chattel paper, such note,
      instrument or chattel paper shall be immediately delivered to the
      Administrative Agent, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent, to be held as Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

            (h) The Pledgor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent
      and the Lenders harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or
      resulting from any delay

5
<PAGE>
      in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be
      payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral
      or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this
      Agreement.

      SECTION 6. Distributions; Voting Rights.

      (a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and
the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the Pledgor of the
Administrative Agent's intent to exercise its rights pursuant to Section 7
below, the Pledgor shall be permitted to receive all cash distributions paid in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement in respect of the Collateral and
to exercise all voting and other rights with respect to the Collateral;
provided, that no vote shall be cast or right exercised or other action taken
which would (i) constitute a Default or an Event of Default or (ii) in the
Administrative Agent's reasonable judgment, impair the value of the Collateral.

      (b) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the
Pledgor will not (i) vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, the
Borrower to issue any stock, other equity securities of any nature or to issue
any other securities convertible into or granting the right to purchase or
exchange for any stock, or other equity securities of any nature of the
Borrower, except for additional equity interests that (A) will be subject to the
security interest granted herein in favor of the Administrative Agent, the
certificates of which, if any, will be promptly delivered to the Administrative
Agent, (B) are contemplated to be issued by the Operating Agreement (as in
effect on the date hereof) or (C) do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the
aggregate amount of equity securities of the Borrower as of the date hereof
(provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing exceptions, the Pledgor must own
greater than fifty percent (50%) of the equity securities of the Borrower at all
times) or (ii) enter into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or
ability of the Pledgor or the Administrative Agent to sell, assign or transfer
any of the LLC Interests or Proceeds thereof. The Pledgor will defend the right,
title and interest of the Administrative Agent in and to any Collateral against
the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.

      SECTION 7. Rights of the Administrative Agent.

      (a) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the
Administrative Agent shall give ten (10) Business Days prior written notice of
its intent to exercise such rights to the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent
shall have the right to receive any and all cash distributions paid in respect
of the Collateral and make application thereof to the Obligations in the order
set forth in the Loan Agreement, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may
thereafter exercise (A) all voting, management and other rights pertaining to
such collateral (to the extent permitted under Applicable Law), all without
liability except to account for property actually received by it, but the
Administrative Agent shall have no duty to the Pledgor to exercise any such
right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so
or delay in so doing.

      (b) The rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder shall
not be conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender of any right or remedy against the Borrower, the Guarantors or
against any other Person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any
part of the Obligations or against any collateral security

6
<PAGE>
therefor, guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto. Neither
the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be liable for any failure to
demand, collect or realize upon all or any part of the Collateral or for any
delay in doing so, nor shall the Administrative Agent be under any obligation to
sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of the Pledgor or
any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the
Collateral or any part thereof.

      (c) Pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Code and any other
applicable law, each of the Pledgor and the Borrower authorizes the
Administrative Agent to file or record financing statements and other filing or
recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the
signature of the Pledgor or the Borrower in such form and in such offices as the
Administrative Agent determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of
the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. A photographic or other
reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement or
other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or recording in any
jurisdiction.

      SECTION 8. Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing,
with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, and upon
the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, exercise on
behalf of itself and the Lenders, all rights and remedies granted in this
Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or
relating to the Obligations, and in addition thereto, all rights and remedies of
a secured party under the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
with regard to the scope of the Administrative Agent's remedies, the
Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand,
presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice
required by Section 7 hereof or any Applicable Law) to or upon the Pledgor, the
Borrower or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses,
advertisements and notices (except any notice required by Section 7 hereof or
any Applicable Law) are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith
collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part
thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, assign, give option or options to purchase
or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or
contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or
private sale or sales, in the over-the-counter market, at any exchange, broker's
board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere in a
commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall
have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted
by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part
of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in the
Pledgor, which right or equity is hereby waived or released. The Administrative
Agent shall apply any Proceeds from time to time held by it in a collateral
account to be held by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the
other Lenders; and the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt,
appropriation, realization or sale, after deducting all reasonable costs and
expenses of every kind incurred in respect thereof or incidental to the care or
safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way relating to the Collateral or
the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements of counsel
thereto, to the payment in whole or in part of the Obligations, in the order set
forth in the Loan Agreement, and only after such application and after the
payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any
provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-610 and Section 9-615
of the Code, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to
the Pledgor. To the extent permitted by

7
<PAGE>
applicable law, the Pledgor waives all claims, damages and demands it may
acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the
exercise by them in good faith of any rights hereunder. Notice of a proposed
sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be given in writing to the Pledgor
and deemed reasonable and proper if given at least ten (10) Business Days before
such sale or other disposition. The Pledgor shall remain liable for any
deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of Collateral are
insufficient to pay the Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any
attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to collect such
deficiency.

      SECTION 9. Private Sales.

      (a) The Pledgor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to
effect a public sale of any or all the Collateral, by reason of certain
prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales
thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree,
among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for
investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The
Pledgor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices
and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and,
notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be
deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative
Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral for
the period of time necessary to permit the Borrower thereof to register such
securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state
securities laws, even if the Borrower would agree to do so.

      (b) The Pledgor further agrees to use commercially reasonable to do or
cause to be done all such other acts as may be reasonably necessary to make such
sale or sales of all or any portion of the Collateral pursuant to this Section 9
valid and binding and in compliance with any and all other Applicable Laws.

      SECTION 10. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments made
by the Pledgor hereunder, or any setoff or application of funds of the Pledgor
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the receipt of any amounts by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any of the Collateral, the
Pledgor shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or the other Guarantors
or against any other collateral security held by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall the Pledgor seek any
reimbursement from the Borrower or the other Guarantors in respect of payments
made by the Pledgor in connection with the Collateral, or amounts realized by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the Collateral, until
all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and Lenders on account of the
Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount
shall be paid to the Pledgor on account of such subrogation rights at any time
when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall
be held by the Pledgor in trust for the Administrative Agent, segregated from
other funds of the Pledgor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Pledgor, be
turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the
Pledgor (duly indorsed by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent, if required)
to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such
order as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

8
<PAGE>
      SECTION 11. Amendments, etc. With Respect to the Obligations.

      (a) The Pledgor shall remain obligated hereunder, and the Collateral shall
remain subject to the Lien granted hereby, notwithstanding that, without any
reservation of rights against the Pledgor, and without notice to or further
assent by the Pledgor, any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, and any of the Obligations continued, and the Obligations,
or the liability of the Borrower or any other Person upon or for any part
thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset
with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed,
extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered, or
released by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Loan Agreement, the
Notes, any other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered
in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in
whole or part, as the Lenders (or the Required Lenders, as the case may be) may
deem advisable from time to time, and any guarantee, right of offset or other
collateral security at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered
or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any
obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any other Lien at any time held
by it as security for the Obligations or any property subject thereto. The
Pledgor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual
of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender upon this Agreement; the Obligations, and any
of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or
incurred in reliance upon this Agreement; and all dealings between the Pledgor,
on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other,
shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in
reliance upon this Agreement. The Pledgor waives diligence, presentment,
protest, demand for payment and notice (except as required by the Loan
Agreement) of default or nonpayment to or upon the Pledgor with respect to the
Obligations.

      (b) The Pledgor waives and agrees not to assert any rights or privileges
which it may acquire under Sections 9-210, 9-607, 9-608, 9-610, 9-615, 9-620,
9-621, 9-623, 9-624, 9-625 or 9-627 of the Code. The Pledgor shall remain liable
for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the
Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations and the fees and
disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender to collect such deficiency.

      SECTION 12. Limitation on Duties Regarding Collateral. The Administrative
Agent's sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical
preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the
Code or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the
Administrative Agent deals with similar securities and property for its own
account. Neither the Administrative Agent, any Lender nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for failure
to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in
doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any
Collateral upon the request of the Pledgor or otherwise.

      SECTION 13. Coupled with an Interest. All powers of attorney and other
authorizations granted to the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by
the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement with
respect to the Collateral shall be deemed

9
<PAGE>
coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the
Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Loan Agreement has not been
terminated.

      SECTION 14. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability
without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions
hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 15. Section Headings. Titles and captions of Sections and
subsections in this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor
amplify the provisions of this Agreement.

      SECTION 16. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. Neither the Administrative
Agent nor any Lender shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant
to Section 17 hereof) be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or
to have acquiesced in any Default or in any breach of any of the terms and
conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A
waiver by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of any right or remedy
hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or
remedy which the Administrative Agent or such Lender would otherwise have on any
future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be
exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any other rights or
remedies provided by law.

      SECTION 17. Waivers and Amendments; Successors and Assigns. None of the
terms or provisions of this Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified except by a written instrument executed by the Pledgor and
Administrative Agent; provided that (a) any provision of this Agreement may be
waived by the Administrative Agent in a letter or agreement executed by the
Administrative Agent or by telex or facsimile transmission from the
Administrative Agent and (b) any consent or waiver by the Administrative Agent
to any amendment, supplement or modification hereto shall be subject to approval
thereof by each of the Lenders or Required Lenders, as applicable, in accordance
with Section 12.11 of the Loan Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon
the successors and assigns of the Pledgor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors and
assigns.

      SECTION 18. Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue and Waiver of Jury Trial.

      (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF; PROVIDED THAT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

10
<PAGE>
      (b) The Pledgor hereby irrevocably consents to the personal jurisdiction
of the state and federal courts located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina,
in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out of any dispute in
connection with this Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder, or the
performance of such rights and obligations. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably
consents to the service of a summons and complaint and other process in any
action, claim or proceeding brought by the Administrative Agent in connection
with this Agreement, any rights or obligations hereunder, or the performance of
such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its property, in the manner
specified in Section 19. Nothing in this Section 18(b) shall affect the right of
the Administrative Agent to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by
Applicable Law or affect the right of the Administrative Agent to bring any
action or proceeding against the Pledgor or its properties in the courts of any
other jurisdictions.

      (c) The Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives any objection it may have now or
in the future to the laying of venue in the aforesaid jurisdiction in any
action, claim or other proceeding arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement or the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder. The Pledgor
irrevocably waives, in connection with such action, claim or proceeding, any
plea or claim that the action, claim or other proceeding has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.

      (d) EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO
TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY
THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE
DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR
THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER
ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY
HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF
ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO
THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 18
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO
THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

      SECTION 19. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be
given to the addresses and otherwise in accordance with Section 17 of the
Guaranty Agreement.

            SECTION 20. Set-Off. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Administrative Agent and each Lender at any time and from time to time pursuant
to Section 12.3 of the Loan Agreement, without notice to the Pledgor, any such
notice being expressly waived by the Pledgor, to set-off and appropriate and
apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any
currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by the Administrative Agent or
such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Pledgor, or any part
thereof in such amounts as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may elect,
against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of the Pledgor to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder and claims of every nature and

11
<PAGE>
description of the Administrative Agent or such Lender against the Pledgor, in
any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Loan Agreement, any other
Loan Document or otherwise, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may
elect, whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender has made any demand
for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be
contingent or unmatured. The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall notify
the Pledgor promptly of any such set-off and the application made by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender of the proceeds thereof; provided that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each Lender under this
Section 20 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without
limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Administrative Agent or such
Lender may have.

      SECTION 21. Authority of Administrative Agent. The Pledgor acknowledges
that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this
Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the
exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, voting
right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or
resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders, be governed by the Loan Agreement and by such other
agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but,
as between the Administrative Agent and the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent
shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as Administrative Agent for itself
and the Lenders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting,
and neither the Pledgor nor the Borrower shall be under any obligation, or
entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

      SECTION 22. Control Agreement; Acknowledgment by Borrower.

      (a) The Pledgor hereby authorizes and instructs the Borrower to comply,
and the Borrower hereby agrees to so comply, with any instruction received from
the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement with
respect to the Collateral, without any consent or further instructions from the
Pledgor or any other Person, and the Pledgor agrees that the Borrower shall be
fully protected in so complying. The Borrower agrees that its agreement set
forth in the preceding sentence shall be sufficient to create in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, "control" of the LLC
Interests within the meaning of such term under Section 8-106(c) of the Code.
(Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall
be construed to mean or imply that the LLC Interests constitute "securities"
within the meaning of such term under Section 8-102(a)(15) of the Code or
otherwise to limit or modify the application of Section 8-103(c) of the Code.
Rather, the Administrative Agent has requested that this provision be included
in this Agreement solely out of an abundance of caution in the event the LLC
Interests are, nevertheless, deemed to constitute "securities" under the Code.)

12
<PAGE>
      (b) The Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement and
agrees to be bound thereby and to comply with the terms hereof insofar as such
terms are applicable to it. The Borrower agrees to notify the Administrative
Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of the events described in Section
5(c) of this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees that the terms of Section 9
of this Agreement shall apply to it with respect to all actions that may be
required of it under or pursuant to or arising out of Section 9 of this
Agreement.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

13
<PAGE>
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed under seal and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                        PLEDGOR:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        LOUISIANA HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
                                        as Pledgor

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

                                        LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC:

                                        -------------------------------------,
                                        as Borrower

[CORPORATE SEAL]                        By:
                                            ---------------------------------,
                                            its managing member

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

                                        ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Administrative
                                          Agent

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

[Pledge and Security Agreement]
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT L
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                            PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

On file with Administrative Agent
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT M
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                                     BUDGET

On file with Administrative Agent
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT N
                                       to
                       Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
                           dated as of April 24, 2002
                                  by and among
                         Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC,
                                  as Borrower,
                           the Lenders party thereto,
                                       and
                             Bank of America, N.A.,
                             as Administrative Agent

                              STORAGE OF MATERIALS

None.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULES TO LOAN AGREEMENT -

      LOUISIANA HEART HOSPITAL, LLC
<PAGE>
                                 Schedule 1.1(a)

                             Lenders and Commitments

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  COMMITMENT
              LENDER                              PERCENTAGE        COMMITMENT
----------------------------------------          -----------      -------------
<S>                                               <C>              <C>
Bank of America, N.A
IL1-231-08-30
231 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255                   18.56948301%     $4,735,218.17
Attention:  Kristine Hyde
Telephone No.: (312) 828-1657
Telecopy No.: (877) 206-8412

The Bankers Trust Company
31 West 52nd Street
MS NYC01-0705
New York, NY 10019                                18.56948301%     $4,735,218.17
Attention:  Diane Rolfe
Telephone No.: 646-324-2194
Telecopy No.: 646-620-7460

Wachovia Bank, National Association
301 S. College Street, DC-5
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
Attention:  Doug Davis                            14.48586298%     $3,693,895.06
Telephone No.: (704) 715-2370
Telecopy No.: (704) 374-4793

GE Healthcare Financial Services
20225 Watertower Boulevard, Suite 200
Brookfield, WI 53045
Attention:  Dev Lobo                              20.79631600%     $5,303,060.58
Telephone No.: 262-798-4620
Telecopy No.: 262-798-4560

Siemens Medical Systems, Inc.
186 Wood Avenue South
Iselin, NJ 08830                                  11.14297200%     $2,841,457.86
Attention:  Hezron Gurley
Telephone No.: 732-321-4631
Telecopy No.: 732-321-2846
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  COMMITMENT
              LENDER                              PERCENTAGE        COMMITMENT
----------------------------------------          -----------      -------------
<S>                                               <C>              <C>
JP Morgan Chase Bank
270 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY  10017
Attention:  Dawn Lee Lum                          12.25726900%     $3,125,603.59
Telephone No.:   212-270-2472
Telecopy No.:     212-270-3279

Fifth Third Bank (Western Ohio)
110 N. Main Street
Dayton, Ohio  45402                                4.17861400%     $1,065,546.57
Attention:  Brian Bergmann
Telephone No.:   937-229-8302
Telecopy No.:     937-227-6454
                                                  ===========       ============
                                TOTAL:               100%          $  25,500,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                 Schedule 1.1(b)

                                   Guarantors

MedCath Corporation (DE)

MedCath Holdings, Inc. (DE)

MedCath Intermediate Holdings, Inc. (DE)

MedCath Incorporated (NC)

      MedCath Diagnostics, LLC (NC)
            CHF Centers of America, LLC (NC)
            Heart Research Centers International, LLC (NC)
            MedCath Nuclear Services, LLC (NC)

      MedCath Cardiology Consulting & Management, Inc. (AZ)
            MedCath Management of Ohio, Inc. (OH)
            WMS Management, Inc. (OH)

      MedCath of Massachusetts, Inc. (NC)

      Austin MOB, Inc. (NC)

      Metuchen Nuclear Management, LLC

      Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc. (NC)
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(C)

                            RELATED CREDIT DOCUMENTS

1.    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended,
      restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "DTO Loan Agreement") by
      and among Heart Hospital of DTO, LLC, as Borrower, the Lenders who are or
      may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as
      Administrative Agent.

2.    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended,
      restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Little Rock Loan
      Agreement") by and among MedCath of Little Rock, L.L.C., as Borrower, the
      Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of
      America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

3.    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended,
      restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "BK Loan Agreement") by
      and among Heart Hospital of BK, L.L.C., as Borrower, the Lenders who are
      or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as
      Administrative Agent.

4.    Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 21, 2001 (as
      amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Harlingen Loan
      Agreement") by and among Harlingen Medical Center, Limited Partnership, as
      Borrower, the Lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and
      Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 1.1(D)

                           RELATED GUARANTY AGREEMENTS

1.    Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
      supplemented or otherwise modified, the "DTO Guaranty Agreement") made by
      MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or may become
      party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
      for the retable benefit of itself and the Lenders from time to time party
      to the DTO Loan Agreement.

2.    Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
      supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Little Rock Guaranty Agreement")
      made by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or
      may become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
      Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders
      from time to time party to the Little Rock Loan Agreement.

3.    Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 (as amended, restated,
      supplemented or otherwise modified, the "BK Guaranty Agreement") made by
      MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or may become
      party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
      for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders from time to time party
      to the BK Loan Agreement.

4.    Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 21, 2001 (as amended, restated,
      supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Harlingen Guaranty Agreement")
      made by MedCath Corporation and certain Subsidiaries thereof who are or
      may become party thereto in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as
      Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders
      from time to time party to the Harlingen Loan Agreement.
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(b)

                                 CAPITALIZATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          OWNER                                   PERCENTAGE INTEREST
          -----                                   -------------------
<S>                                               <C>
Management Company                                   General - 51%
Physician Investors                                  Limited - 49%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(L)

                               MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Borrower:

-     Operating Agreement of the Borrower, as amended from time to time.

-     Management Services Agreement, dated January 24, 2001, between Borrower
      and Louisiana Hospital Management, Inc., as may be amended from time to
      time.

-     Agreement for Architectural Services dated March 6, 2001, between Collins
      Reisenbichler Architects, as may be amended from time to time.

-     Standard Form Agreement dated November 7, 2001, between Borrower and
      DonahueFavret Contractors Inc., and converted by letter agreement dated
      March 21, 2002, as may be amended from time to time.

-     Loans noted with an asterisk (*) on Schedule 5.1(s).

Guarantors:

      Debt Obligations:

-     Commitment Agreement.

-     Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998, among MedCath Intermediate
      Holdings, Inc., Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.), as
      Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, NationsBanc Montgomery
      Securities, LLC, as Arranger and Syndication Agent, and the Lenders named
      from time to time in the principal amount of $100,000,000.

-     Loan dated December 10, 1997 from MetLife Capital to MedCath Incorporated
      in the principal amount of $7,000,000.

      General Guaranty Obligations:

-     Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 31, 1998, among the
      Guarantors named therein, Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank,
      N.A.), as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, NationsBanc
      Montgomery in the principal amount of $100,000,000.

-     Guaranty provisions in the Loan Agreement dated as of June 29, 2000, among
      Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Heart Hospital of South
      Dakota, LLC, the Lenders named therein, and the Guarantors named therein
      in the principal amount of $32,618,000.
<PAGE>
-     Related Guaranty Agreements as set forth on Schedule 1.1(d).

      MedCath Incorporated Guaranty Obligations

-     Guaranty dated October 10, 1998, by MedCath, Inc. in favor of Health Care
      Property Investors in the principal amount of $35,100,000.

-     Guaranty dated March 2, 2000, by the Guarantors named therein to Heller
      Financial Leasing, Inc. in the principal amount of $24,660,333

-     Guaranty dated October 1, 1999, by the Guarantors named therein in favor
      of HealthCare Property Investors, Inc. in the principal amount of
      $25,500,000

-     Guaranty Agreement dated as of July 18, 1996 by MedCath Incorporated in
      favor of Capstone Capital Corporation in the principal amount of
      $17,800,000.

-     Loan dated June 1, 1996, from Prime Leasing to MedCath of Little Rock,
      L.L.C. in the principal amount of $16,000,000.

-     Loan dated March 1, 1998, from US Bancorp to MedCath of Tucson, L.L.C. in
      the principal amount of $11,961,000

-     Loan dated March 31, 1998 from DVI Financial Services to Arizona Heart
      Hospital, LLC in the principal amount of $12,292,386.

-     Loan dated December 1, 1998 from DVI Financial Services to Heart Hospital
      of Austin, LLC in the principal amount of $18,000,000.

-     Loan dated October 1, 1998 from GE Medical Systems to Heart Hospital of
      BK, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $5,000,000.

-     Loan dated October 1, 1998, from GE Medical Systems to Heart Hospital of
      BK, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $10,000,000.

-     Loan dated August 1, 1999 from DVI Financial Services to Heart Hospital of
      New Mexico, L.L.C. in the principal amount of $17,500,000.

-     Loan dated October 1, 1998 from Siemans Credit Corp. to Heart Hospital of
      DTO, LLC in the principal amount of $17,000,000.

-     Loan dated March 21, 2001, from Siemans to Heart Hospital of South Dakota,
      LLC in the principal amount of $16,000,000.

-     Loan from GE Leases to MedCath Diagnostics, LLC
<PAGE>
-     Loan from First Citizens to Wilmington Diagnostics
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(S)

                          DEBT AND GUARANTY OBLIGATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Borrower                        Lender             DATE            AMOUNT
         --------                        ------             ----            ------
<S>                             <C>                   <C>                <C>
Louisiana Heart Hospital, LLC   MedCath Incorporated  April ____, 2002   Face amount of
                                                                         $8,000,000 may advance
                                                                         up to $12,000,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                                 SCHEDULE 5.1(T)

                                   LITIGATION

                                      None.
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 9.8

                     PERMITTED TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Loan shown on Schedule 5.1(s).Third Amendment to Restated Credit Agreement

 

EXHIBIT 10.28-02

THIRD AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT AND PARTIAL EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

     This Third Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and
Partial Exchange Agreement (this “Third Amendment”) is made as of July 10,
2002, 2002 among FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“Parent”), FATS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the financial
institutions listed on the signature pages hereof (the “Lenders”) and BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as Agent and Issuing Bank (the “Agent”).

RECITALS

     A.     The Parent, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent are parties to a
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Partial Exchange Agreement
dated as of April 1, 2000, a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement and Partial Exchange Agreement dated as of December 31, 2001
and a Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and
Partial Exchange Agreement dated as of March 29, 2002 (as amended, the “Credit
Agreement”). All terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given them in the Credit Agreement.

     B.     Pursuant to Section 6.14 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower and the
Parent will not permit Capital Expenditures of the Parent, on a consolidated
basis, for any fiscal year of the Parent, to be more than 20% of the EBITDA of
the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for such fiscal year (the “Capital
Expenditure Restrictions”).

     C.     Pursuant to Section 9.08(b) of the Credit Agreement, the Capital
Expenditure Restrictions may be amended with the written consent of the
Required Lenders, the Parent and the Borrower (the “Consenting Parties”).

AGREEMENT

     The parties hereto agree as follows:

     Section 1.           Capital Expenditure Amendment. Section 6.14 of the Credit
Agreement is hereby deleted and the following substituted therefor:

		
	 	     “SECTION 6.14. Capital Expenditures. After October 1, 2000,
the Borrower and the Parent will not permit Capital Expenditures
of the Parent, on a consolidated basis, for any fiscal year of the
Parent, to be more than 20% of the EBITDA of the Parent, on a
consolidated basis, for such fiscal year, except that Capital
Expenditures of the Parent for the fiscal year of the Parent
ending March 31, 2002 may exceed 20% of the EBITDA of the Parent,
on a consolidated basis, for such fiscal year, but may not exceed
$760,000.”

     Section 2.           Representations and Warranties. The Parent and the Borrower
hereby represent and warrant to the Lenders and the Agent, as follows:

     (a)  The representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the
Credit Agreement, and in each other Loan Document, including any Schedules
thereto, are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date
hereof and on and as of the Third Amendment Effective Date (as defined below)
with the same effect as if made on and as of the date hereof or the Third
Amendment Effective Date, as the case may be, except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly relate solely to an earlier date.

     (b)  Each of the Parent, the Borrower and the other Loan Parties is in
compliance with all the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents on its part to be observed or performed and no Default or
Event of Default has occurred or is continuing under the Credit Agreement.

 

 

     (c)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Parent and the Borrower
of this Third Amendment have been duly authorized by the Parent and the
Borrower.

     (d)  This Third Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Parent and the Borrower, enforceable against them in
accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, voidable
preference or similar laws and the application of equitable principles
generally.

     (e)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Parent and the Borrower
of this Third Amendment (i) do not conflict with or violate (A) any provision
of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the articles of incorporation or
by-laws of the Parent or the Borrower, (B) any order of any Governmental
Authority or (C) any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument
to which the Parent or the Borrower is a party or by which either of them or
any of their property may be bound and (ii) does not require any consents
under, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of
time or both) a default or give rise to increased, additional, accelerated or
guaranteed rights of any person under any such indenture, agreement or
instrument.

     Section 3.           Effectiveness. This Third Amendment shall become effective as
of July 10, 2002 (the “Third Amendment Effective Date”) upon satisfaction of
the following conditions precedent:

		
	 	     (a) The Agent shall have received duly executed counterparts of this Third
Amendment which, when taken together, bear the authorized signatures of the
Parent, the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

		
	 	     (b) The Lenders shall be satisfied that the representations and
warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct on and as
of the Third Amendment Effective Date.

		
	 	     (c) There shall not be any action pending or any judgment, order or
decree in effect which, in the judgment of the Lenders or their counsel,
is likely to restrain, prevent or impose materially adverse conditions
upon performance by the Parent, the Borrower or any other Loan Party of
its obligations under the Loan Documents.

		
	 	     (d) The Lenders shall have received such other documents, legal
opinions, instruments and certificates as they shall reasonably request,
and such other documents, legal opinions, instruments and certificates
shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Lenders and their
counsel. All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in
connection with this Third Amendment and all documents incidental
thereto, whether or not referred to herein, shall be satisfactory in form
and substance to the Lenders and their counsel.

     Section 4.           Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement. Except as
specifically amended, waived, modified and agreed to above, the Credit
Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect and is hereby in all
respects ratified and confirmed.

     Section 5.           Governing Law. This Third Amendment shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

     Section 6.           Counterparts. This Third Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of
which when taken together shall constitute but one agreement. Delivery by
facsimile by any of the parties hereto of an executed counterpart of this Third
Amendment shall be as effective as an original executed counterpart hereof and
shall be deemed a representation that an original executed counterpart hereof
will be delivered, but the failure to deliver a manually executed counterpart
shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of this Third
Amendment.

[END OF PAGE]

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Amendment to
be duly executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the date first
above written.

	 	 	 
	
FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.

as Parent
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Name:
	 	 	
Title:
	 	 	 
	
FATS, INC.

as Borrower
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Name:
	 	 	
Title:

 

 

	 	 	 
	
NON CENTRE ENTITIES
	 	 	 
	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent, and Issuing
Bank and individually as a Lender
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Name:
	 	 	
Title:
	 	 	 
	
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Name:
	 	 	
Title:
	 	 	 
	 	 	
Attention:
	 	 	
Michael Porcello
	 	 	
Special Assets
	 	 	
MPFP2516
	 	 	
601 Second Avenue, South
	 	 	
Minneapolis, MN 55402-4302
	 	 	
Fax: (612) 973-2148
	 	 	 
	
FIRST SOURCE FINANCIAL LLP, by First Source
Financial, Inc., as Agent/Manager
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Name:
	 	 	
Title:
	 	 	 
	 	 	
Attention:
	 	 	
Jeff Cerny
	 	 	
2850 West Golf Road
	 	 	
5th Floor
	 	 	
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
	 	 	
Fax: (847) 734-7910

 

 

	 	 	 
	
CENTRE ENTITIES, individually and as Lenders
	 	 	 
	
CENTRE CAPITAL INVESTORS II, L.P. CENTRE

CAPITAL TAX-EXEMPT INVESTORS II, L.P.

CENTRE CAPITAL OFFSHORE INVESTORS II, L.P

	 	 	 
	By:	 	
Centre Partners II, L.P., as General Partner
	 	 	 
	By:	 	
Centre Partners Management LLC, as

Attorney-in-Fact
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
     Managing Director
	 	 	 
	
CENTRE PARTNERS COINVESTMENT, L.P.
	 	 	 
	By:	 	
Centre Partners II LLC, as General Partner
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	 	

	 	 	
Managing Director

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