Document:

Exhibit 4.3

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

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                                 CIT GROUP INC.

                                   ----------

                                 $2,100,000,000

                            364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of October 10, 2003

                                   ----------

       J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., as Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

      CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., as Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

                              JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
                             as Administrative Agent

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

                                 CITIBANK, N.A.,
                              as Syndication Agent

                               BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
                             as Documentation Agent

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.........................................................1

         1.1.     Defined Terms................................................1
         1.2.     Other Definitional Provisions...............................11

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS....................................12

         2.1.     Commitments.................................................12
         2.2.     Revolving Credit Borrowing Procedure........................14
         2.3.     Competitive Bid Borrowing Procedure.........................15
         2.4.     Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt........................17
         2.5.     Facility Fee; Administrative Agent's Fee....................18
         2.6.     Utilization Fee.............................................18
         2.7.     Extension of Termination Date...............................18
         2.8.     Termination or Reduction of Commitments.....................20
         2.9.     Optional Prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans..............20
         2.10.    Conversion and Continuation Options.........................20
         2.11.    Applicable Interest Rate Margins, Facility Fee Rate
                    and Utilization Fee.......................................21
         2.12.    Minimum Amounts of Tranches.................................22
         2.13.    Interest Rates and Payment Dates............................22
         2.14.    Computation of Interest and Fees............................22
         2.15.    Inability to Determine Interest Rate........................23
         2.16.    Pro Rata Treatment and Payments.............................23
         2.17.    Illegality..................................................24
         2.18.    Requirements of Law.........................................25
         2.19.    Taxes    ...................................................26
         2.20.    Indemnity...................................................29
         2.21.    Actions of Banks............................................29
         2.22.    Lending Installations.......................................29
         2.23.    Removal of Banks............................................30
         2.24.    Replacement of Banks........................................30

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................................30

         3.1.     Financial Condition.........................................30
         3.2.     No Change...................................................31
         3.3.     Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law;
                    Significant Subsidiaries..................................31
         3.4.     Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.....31
         3.5.     No Legal Bar................................................31
         3.6.     No Material Litigation......................................31
         3.7.     No Default..................................................32
         3.8.     Aggregation of the Representations and Warranties
                    Relating to Net Worth.....................................32
         3.9.     Federal Regulations.........................................32

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         3.10.    ERISA.......................................................32
         3.11.    Investment Company Act......................................32
         3.12.    Purpose of Loans............................................32

SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT...............................................32

         4.1.     Conditions to Initial Loans.................................32
         4.2.     Conditions to Each Loan.....................................33

SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..............................................34

         5.1.     Financial Statements........................................34
         5.2.     Payment of Obligations......................................35
         5.3.     Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence............35
         5.4.     Notices.....................................................36
         5.5.     Status of Obligations.......................................36
         5.6.     Maintenance of Property.....................................36
         5.7.     Payment of Taxes............................................37
         5.8.     Use of Proceeds.............................................37

SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.................................................37

         6.1.     Negative Pledge.............................................37
         6.2.     Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.................39
         6.3.     Net Worth...................................................40

SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT..................................................40

SECTION 8. THE AGENTS.........................................................42

         8.1.     Appointment.................................................42
         8.2.     Delegation of Duties........................................42
         8.3.     Exculpatory Provisions......................................42
         8.4.     Reliance by Administrative Agent............................43
         8.5.     Notice of Default...........................................43
         8.6.     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Banks........43
         8.7.     Indemnification.............................................44
         8.8.     Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity.............44
         8.9.     Successor Administrative Agent..............................45

SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS......................................................45

         9.1.     Amendments and Waivers......................................45
         9.2.     Notices.....................................................46
         9.3.     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies..............................47
         9.4.     Survival of Representations and Warranties..................47
         9.5.     Payment of Expenses and Taxes...............................47
         9.6.     Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks....48

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         9.7.     Dissemination of Information; Confidentiality...............50
         9.8.     Adjustments.................................................51
         9.9.     Counterparts................................................52
         9.10.    Severability................................................52
         9.11.    Integration.................................................52
         9.12.    GOVERNING LAW...............................................52
         9.13.    Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers.........................52
         9.14.    WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL.......................................52

SCHEDULES

         I.       Commitments and Bank Information
         II.      List of Significant Subsidiaries

EXHIBITS

         A-1      Form of Revolving Credit Note
         A-2      Form of Competitive Bid Note
         B-1      Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Company
         B-2      Form of Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
         C        Form of Commitment Transfer Supplement
         D-1      Form of Officer's Certificate
         D-2      Form of Secretary's Certificate
         E        Form of Incumbency Certificate
         F        Form of Borrowing Notice
         G        Form of Competitive Bid Request
         H        Form of Notice of Competitive Bid Request
         I        Form of Competitive Bid
         J        Form of Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter
         K        Form of Exemption Certificate

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      364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 10, 2003, among CIT GROUP
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), the several banks and other
financial institutions from time to time on Schedule I to this Agreement (the
"Banks"), J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as
joint lead arrangers and bookrunners, (in such capacity, the "Joint Lead
Arrangers"), CITIBANK, N.A. and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as syndication agents (in
such capacity, the "Syndication Agents"), BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as documentation
agent (in such capacity, the "Documentation Agent") and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as
administrative agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Company has requested $2,100,000,000 in senior unsecured
revolving credit facilities from the Banks for general corporate purposes; and

      WHEREAS, the Banks are willing to provide the requested senior unsecured
revolving credit facilities on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                             SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

      1.1. Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

            "Additional Bank": as defined in subsection 2.1(c)(ii).

            "Additional Bank Agreement": as defined in subsection 2.1(c)(ii).

            "Administrative Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

            "Affiliate": as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or
      indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by,
      or is under common control with, such Person.

            "Agents": the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the
      Syndication Agents, the Documentation Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers.

            "Aggregate Available Commitment": at any time, the excess, if any,
      of (a) the Aggregate Commitment over (b) the aggregate principal amount of
      all Loans then outstanding.

            "Aggregate Commitment": the aggregate amount of the Banks'
      Commitments.
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            "Agreement": this 364-Day Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented
      or otherwise modified from time to time.

            "Agreement Accounting Principles": GAAP applied in a manner
      consistent with those principles used in the preparation of the financial
      statements referred to in subsection 3.1.

            "Applicable Eurodollar Margin": as defined in subsection 2.11.

            "Applicable Facility Fee Rate": as defined in subsection 2.11.

            "Applicable Margin": as defined in subsection 2.11.

            "Applicable Rate": as defined in subsection 2.11.

            "Applicable Utilization Fee Rate": as defined in subsection 2.11.

            "Banks": as defined in the preamble hereto and any Person becoming
      party hereto as a lender pursuant to Section 9.6(c).

            "Barclays": Barclays Bank PLC.

            "Base Rate": a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
      next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Corporate Base Rate in
      effect on such day, and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on
      such day plus 1/2 of 1%. If for any reason the Administrative Agent shall
      have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest
      error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
      any reason, including the inability of the Administrative Agent to obtain
      sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms hereof, the Base Rate
      shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the first sentence of
      this definition until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no
      longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Corporate
      Base Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the
      effective date of such change in the Corporate Base Rate or the Federal
      Funds Effective Rate, respectively. The Administrative Agent will give
      notice promptly to the Company and the Banks of changes in the Base Rate.

            "Base Rate Loan": any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a
      rate determined by reference to the Base Rate in accordance with Section
      2.

            "BofA": Bank of America, N.A.

            "Borrowing": a group of Loans of a single type made by the Banks
      (or, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing, by the Bank or Banks
      whose Competitive Bids have been accepted pursuant to subsection 2.3) on a
      single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

            "Borrowing Date": a date on which a Borrowing is made hereunder.

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            "Business Day": a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on
      which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law
      to close.

            "Citibank": Citibank, N.A.

            "Closing Date": the date on which the conditions precedent set forth
      in subsection 4.1 is satisfied.

            "Code": the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
      time.

            "Commitment": as to any Bank, the obligation of such Bank to make
      Revolving Credit Loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount at
      any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such
      Bank's name on Schedule I or in any assignment and acceptance to which any
      Bank may be a party, as the same may be increased from time to time in
      accordance with subsection 2.1(c) or decreased or terminated from time to
      time in accordance with subsection 2.8.

            "Commitment Increase Supplement": as defined in subsection
      2.1(c)(ii).

            "Commitment Percentage": as to any Bank, (a) at any time prior to
      the expiration or termination of the Commitments (expressed as a
      percentage), the ratio of such Bank's Commitment to the Aggregate
      Commitment, and (b) at any time after the expiration or termination of the
      Commitments (expressed as a percentage), the ratio of (x) the aggregate
      principal amount of such Bank's Loans then outstanding to (y) the
      aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding.

            "Commitment Period": the period from and including the last to occur
      of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) October 14, 2003, to but not including
      the Termination Date or such earlier date on which the Aggregate
      Commitment shall terminate as provided herein.

            "Commitment Transfer Supplement": as defined in subsection 9.6(c)
      hereto.

            "Commonly Controlled Entity": an entity, whether or not
      incorporated, which is under common control with the Company within the
      meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group which includes the
      Company and which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the
      Code.

            "Competitive Bid": an offer by a Bank to make a Competitive Bid Loan
      pursuant to subsection 2.3.

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            "Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter": a notification made by the
      Company pursuant to subsection 2.3(d) in the form of Exhibit J.

            "Competitive Bid Borrowing": a Borrowing consisting of a Competitive
      Bid Loan or concurrent Competitive Bid Loans from the Bank or Banks whose
      Competitive Bids for such Borrowing have been accepted by the Company
      under the bidding procedure described in subsection 2.3.

            "Competitive Bid Loan": a Loan made by a Bank to the Company
      pursuant to the bidding procedure described in subsection 2.3. Each
      Competitive Bid Loan shall be a Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loan or a Fixed
      Rate Loan.

            "Competitive Bid Maturity Date": as to each Competitive Bid Loan,
      the maturity date specified by the Company for such Competitive Bid Loan
      in the related Competitive Bid Request.

            "Competitive Bid Rate": as to any Competitive Bid made by a Bank
      pursuant to subsection 2.3(b), (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive
      Bid Loan, the Margin, and (ii) in the case of a Fixed Rate Loan, the fixed
      rate of interest offered by the Bank making such Competitive Bid.

            "Competitive Bid Request": a request made pursuant to subsection 2.3
      in the form of Exhibit G.

            "Continuing Banks": as defined in subsection 2.7(a).

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

            "Corporate Base Rate": the rate of interest from time to time
      announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank at its principal office as its prime
      commercial lending rate.

            "Debt Ratings": the collective reference to LT Ratings and ST
      Ratings. The Debt Ratings shall be determined from the most recent public
      announcement of any changes in the Debt Ratings. If the rating system of
      S&P or Moody's shall change, the Company and the Administrative Agent
      shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such
      changed rating system and, pending the effectiveness of such amendment
      (which shall require the approval of Required Banks), the Debt Rating
      shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect
      prior to such change.

            "Default": any of the events specified in Section 7, whether or not
      any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or
      any other condition, has been satisfied.

            "Documentation Agent": as defined in the preamble hereto.

            "Dollars" and "$": dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

            "ERISA": the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
      amended from time to time.

            "Eurodollar Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Loans.

            "Eurodollar Competitive Bid Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of
      Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loans.

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            "Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loan": any Competitive Bid Loan bearing
      interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate in
      accordance with the provisions of Section 2.

            "Eurodollar Loan": any Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loan or Eurodollar
      Revolving Credit Loan.

            "Eurodollar Rate": with respect to each day during each Interest
      Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate of interest determined on
      the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such
      Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period
      appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen as of 11:00 A.M., London
      time, two Working Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period. In
      the event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Telerate
      screen (or otherwise on such screen), the "Eurodollar Rate" shall be
      determined by reference to such other publicly available service for
      displaying eurodollar rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative
      Agent and the Company or, in the absence of such agreement, the
      "Eurodollar Rate" shall instead be the rate per annum equal to the average
      (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the respective rates notified to
      the Administrative Agent by each of the Reference Banks as the rate at
      which such Reference Bank is offered Dollar deposits at or about 10:00
      A.M., New York City time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such
      Interest Period in the interbank eurodollar market where the eurodollar
      and foreign currency and exchange operations in respect of its Eurodollar
      Loans are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such
      Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount
      comparable to the amount of its Eurodollar Loan to be outstanding during
      such Interest Period.

            "Eurodollar Revolving Credit Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of
      Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans.

            "Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan": any Revolving Credit Loan
      bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate
      in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.

            "Event of Default": any of the events specified in Section 7,
      provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time,
      or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

            "Existing 5-Year Credit Agreement": the 5-Year Credit Agreement,
      dated as of March 28, 2000, as amended, among the Company, the banks
      parties thereto, Barclays Bank PLC, Bank of America, N.A., Citibank, N.A.
      and MIZUHO Corporate Bank, Ltd. (f/k/a The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Limited),
      as syndication agents and JPMorgan Chase Bank (f/k/a The Chase Manhattan
      Bank), as administrative agent.

            "Existing 364-Day Agreement": the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as
      of October 15, 2002, among the Company, the banks parties thereto,
      Barclays Bank PLC, Bank of America, N.A. and Citibank, N.A., as
      syndication agents and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent, as
      amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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            "Extension Notice": as defined in subsection 2.7(a).

            "Federal Funds Effective Rate": for any day, a rate per annum equal
      to (i) the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds
      transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
      federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
      Business Day, for the preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank
      of New York; or (ii) if such rate is not so published for any day which is
      a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day at
      approximately 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such transactions
      received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of
      recognized standing selected by it.

            "Fee Payment Date": the last day of each calendar quarter,
      commencing December 31, 2003, the Termination Date and the Maturity Date.

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

            "Fixed Rate Borrowing": a Borrowing comprised of Fixed Rate Loans.

            "Fixed Rate Loan": any Competitive Bid Loan bearing interest at a
      fixed percentage rate per annum (expressed in the form of a decimal to no
      more than four decimal places) specified by the Bank making such Loan in
      its Competitive Bid.

            "GAAP": generally accepted accounting principles in the United
      States in effect from time to time.

            "Governmental Authority": any nation or government, any state or
      other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
      legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
      pertaining to government.

            "Hedging Agreement": any swap, cap, collar, floor or other hedging
      agreement in respect of interest rates or currency exchange rates. For
      purposes of this Agreement, the amount of any obligations or liabilities
      in respect of any Hedging Agreement shall be the amounts, including any
      termination payments, that would be required to be paid to a counterparty
      upon early termination (in accordance with customary industry standards)
      rather than any notional amount with regard to which payments may be
      calculated.

            "Increasing Bank": as defined in subsection 2.1(c)(ii).

            "Indebtedness": of a Person means such Person's (i) obligations for
      borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price
      of property or services other than accounts payable arising in the
      ordinary course of such Person's business, (iii) obligations, whether or
      not assumed, secured by Liens on property now or hereafter owned or
      acquired by such Person (other than carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics',
      repairmen's or other like nonconsensual statutory Liens arising in the
      ordinary course of

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                                                                               7

      business), (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances, or
      other similar instruments, (v) capitalized lease obligations, (vi)
      contingent obligations with respect to the Indebtedness of another Person,
      including but not limited to the obligation or liability of another which
      such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase
      or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes contingently
      liable upon; provided that any Indebtedness owing by the Company to any of
      its Subsidiaries or by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by
      any Subsidiary of the Company to any other Subsidiary of the Company or
      any contingent obligation in respect thereof shall not constitute
      Indebtedness for purposes of this Agreement, and (vii) obligations for
      which such Person is obligated in respect of a letter of credit. For
      purposes of this Agreement, Indebtedness shall not include (A) any
      indebtedness of such Person to the extent (I) such indebtedness does not
      appear on the financial statement of such Person, (II) such indebtedness
      is recourse only to certain assets of such Person, and (III) the assets to
      which such indebtedness is recourse only appear on the financial
      statements of such Person net of such indebtedness, or (B) any
      indebtedness or other obligations issued by any Person (or by a trust or
      other entity established by such Person or any of its affiliates) which
      are primarily serviced by the cash flows of a discrete pool of
      receivables, leases or other financial assets which have been sold or
      transferred by the Company or any Subsidiary in securitization
      transactions which, in accordance with GAAP, are accounted for as sales
      for financial reporting purposes. It is understood and agreed that (1) the
      amount of any Indebtedness described in clause (iii) for which recourse is
      limited to certain property of such Person shall be the lower of (x) the
      amount of the obligation and (y) the fair market value of the property of
      such Person securing such obligation, and (2) the amount of any obligation
      described in clause (vi) shall be the lower of (x) the stated or
      determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
      contingent obligation is made, and (y) the maximum amount for which such
      Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the agreement embodying such
      contingent obligation unless such primary obligation and the maximum
      amount for which such Person may be liable are not stated or determinable,
      in which case the amount of such contingent obligation shall be such
      Person's maximum, reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
      determined by such Person in good faith.

            "Insolvency": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition
      that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

            "Interest Payment Date": (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last day
      of each calendar quarter during which such Loan is outstanding and the
      Termination Date, and (b) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the
      last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and, in the case of a
      Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months, each
      day that would have been an Interest Payment Date for such Loan had
      successive Interest Periods of three months been applicable to such Loan
      and, in addition, the date the Company converts any Loan into a Loan of a
      different Type or having a different Interest Period.

            "Interest Period": (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, (i)
      initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as
      the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two,
      three or six months thereafter, as selected by

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      the Company in its notice of borrowing or notice of conversion, as the
      case may be, given with respect thereto; and (ii) thereafter in the case
      of a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, each period commencing on the last
      day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar
      Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by
      the Company by irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not less
      than three Working Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest
      Period with respect thereto; and

            (b) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the period commencing on
      the date of such Loan and ending on the date specified in the Competitive
      Bids in which the offer to make the Fixed Rate Loans comprising such
      Borrowing were extended, which shall not be earlier than fifteen days
      after the date of such Loan;

      provided that all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods
      are subject to the following:

            (A) if any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan would
      otherwise end on a day that is not a Working Day, such Interest Period
      shall be extended to the next succeeding Working Day unless the result of
      such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another
      calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the
      immediately preceding Working Day;

            (B) any Interest Period that would otherwise extend beyond the
      Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date; and

            (C) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan that begins
      on the last Working 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 Working Day of a calendar
      month.

            "Joint Lead Arrangers": as defined in the preamble hereto.

            "JPMorgan Chase Bank": as defined in the preamble hereto.

            "Lending Installation": any branch or office of any Bank selected by
      such Bank to be a Lending Installation in accordance with subsection 2.22.

            "Lien": any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
      arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), or preference,
      priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any
      kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional
      sale or other title retention agreement and any Financing Lease having
      substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

            "Loan": a Competitive Bid Loan, or a Revolving Credit Loan, whether
      made as a Eurodollar Loan, a Fixed Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, as
      permitted hereby.

            "LT Rating": as of any date of determination, the rating as
      determined by either S&P or Moody's (collectively, the "LT Ratings") of
      senior, unsecured long-term

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                                                                               9

      indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company, without third-party credit
      enhancement.

            "Margin": as to any Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loan, the margin
      (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a decimal to no
      more than four decimal places) to be added to or subtracted from the
      Eurodollar Rate to determine the interest rate applicable to such Loan, as
      specified in the Competitive Bid relating to such Loan.

            "Material Adverse Effect": (a) a material adverse effect on the
      ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement
      (other than any such material adverse effect arising as a result of a
      general disruption in capital markets), or (b) a material adverse effect
      on the validity or enforceability against the Company of this Agreement or
      the material rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Banks
      hereunder.

            "Maturity Date": the first anniversary of the Termination Date (as
      extended from time to time).

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

            "Multiemployer Plan": a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as
      defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

            "Net Worth": at any date of determination, total shareholders'
      equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
      determined in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.

            "Non-Extending Banks": as defined in subsection 2.7(a).

            "Non-U.S. Lender": as defined in subsection 2.19(b).

            "Other Bank": as defined in subsection 2.1(c)(i).

            "Participant": as defined in subsection 9.6(b).

            "PBGC": the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established
      pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

            "Person": an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust,
      joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture,
      Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

            "Plan": at a particular time, any employee benefit plan which is
      covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Company or a Commonly
      Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would
      under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in
      Section 3(5) of ERISA.

            "Reference Banks": JPMorgan Chase Bank, Barclays, BofA and Citibank.

<PAGE>
                                                                              10

            "Register": as defined in subsection 9.6(d).

            "Regulation U": Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
      Federal Reserve System.

            "Reorganization": with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the
      condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of
      Section 4241 of ERISA.

            "Reportable Event": any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c)
      of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period
      is waived under subsection .23, .24, .26, .28 or .30 of PBGC Reg.ss.4043.

            "Required Banks": at a particular time, Banks whose Commitment
      Percentages aggregate at least 51% or, if the Aggregate Commitment has
      been terminated or for purposes of any decision to accelerate the Loans
      pursuant to Section 7, Banks in the aggregate holding at least 51% of the
      aggregate unpaid principal amount of the outstanding Loans.

            "Requirement of Law": as to any Person, the Certificate of
      Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents
      of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or final
      determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority,
      in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any material
      portion of its property or to which such Person or any material portion of
      its property is subject.

            "Responsible Officer": the chief executive officer, the vice
      chairman, the president, any vice president of the Company or, with
      respect to financial matters, (a) the chief financial officer of the
      Company, (b) the treasurer of the Company, or (c) the controller of the
      Company.

            "Revolving Credit Borrowing": a Borrowing consisting of simultaneous
      Revolving Credit Loans from each of the Banks.

            "Revolving Credit Loan": a revolving credit loan made by a Bank to
      the Company pursuant to subsection 2.1. Each Revolving Credit Loan shall
      be a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan or a Base Rate Loan.

            "SEC": the Securities and Exchange Commission and any succeeding or
      analogous governmental body or agency.

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

            "Significant Subsidiaries": (i) any Subsidiary listed on Schedule II
      attached hereto, and (ii) any other Subsidiary which fits the definition
      of Significant Subsidiary contained in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X
      promulgated by the SEC, other than a Subsidiary that is a special purpose
      entity formed for the purpose of securitizing, selling for securitization
      or otherwise facilitating the securitization of assets of the Company or
      any other Subsidiary.

<PAGE>
                                                                              11

            "Single Employer Plan": any Plan which is covered by Title IV of
      ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan.

            "ST Rating": as of any date of determination, the rating as
      determined by either S&P or Moody's (collectively, the "ST Ratings") of
      senior, unsecured short-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the
      Company, without third-party credit enhancement.

            "Subsidiary": as to any Person, a corporation, partnership or other
      entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having
      ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests
      having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to
      elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such
      corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the
      management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly
      through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless
      otherwise qualified, all references to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries"
      in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the
      Company.

            "Syndication Agents": as defined in the preamble hereto.

            "Termination Date": October 12, 2004, as such date may be extended
      from time to time in accordance with subsection 2.7.

            "Tranche": the collective reference to Loans or portions thereof the
      Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and
      end on the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall originally
      have been made on the same day).

            "Transfer Effective Date": as defined in subsection 9.6(c) hereto.

            "Transferee": as defined in subsection 9.6(f).

            "Type": when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, means the
      Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans
      comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, "Rate" shall
      include the Eurodollar Rate, the Base Rate and any fixed rate.

            "United States": the United States of America.

            "Utilization Fee": as defined in subsection 2.6.

            "Working Day": any Business Day on which dealings in U.S. dollars
      and exchange between banks may be carried on in London, England.

      1.2. Other Definitional Provisions. (a)Unless otherwise specified therein,
all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in
any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto.

<PAGE>
                                                                              12

      (b) As used herein and in any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto, accounting terms relating to the Company and its
Subsidiaries not defined in subsection 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined
in subsection 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings
given to them under GAAP.

      (c) 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, and Section, subsection,
Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified.

      (d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable
to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

                   SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

      2.1. Commitments. (a).Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each
Bank severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Company from time to
time during the Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one
time outstanding not exceeding the amount of such Bank's Commitment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection 2.1, at no
time shall the sum of (A) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all
Revolving Credit Loans made by all Banks, plus (B) the outstanding aggregate
principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans made by all Banks, exceed the
Aggregate Commitment. During the Commitment Period the Company may borrow, pay
or prepay and reborrow hereunder, all in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

      (b) The Revolving Credit Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loans and/or Base Rate Loans, as determined by the Company and
notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with subsections 2.2 and
2.10, provided that no Loan shall be made as a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan
after the day that is one month prior to the Termination Date.

      (c) (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the Company may request from time to time that the Aggregate
Commitment be increased by an amount not less than $25,000,000 or a whole
multiple of $10,000,000 in excess thereof, provided that the Company may only
request such an increase once in any six-month period and in no event shall the
Aggregate Commitment exceed $3,000,000,000. Such increase in the Aggregate
Commitment shall be effected as follows: the Company may (I) request one or more
of the Banks to increase the amount of its Commitment (which request shall be in
writing and sent to the Administrative Agent to forward to such Bank or Banks)
and/or (II) arrange for one or more banks or financial institutions not a party
hereto (an "Other Bank") to become parties to and lenders under this Agreement,
provided that (w) the Administrative Agent shall have approved such Other Bank,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, (x) the minimum Commitment of
such Other Bank equals or exceeds $15,000,000 and (y) after giving effect to
such increase, no Bank shall have a Commitment hereunder which exceeds an amount
equal to 20% of the Aggregate Commitment. In no event may any Bank's Commitment
be

<PAGE>
                                                                              13

increased without the prior written consent of such Bank, and the failure of any
Bank to respond to the Company's request for an increase shall be deemed a
rejection by such Bank of the Company's request. The Aggregate Commitment may
not be increased if, at the time of any proposed increase hereunder, a Default
or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or either of the Company's
LT Ratings from Moody's or S&P is less than A3 or A-, respectively. Upon any
request by the Company to increase the Aggregate Commitment hereunder, the
Company shall be deemed to have represented and warranted on and as of the date
of such request that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, no Bank shall have any obligation whatsoever to increase the amount of
its Commitment, and each Bank may at its option, unconditionally and without
cause, decline to increase its Commitment.

            (ii) If any Bank is willing, in its sole and absolute discretion, to
increase the amount of its Commitment hereunder (such a Bank hereinafter
referred to as an "Increasing Bank"), it shall enter into a written agreement to
that effect with the Company and the Administrative Agent, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (a "Commitment Increase
Supplement"), which agreement shall specify, among other things, the amount of
the increased Commitment of such Increasing Bank. Upon the effectiveness of such
Increasing Bank's increase in Commitment, Schedule I hereto shall, without
further action, be deemed to have been amended as appropriate to reflect the
increased Commitment of such Increasing Bank. Any Other Bank which is willing to
become a party hereto and a lender hereunder and that has been approved by the
Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) shall enter into a
written agreement with the Company and the Administrative Agent, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (an "Additional
Bank Agreement"), which agreement shall specify, among other things, its
Commitment hereunder. When such Other Bank becomes a Bank hereunder as set forth
in the Additional Bank Agreement, Schedule I shall, without further action, be
deemed to have been amended as appropriate to reflect the Commitment of such
Other Bank. Upon the execution by the Administrative Agent, the Company and such
Other Bank of such Additional Bank Agreement, such Other Bank shall become and
be deemed a party hereto and a "Bank" hereunder for all purposes hereof and
shall enjoy all rights and assume all obligations on the part of the Banks set
forth in this Agreement, and its Commitment shall be the amount specified in its
Additional Bank Agreement. Each Other Bank which executes and delivers an
Additional Bank Agreement and becomes a party hereto and a "Bank" hereunder
pursuant to such Additional Bank Agreement is hereinafter referred to as an
"Additional Bank."

            (iii) In no event shall an increase in a Bank's Commitment or the
Commitment of an Other Bank pursuant to this subsection 2.1(c) become effective
until the Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion
of counsel for the Company, addressed to the Banks, with respect to the matters
set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Exhibit B-1 as they relate to this Agreement
and the borrowings hereunder after giving effect to the increase in the
Aggregate Commitment resulting from the increase in such Bank's Commitment or
the extension of a Commitment by such Other Bank. In no event shall an increase
in a Bank's Commitment or the Commitment of an Other Bank which results in the
Aggregate Commitment exceeding the amount which is authorized at such time in
resolutions previously delivered to the Administrative Agent become effective
until the Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of the resolutions, in
form and substance satisfactory to the

<PAGE>
                                                                              14

Administrative Agent, of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee of
the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the borrowings contemplated
pursuant to such increase, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company. Concurrently with the execution by an Increasing Bank of a
Commitment Increase Supplement or by an Additional Bank of an Additional Bank
Agreement, the Company shall make such borrowing from such Increasing Bank or
Additional Bank, and/or shall make such prepayment of outstanding Revolving
Credit Loans, as shall be required to cause the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of Revolving Credit Loans owing to each Bank (including each such
Increasing Bank and Additional Bank) to be proportional to such Bank's share of
the Aggregate Commitment after giving effect to any increase thereof. The
Company agrees to indemnify each Bank and to hold each Bank harmless from any
loss or expense incurred as a result of any such prepayment in accordance with
subsection 2.20, as applicable.

            (iv) No Other Bank may become an Additional Bank unless the
Administrative Agent and the Company consent (which consent of the
Administrative Agent shall not be unreasonably withheld) thereto by executing
the Additional Bank Agreement signed by such bank or financial institution (or
counterparts thereof), but no consent of any of the other Banks hereunder shall
be required therefor. In no event shall the Commitment of any Bank be increased
by reason of any bank or financial institution becoming an Additional Bank, or
otherwise, but the Aggregate Commitment shall be increased by the amount of each
Additional Bank's Commitment. Upon any Bank entering into a Commitment Increase
Supplement or any Additional Bank becoming a party hereto, the Administrative
Agent shall notify each other Bank thereof and shall deliver to each Bank a copy
of the Additional Bank Agreement executed by such Additional Bank and the
Commitment Increase Supplement executed by such Increasing Bank.

      2.2. Revolving Credit Borrowing Procedure. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Company may request Revolving Credit Loans during the
Commitment Period on any Working Day, if all or any part of the requested
Revolving Credit Loans are to be initially Eurodollar Loans, or on any Business
Day, otherwise, provided that the Company shall give the Administrative Agent
irrevocable notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit F, (which notice must
be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time,
(a) three Working Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, if all or any part
of the requested Loans are to be initially Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans or
(b) on the Borrowing Date, otherwise), specifying (i) the amount to be borrowed,
(ii) the requested Borrowing Date, (iii) whether the Borrowing is to be of
Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans, Base Rate Loans or a combination thereof and
(iv) if the Borrowing is to be entirely or partly of Eurodollar Revolving Credit
Loans, the amount of such Type of Loan and the length of the initial Interest
Period therefor. Each Borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans shall be in an amount
equal to (x) in the case of Base Rate Loans, $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$5,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if the then Aggregate Available Commitment is
less than $25,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loans, $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess
thereof. Upon receipt of any such notice from the Company, the Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify the Lending Installation of each Bank thereof. Each
Bank will make the amount of its pro rata share of each Borrowing of Revolving
Credit Loans available to the Administrative Agent at the office of the
Administrative Agent specified in subsection 9.2 prior to 11:00 A.M., New York
City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by

<PAGE>
                                                                              15

the Company in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall make the funds so received from the Banks immediately
available to the Company at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address or to
an account designated by the Company.

      2.3. Competitive Bid Borrowing Procedure. (a) To request Competitive Bids,
the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Competitive Bid Request,
substantially in the form of Exhibit G, to be received by the Administrative
Agent (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Bid Borrowing, not later than
10:00 a.m, New York City time, four Working Days before a proposed Competitive
Bid Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than
10:00 a.m, New York City time, one Business Day before a proposed Competitive
Bid Borrowing. No Base Rate Loan shall be requested in, or made pursuant to, a
Competitive Bid Request. A Competitive Bid Request that does not conform
substantially to the format of Exhibit G may be rejected in the Administrative
Agent's sole discretion, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Company of such rejection by telecopier. Such request shall in each case refer
to this Agreement and specify (x) whether the Borrowing then being requested is
to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or a Fixed Rate Borrowing, (y) the date of such
Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Competitive Bid Loan, a Working Day) and the aggregate principal amount thereof,
which shall be a minimum principal amount of $25,000,000 and in an integral
multiple of $5,000,000 (or an aggregate principal amount equal to the remaining
balance of the available Commitments) and which will not cause the aggregate
principal of all outstanding Loans to exceed the Aggregate Commitment, and (z)
the Interest Period with respect thereto (which may not end after the
Termination Date). The Competitive Bid Maturity Date for each Competitive Bid
Loan shall be the date set forth therefor in the relevant Competitive Bid
Request, which date shall be not less than fifteen days after the date of the
Competitive Bid Borrowing and, in any event, shall not be later than the
Termination Date. Promptly after its receipt of a Competitive Bid Request that
is not rejected as aforesaid, the Administrative Agent shall invite by
telecopier (in the form set forth in Exhibit H) the Banks to bid, on the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, to make Competitive Bid Loans pursuant to the
Competitive Bid Request.

      (b) Each Bank may, in its sole discretion, make one or more Competitive
Bids to the Company responsive to a Competitive Bid Request. Each Competitive
Bid by a Bank must be received by the Administrative Agent via telecopier, in
the form of Exhibit I, (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Bid
Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, three Working Days
before a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Fixed Rate
Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of
a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing. Multiple bids will be accepted by the
Administrative Agent. Competitive Bids that do not conform substantially to the
format of Exhibit I may be rejected by the Administrative Agent after conferring
with, and upon the instruction of, the Company, and the Administrative Agent
shall notify the Bank making such nonconforming bid of such rejection as soon as
practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall refer to this Agreement and specify (x)
the principal amount (which shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000
and in integral multiples of $1,000,000, which may exceed such Bank's Commitment
and which may equal the entire principal amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing
requested by the Company) of the Competitive Bid Loan or Loans that the
applicable Bank is willing to make to the Company, (y) the Competitive Bid Rate
or Rates at which such Bank is prepared to make the

<PAGE>
                                                                              16

Competitive Bid Loan or Loans and (z) the Interest Period and the last day
thereof. A Competitive Bid submitted by a Bank pursuant to this paragraph (b)
shall be irrevocable.

      (c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company by
telecopier of all the Competitive Bids made, the Competitive Bid Rate and the
principal amount of each Competitive Bid Loan in respect of which a Competitive
Bid was made and the identity of the Bank that made each bid. The Administrative
Agent shall send a copy of all Competitive Bids (or a summary of such bids) to
the Company for its records as soon as practicable after completion of the
bidding process set forth in this subsection 2.3.

      (d) The Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, subject only to
the provisions of this paragraph (d), accept or reject any Competitive Bid
referred to in paragraph (c) above. The Company shall notify the Administrative
Agent by telephone, confirmed by telecopier in the form of a Competitive Bid
Accept/Reject Letter, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or
reject any or all of the bids referred to in paragraph (c) above, (x) in the
case of a Eurodollar Competitive Bid Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New
York City time, three Business Days before a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing
and (y) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New
York City time, on the day of a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing; provided,
however, that (i) the failure by the Company to give such notice shall be deemed
to be a rejection of all the bids referred to in paragraph (c) above, (ii) the
Company shall not accept a bid made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the
Company has decided to reject a bid made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii)
the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by the Company shall not
exceed the principal amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request, (iv) if
the Company shall accept a bid or bids made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate
and such bid or bids would cause the total amount of accepted bids to exceed the
amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request, then the aggregate amount of
the bids made at such Competitive Bid Rates shall be reduced ratably as
necessary to eliminate such excess, and (v) except pursuant to clause (iv)
above, no bid shall be accepted for a Competitive Bid Loan unless such
Competitive Bid Loan is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and an
integral multiple of $1,000,000; provided further, however, that if a
Competitive Bid Loan must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the
provisions of clause (iv) above, such Competitive Bid Loan may be for a minimum
of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and in calculating the pro rata
allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple bids at a particular
Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (iv) the amount shall be rounded to
integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner which shall be in the discretion of
the Company. A notice given by the Company pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall
be irrevocable.

      (e) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Bank
whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and if so, in what amount
and at what Competitive Bid Rate) by telecopy sent by the Administrative Agent,
and each successful bidder will thereupon become bound, subject to the other
applicable conditions hereof, to make the Competitive Bid Loan in respect of
which its bid has been accepted.

      (f) A Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within two Business Days
after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request.

<PAGE>
                                                                              17

      (g) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a Competitive Bid in
its capacity as a Bank, it shall submit such bid directly to the Company one
quarter of an hour earlier than the latest time at which the other Banks are
required to submit their bids to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph
(b) above.

      (h) All notices required by this subsection 2.3 shall be given in
accordance with subsection 9.2.

      2.4. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Company unconditionally
promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Bank
(i) on the Maturity Date (or such earlier date on which the Loans become due and
payable pursuant to subsection 2.9 or Section 7), the unpaid principal amount of
each Revolving Credit Loan made to it by such Bank; provided, that, on or before
the Termination Date, the Company shall give the Administrative Agent written
notice stating whether it intends or does not intend to repay, on the
Termination Date, the unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, and
(ii) on the last day of the Interest Period thereof, the unpaid principal amount
of each Competitive Bid Loan made to it by such Bank. The Company shall have no
right to prepay any principal of any Competitive Bid Loan. The Company further
agrees to pay interest in immediately available funds at the office of the
Administrative Agent on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans from time to
time from the date hereof until payment in full thereof at the rates per annum,
and on the dates, set forth in subsection 2.13.

      (b) Each Bank shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Company to such Bank
resulting from the Loans made by such Bank to the Company, including the amounts
of principal and interest payable and paid to such Bank from time to time
hereunder.

      (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to
subsection 9.6(d), and a subaccount for each Bank, in which Register and
subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made
hereunder, whether such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan or a Competitive Bid
Loan, the Type of each Loan made and the Interest Period or maturity date (if
any) applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Company to each Bank hereunder and
(iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from
the Company and each Bank's share thereof.

      (d) The entries made in the Register and the accounts maintained pursuant
to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection shall be prima facie evidence of
the items contained therein; provided, however, that the failure of any Bank or
the Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or such
subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect
the obligation of the Company to repay (with applicable interest) the Loan made
to the Company by such Bank in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

      (e) If requested by any Bank for purposes of subsection 9.6(g), the
Company shall execute and deliver, at the Company's expense, to such Bank (and
deliver a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) one or more promissory notes
evidencing the Loans owing to such

<PAGE>

                                                                              18

Bank pursuant to this Agreement. Any such note shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-1, or A-2, as applicable, and shall be entitled to all of the
rights and benefits of this Agreement.

      2.5. Facility Fee; Administrative Agent's Fee. (a) The Company agrees to
pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Bank a non-refundable
facility fee at the Applicable Facility Fee Rate per annum (i) on the daily
average amount of such Bank's Commitment (whether borrowed or unborrowed) from
and including the date hereof to and excluding the Termination Date and (ii) on
the daily average amount of each Bank's outstanding Loans from and including the
Termination Date to and excluding the earlier of (A) the Maturity Date and (B)
the first date upon which no Loans are outstanding, in each case payable
quarterly in arrears and on each Fee Payment Date.

      (b) The Company will pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account,
an agent's fee equal to the amount agreed upon in writing between the Company
and the Administrative Agent, payable to the Administrative Agent in such manner
as the Company and the Administrative Agent may agree. Each Bank acknowledges
that the Administrative Agent is being paid certain other fees for its own
account in connection with the financing pursuant to this Agreement in addition
to the fees described in this Agreement.

      2.6. Utilization Fee. If the average daily aggregate principal amount of
the Loans outstanding for the calendar quarter preceding a Fee Payment Date (or
such shorter period beginning with the date hereof or ending with the earlier of
(A) the Maturity Date and (B) the first date after the Termination Date upon
which no Loans are outstanding) is (i) in excess of 33.3% but less than 66.7% or
(ii) equal to or greater than 66.7%, as the case may be, of the average daily
Aggregate Commitment for such calendar quarter or period (or in any case for any
period after the Termination Date), the Company agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks a non-refundable utilization
fee (the "Utilization Fee") at the Applicable Utilization Fee Rate on such
average daily aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding during such
calendar quarter (or shorter period), payable in arrears on each Fee Payment
Date.

      2.7. Extension of Termination Date. (a)The Company may, by written notice
to the Administrative Agent (such notice being an "Extension Notice") given no
earlier than sixty days and no later than forty-five days prior to the
Termination Date, request the Banks to consider an extension of the then
applicable Termination Date to a date 364 days after the then applicable
Termination Date. The Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit any Extension
Notice to each Bank. Each Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent whether it
wishes to extend the then applicable Termination Date no earlier than thirty
days, and no later than twenty days, prior to such Termination Date, and any
such notice given by a Bank to the Administrative Agent, once given, shall be
irrevocable as to such Bank. Any Bank which does not expressly notify the
Administrative Agent prior to such twenty day period that it wishes to so extend
the then applicable Termination Date shall be deemed to have rejected the
Company's request for extension of such Termination Date. Banks consenting to
extend the then applicable Termination Date are hereinafter referred to as
"Continuing Banks", and Banks declining to consent to extend such Termination
Date (or Banks deemed to have so declined) are hereinafter referred to as
"Non-Extending Banks". If the Required Banks have elected (in their sole and
absolute discretion) to so extend the Termination Date, the Administrative Agent
shall notify the

<PAGE>
                                                                              19

Company of such election by such Required Banks no later than fifteen days prior
to such Termination Date, and effective on the date of such notice by the
Administrative Agent to the Company, the Termination Date shall be automatically
and immediately so extended. No extension will be permitted hereunder without
the consent of the Required Banks and in no event shall the Termination Date be
extended beyond three years minus three days following the Closing Date. Upon
the delivery of an Extension Notice and upon the extension of the Termination
Date pursuant to this subsection 2.7, the Company shall be deemed to have
represented and warranted on and as of the date of such Extension Notice and the
effective date of such extension, as the case may be, that no Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, no Bank shall have any obligation to extend the
Termination Date, and each Bank may at its option, unconditionally and without
cause, decline to extend the Termination Date.

      (b) If the Termination Date shall have been extended in accordance with
subsection 2.7(a), all references herein to the "Termination Date" shall refer
to the Termination Date as so extended.

      (c) If any Bank shall determine not to extend the Termination Date as
requested by any Extension Notice given by the Company pursuant to subsection
2.7(a), the Commitment of such Bank shall terminate on the Termination Date
without giving any effect to such proposed extension, and the Company shall on
such date pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Bank, the
principal amount of, and accrued interest on, such Bank's Loans, together with
any amounts payable to such Bank pursuant to subsection 2.20 and any fees or
other amounts owing to such Bank under this Agreement; provided that if the
Company has replaced such Non-Extending Bank pursuant to subsection 2.7(d) below
then the provisions of such subsection shall apply. The Aggregate Commitment
shall be reduced by the amount of the Commitment of such Non-Extending Bank to
the extent the Commitment of such Non-Extending Bank has not been transferred to
one or more Continuing Banks pursuant to subsection 2.7(d) below.

      (d) A Non-Extending Bank shall be obligated, at the request of the Company
and subject to payment by the Company to the Administrative Agent for the
account of such Non-Extending Bank the principal amount of, and accrued interest
on, such Bank's Loans, together with any amounts payable to such Bank pursuant
to subsection 2.20 and any fees or other amounts owing to such Bank under this
Agreement, to transfer without recourse, representation, warranty (other than
good title to its Loans) or expense to such Non-Extending Bank, at any time
prior to the Termination Date applicable to such Non-Extending Bank, all of its
rights and obligations hereunder to another financial institution or group of
financial institutions nominated by the Company and willing to participate in
the facility in the place of such Non-Extending Bank; provided that, if such
transferee is not a Bank, such transferee(s) satisfies all the requirements of
this Agreement and the Administrative Agent shall have consented to such
transfer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each such transferee
shall become a Continuing Bank hereunder in replacement of the Non-Extending
Bank and shall enjoy all rights and assume all obligations on the part of the
Banks set forth in this Agreement. Simultaneously with such transfer, each such
transferee shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a written
agreement assuming all obligations of the Non-Extending
<PAGE>
                                                                              20

Bank it is replacing set forth in this Agreement, which agreement shall be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.

      (e) If the Termination Date shall have been extended in respect of
Continuing Banks in accordance with subsection 2.7(a), any notice of borrowing
pursuant to subsection 2.2 or 2.3 specifying a Borrowing Date occurring after
the Termination Date applicable to a Non-Extending Bank or requesting an
Interest Period extending beyond such date shall (a) have no effect in respect
of such Non-Extending Bank and (b) not specify a requested aggregate principal
amount exceeding the Aggregate Available Commitment (calculated on the basis of
the Commitments of the Continuing Banks).

      2.8. Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Company shall have the
right, upon not less than three Business Days' notice to the Administrative
Agent, to terminate the Aggregate Commitment or, from time to time, to reduce
the amount of the Aggregate Commitment, provided that no such termination or
reduction shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any
prepayments made in respect of the Loans on the effective date of such
termination or reduction, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans would
exceed the Aggregate Commitment then in effect. Any such reduction shall be in
an amount equal to $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof and shall reduce permanently the Commitments then in effect.

      2.9. Optional Prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans. The Company may at
any time and from time to time prepay the Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in
part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative
Agent given not less that three Business Days prior to the prepayment date, in
the case of prepayments of Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans, or on the
prepayment date, in the case of prepayments of Base Rate Loans, specifying the
date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Base Rate Loans,
Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a
combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. If any such notice is given,
the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount
prepaid. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
$5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Prepayments made
in respect of any Eurodollar Loans on any day other than the last day of the
applicable Interest Period shall be accompanied by amounts, if any, payable
pursuant to subsection 2.20(d). The Company shall not have the right to prepay
any Competitive Bid Loan without consent of the Bank that made such Competitive
Bid Loan.

      2.10. Conversion and Continuation Options. (a) The Company may elect from
time to time to convert Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans to Base Rate Loans by
giving the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day's prior irrevocable
notice of such election, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period
with respect thereto. The Company may elect from time to time to convert Base
Rate Loans to Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans by giving the Administrative
Agent at least three Working Days' prior irrevocable notice of such election.
Any such notice of conversion to Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans shall specify
the length of the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods therefor. Upon
receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank
thereof. All or any part of outstanding Eurodollar Revolving Credit

<PAGE>
                                                                              21

Loans and Base Rate Loans may be converted as provided herein, provided that (i)
no Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan when any Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing unless the Administrative Agent or the
Required Banks have determined that such a conversion is appropriate, (ii) any
such conversion may only be made if, after giving effect thereto, subsection
2.12 shall not have been contravened and (iii) no Revolving Credit Loan may be
converted into a Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan after the date that is one
month prior to the Maturity Date.

      (b) Any Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans may be continued as such upon
the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the
Company giving notice to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the term "Interest Period" set forth in subsection 1.1,
of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans,
provided that no Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan may be continued as such (i)
when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative
Agent or the Required Banks have determined that such a continuation is not
appropriate, (ii) if, after giving effect thereto, subsection 2.12 would be
contravened or (iii) after the date that is one month prior to the Maturity
Date. If the Company shall fail to give any required notice as described above
in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the
preceding proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to Base Rate Loans
on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period.

      2.11. Applicable Interest Rate Margins, Facility Fee Rate and Utilization
Fee. The Applicable Eurodollar Margin, the Applicable Facility Fee Rate and the
Applicable Utilization Fee Rate (the Applicable Eurodollar Margin, the
Applicable Facility Fee Rate and the Applicable Utilization Fee Rate,
individually or collectively, the "Applicable Margin" or "Applicable Rate")
shall be equal to the percentage per annum set forth below (in basis points).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pricing       LT Ratings          ST Ratings         Facility      Eurodollar       Utilization    Utilization
Level         S&P/Moody's         S&P/Moody's          Fee      Rate Loan Margin   Fee (> 33.3%)   Fee (> 66.7%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>           <C>                   <C>                <C>            <C>               <C>           <C>
   1          AA-/Aa3      and      A-1/P-1            5.0            20.0              7.5           15.0
   2          A+/A1        and      A-1/P-1            6.0            24.0              12.5          25.0
   3          A/A2and      A-1/P-1                     7.0            33.0              12.5          25.0
   4          A-/A3                   N/A              9.0            41.0              12.5          25.0
   5          BBB+/Baa1               N/A              12.5           50.0              12.5          25.0
   6          BBB/Baa2                N/A              15.0           67.5              12.5          25.0
   7          BBB-/Baa3               N/A              25.0          100.0              12.5          25.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

      For purposes of the foregoing, if the Debt Ratings fall within different
pricing levels, then the lowest of such pricing levels (i.e., the pricing level
having the highest numerical designation above) shall apply.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the Termination Date the
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans shall be increased by 25 basis points at
each Debt Rating level and the

<PAGE>
                                                                              22

Utilization Fee shall be equal to 25 basis points at each Debt Rating level.

      2.12. Minimum Amounts of Tranches. All borrowings, conversions and
continuations of Loans hereunder and all selections of Interest Periods
hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so
that, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans
comprising each Tranche shall be equal to $25,000,000 or a whole multiple of
$5,000,000 in excess thereof.

      2.13. Interest Rates and Payment Dates. (a) The Loans comprising each
Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest for each day during each Interest
Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of each
Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in
effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin and (ii) in the case of
each Eurodollar Competitive Bid Loan, the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest
Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Margin offered by the Bank making
such Loan and accepted by the Company pursuant to subsection 2.3.

      (b) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest for each day during which such
Base Rate Loan is outstanding at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

      (c) Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest for each day during each
Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the fixed rate
of interest offered by the Bank making such Loan and accepted by the Company
pursuant to subsection 2.3.

      (d) If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan or (ii)
any interest payable thereon, any fee or any other amount payable pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement (other than attorneys' fees incurred in connection
with the enforcement of the terms hereof) shall not be paid when due (whether at
the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall
bear interest at a rate per annum which is (x) in the case of overdue principal,
the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this subsection plus 2% or (y) in the case of any overdue
interest, fee or other amount, the rate described in paragraph (b) of this
subsection plus 2%, in each case from the date of such non-payment until such
amount is paid in full (after as well as before judgment).

      (e) Interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date applicable to such Loan, the Maturity Date and upon any prepayment
of such Loan, provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (d) of this
subsection shall be payable on demand.

      2.14. Computation of Interest and Fees. (a) Interest on Base Rate Loans
shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day
year for the actual days elapsed. Interest on Eurodollar Loans, Fixed Rate Loans
and all fees shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual
days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the
Company and the Banks of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in
the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the Base Rate shall
become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change
in the Base Rate is announced. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as
practicable notify the Company and the Banks of the effective date and the
amount of each such change in interest rate. Notwithstanding

<PAGE>
                                                                              23

anything to the contrary in this Agreement, interest paid or becoming due
hereunder shall in no event exceed the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.

      (b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on
the Company and the Banks in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative
Agent shall, at the request of the Company, deliver to the Company a statement
showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any
interest rate pursuant to subsection 2.13.

      (c) If any Reference Bank's Commitment shall terminate or all its Loans
shall be assigned for any reason whatsoever, such Reference Bank shall thereupon
cease to be a Reference Bank, and if, as a result of the foregoing, there shall
only be one Reference Bank remaining, the Administrative Agent (after
consultation with the Company and the Banks) shall, by notice to the Company and
the Banks, designate another Bank acceptable to the Company, as a Reference Bank
so that there shall at all times be at least two Reference Banks.

      (d) Each Reference Bank shall use its best efforts to furnish quotations
of rates to the Administrative Agent as contemplated hereby. If any of the
Reference Banks shall be unable or shall otherwise fail to supply such rates to
the Administrative Agent upon its request, the rate of interest shall, subject
to the provisions of subsection 2.15, be determined on the basis of the
quotations of the remaining Reference Banks or Reference Bank.

      2.15. Inability to Determine Interest Rate. In the event that prior to the
first day of any Interest Period the Administrative Agent shall have determined
(which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company) that, by
reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable
means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest
Period, the Administrative Agent shall give telex, telecopy or telephonic notice
thereof to the Company and the Banks as soon as practicable thereafter. If such
notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans (including any Eurodollar Competitive
Bid Loan) requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be
made as Base Rate Loans, (y) any Loans that were to have been converted on the
first day of such Interest Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as Base
Rate Loans and (z) any outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be converted on the
first day of such Interest Period to Base Rate Loans. Until such notice has been
withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans shall be made
or continued as such, nor shall the Company have the right to convert Loans to
Eurodollar Loans.

      2.16. Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a) Each Revolving Credit Borrowing
by the Company from the Banks hereunder, each payment by the Company on account
of any fee hereunder and, except as contemplated by subsections 2.1(c)(iii),
2.7(c), 2.21, 2.23 and 2.24 any reduction of the Commitments of the Banks shall
be made pro rata according to the respective Commitment Percentages of the
Banks. Except as contemplated by subsections 2.1(c)(iii), 2.7(c), 2.21, 2.23 and
2.24, each payment (including each prepayment) by the Company on account of
principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans shall be made pro rata
according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving
Credit Loans then held by the Banks. Each payment of principal of any
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Banks
participating in such Borrowing in accordance with the respective principal
amounts of their outstanding Competitive Bid Loans comprising such

<PAGE>
                                                                              24

Borrowing. Each payment of interest on any Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be
allocated pro rata among the Banks participating in such Borrowing in accordance
with the respective amounts of accrued and unpaid interest on their outstanding
Competitive Bid Loans comprising such Borrowing. Each Bank agrees that in
computing such Bank's portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the
Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Bank's percentage of
such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount. All payments
(including prepayments) to be made by the Company hereunder, whether on account
of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without set off or
counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the
due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Banks, at
the Administrative Agent's office specified in subsection 9.2, in Dollars and in
immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such
payments to the Lending Installation of the Banks promptly upon receipt in like
funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the
Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day,
such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, with
respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at the then
applicable rate during such extension. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan
becomes due and payable on a day other than a Working Day, the maturity thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding Working Day unless the result of such
extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which
event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Working Day.

      (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by
any Bank prior to a Borrowing Date that such Bank will not make the amount that
would constitute its Commitment Percentage of the Borrowing on such date
available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that
such Bank has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such
Borrowing Date, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Company a corresponding amount. If such amount
is made available to the Administrative Agent on a date after such Borrowing
Date, such Bank shall pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount equal
to the product of (i) the daily average Federal funds rate during such period as
quoted by the Administrative Agent, times (ii) the amount of such Bank's
Commitment Percentage of such Borrowing, times (iii) 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 Bank's Commitment Percentage of such Borrowing shall
have become immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the
denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted
to any Bank with respect to any amounts owing under this subsection shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Bank's Commitment
Percentage of such Borrowing is not in fact made available to the Administrative
Agent by such Bank within three Business Days of such Borrowing Date, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of such Bank's failure to fund,
and shall be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate
per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder, on demand, from the Company.

      2.17. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if any
change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof
shall make it unlawful for any Bank to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans as
contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the commitment of such Bank hereunder to
make Eurodollar Loans, continue Eurodollar Loans as such and convert Base Rate
Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall forthwith be canceled, (b) the Loans

<PAGE>
                                                                              25

of such Bank then outstanding as Eurodollar Loans, if any, shall be converted
automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current
Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as
required by law and (c) such Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent
of any such cancellation and conversion pursuant to this subsection 2.17.

      2.18. Requirements of Law. (a) In the event that after the date hereof any
change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof
by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration or interpretation
thereof or compliance by any Bank or the Lending Installation of any Bank with
any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any such
Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

            (i) shall subject any Bank or the Lending Installation of any Bank
      to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any
      Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of
      taxation of payments to such Bank or the Lending Installation of such Bank
      in respect thereof (except for taxes covered by subsection 2.19 and
      changes in the rate of tax on the net income of such Bank or the Lending
      Installation of such Bank);

            (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special
      deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by,
      deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or
      other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any
      office of such Bank or the Lending Installation of such Bank which is not
      otherwise included in the determination of interest on the Eurodollar Rate
      Loans or Fixed Rate Loans hereunder; or

            (iii) shall impose on such Bank or the Lending Installation of such
      Bank any other condition;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Bank or
the Lending Installation of such Bank, by an amount which such Bank deems to be
material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining any Eurodollar
Loan or Fixed Rate Loan or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect
thereof then, in any such case, the Company shall pay such Bank, within 30 days
after its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Bank for
such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Bank becomes entitled
to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this subsection, it shall promptly
notify the Company, through the Administrative Agent, of the event by reason of
which it has become so entitled. A certificate as to any additional amounts
payable pursuant to this subsection submitted by such Bank, through the
Administrative Agent, to the Company shall set forth, in reasonable detail, the
basis for such claim and the method of computation thereof and be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of
this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts payable hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Bank shall be entitled to request compensation
under this Section with respect to any Competitive Bid Loan if it shall have
been aware of the change giving rise to such request at the time of submission
of such Bank's Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Competitive Loan shall
have been made.

<PAGE>
                                                                              26

      (b) In the event that any Bank shall have determined that any change in
any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or
application thereof or compliance by such Bank or the Lending Installation of
such Bank or any corporation controlling such Bank with any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any
Governmental Authority, in each case, made subsequent to the date hereof, does
or shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Bank's, such
Lending Installation's or such corporation's capital as a consequence of its
obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Bank, such Lending
Installation or such corporation could have achieved but for such change or
compliance (taking into consideration such Bank's, such Lending Installation's
or such corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, after submission by
such Bank to the Company of a written request therefor, the Company shall pay to
such Bank within 90 days after demand such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Bank for such reduction. Each such request shall be accompanied
by such information in respect of the basis for the claim made thereby and the
method of computation thereof as such Bank shall at the time customarily provide
to other borrowers deemed by it to be similarly situated. This covenant shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts
payable hereunder.

      (c) Each Bank, through the Administrative Agent, will promptly notify the
Company of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof,
which will entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this subsection.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Bank shall be entitled to any compensation
described in this Section unless, at the time it requests such compensation, it
is the policy or general practice of such Bank to request compensation for
comparable costs in similar circumstances under comparable provisions of other
credit agreements for comparable customers (as determined by such Bank) unless
specific facts or circumstances applicable to the Company or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement would alter such policy or general practice. If
any Bank fails to give the notice described in subsection 2.18(c) within 90 days
after it obtains such actual knowledge of the event required to be described in
such notice, such Bank shall, with respect to any compensation that would
otherwise be owing to such Bank under this subsection 2.18, only be entitled to
payment for increased costs incurred from and after the date that such Bank does
give such notice. If the Company shall reimburse any Bank pursuant to this
Section for any cost and such Bank shall subsequently receive a refund in
respect thereof, such Bank shall so notify the Company and, upon its request,
will pay to the Company the portion of such refund that such Bank shall
determine in good faith to be allocable to the costs so reimbursed.

      2.19. Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Company under this Agreement
shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on
account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed,
levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority,
excluding, in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Bank, taxes based on
or measured by net income imposed on the Administrative Agent or such Bank, as
the case may be, as a result of a present or former connection between the
jurisdiction of the government or taxing authority imposing such tax and the
Administrative Agent or such Bank (excluding a connection arising solely from
the Administrative Agent or such Bank having executed, delivered or performed
its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this

<PAGE>
                                                                              27

Agreement) or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein
(all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions
and withholdings being hereinafter called "Taxes"). If any Taxes are required to
be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Bank
hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or such Bank shall
be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or
such Bank (after payment of all Taxes) interest or any such other amounts
payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to increase any
amounts payable to any Non-U.S. Lender (as defined in subsection 2.19(b)) with
respect to any Taxes that would not have been imposed but for such Non-U.S.
Lender's failure to provide to the Company the Internal Revenue Service Forms
required to be provided to the Company pursuant to subsection 2.19(b). Whenever
any Taxes are payable by the Company, promptly thereafter the Company shall send
to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of such Bank,
as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by
the Company showing payment thereof. If such evidence of payment is unavailable,
other evidence of such payment, satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, shall
be provided by the Company. If the Company fails to pay any Taxes when due to
the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent
the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Company shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Banks for any incremental taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any
Bank as a result of any such failure.

      (b) Each Bank represents and warrants to the Company that under currently
applicable law and treaties no Taxes will be required to be withheld by the
Company with respect to any payments to be made to such Bank hereunder. Each
Bank that is not a United States person (as such term is defined in Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. Federal income tax purposes (each, a "Non-U.S.
Lender") agrees to deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent on or
prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender that is an
assignee or transferee of, or purchaser of a participation in, an interest under
this Agreement pursuant to subsection 9.6 (unless such Non-U.S. Lender was
already a Bank hereunder immediately prior to such assignment or transfer), on
the date of such assignment or transfer to such Non-U.S. Lender, (i) two (2)
accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (or successor forms) certifying that such Non-U.S. Lender
is entitled as of such date to a complete exemption from United States
withholding tax with respect to payments to be made under this Agreement, or
(ii) if such Non-U.S. Lender is not a "bank" within the meaning of Section
881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (with respect to a complete exemption under an income tax
treaty) (or any successor forms) pursuant to clause (i) above, (x) a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit K (any such certificate, an "Exemption
Certificate"), and (y) two (2) accurate and complete original signed copies of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (with respect to the portfolio interest
exemption) (or successor form) certifying that such Non-U.S. Lender is entitled
as of such date to a complete exemption from United States withholding tax with
respect to payments of interest to be made under this Agreement. In addition,
each Non-U.S. Lender agrees that from time to time after the Closing Date, when
the passage of time or a change in facts or circumstances renders the previous
certification obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, such Non-U.S.
Lender will deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent two (2) new
accurate and complete

<PAGE>
                                                                              28

original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, Form W-8BEN
(with respect to a complete exemption under an income tax treaty), or Form
W-8BEN (with respect to the portfolio interest exemption) and an Exemption
Certificate, as the case may be, and such other forms as may be required in
order to confirm or establish that such Non-U.S. Lender is entitled to a
continued exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to payments
under this Agreement, or such Non-U.S. Lender shall immediately notify the
Company and the Administrative Agent of its inability to deliver any such form
or Exemption Certificate, in which case such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be
required to deliver any such form or Exemption Certificate. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this subsection 2.19, the Company agrees
to pay any additional amounts and to indemnify each Non-U.S. Lender in the
manner set forth in subsection 2.19(a) in respect of any United States Taxes
deducted or withheld by them if such Taxes would not have been deducted or
withheld but for any change after the Closing Date in any applicable law,
treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order, or in the
interpretation thereof.

      (c) If any Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative Agent shall become
aware that it is entitled to receive a refund or credit (such credit to include
any increase in any foreign tax credit) as a result of Taxes (including any
penalties or interest with respect thereto) as to which it has been indemnified
by the Company pursuant to this subsection 2.19, it shall promptly notify the
Company of the availability of such refund or credit and shall, within 30 days
after receipt of a request by the Company, apply for such refund or credit at
the Company's expense, and in the case of any application for such refund or
credit by the Company, shall, if legally able to do so, deliver to the Company
such certificates, forms or other documentation as may be reasonably necessary
to assist the Company in such application. If any Bank (or Transferee) or the
Administrative Agent receives a refund or credit (such credit to include any
increase in any foreign tax credit) in respect to any Taxes as to which it has
been indemnified by the Company pursuant to this subsection 2.19, it shall
promptly notify the Company of such refund or credit and shall, within 60 days
after receipt of such refund or the benefit of such credit (such benefit to
include any reduction of the taxes for which any Bank (or Transferee) or the
Administrative Agent would otherwise be liable due to any increase in any
foreign tax credit available to such Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative
Agent), repay the amount of such refund or benefit of such credit (with respect
to the credit, as determined by the Bank, Transferee or Administrative Agent in
its sole, reasonable judgment) to the Company (to the extent of amounts that
have been paid by the Company under this subsection 2.19 with respect to Taxes
giving rise to such refund or credit), plus any interest received with respect
thereto, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Bank (or
Transferee) or the Administrative Agent and without interest (other than
interest actually received from the relevant taxing authority or other
Governmental Authority with respect to such refund or credit); provided,
however, that the Company, upon the request of such Bank (or Transferee) or the
Administrative Agent, agrees to return the amount of such refund or benefit of
such credit (plus interest) to such Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative
Agent in the event such Bank (or Transferee) or the Administrative Agent is
required to repay the amount of such refund or benefit of such credit to the
relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority.

      (d) The agreements in this subsection shall survive the termination of
this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts payable hereunder.

<PAGE>
                                                                              29

      2.20. Indemnity. The Company agrees to indemnify each Bank and to hold
each Bank harmless from any loss or expense which such Bank may sustain or incur
as a consequence of (a) default by the Company in payment when due of the
principal amount of or interest on any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan, (b)
default by the Company in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation
of any Eurodollar Loan, or any borrowing of a Fixed Rate Loan, after the Company
has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, (c) default by the Company in making any prepayment after the Company
has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement
or (d) the making of a prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan on a
day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto,
including, in each case, any such loss or expense arising from the reemployment
of funds obtained by it (or which it has arranged to obtain) or from fees
payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained (or which
it has arranged to obtain). Such indemnification shall be in an amount equal to
the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on
the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the
period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or
continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure
to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on
the date of such failure), in each case at the applicable rate of interest for
such Loans provided for herein (excluding the Applicable Margin included
therein), over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such
Bank) which would have accrued to such Bank on such amount by placing such
amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank
eurodollar market. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to give the Company
any right to prepay any Competitive Bid Loan or other Loan the prepayment of
which is otherwise prohibited pursuant to the terms of this Credit Agreement.
This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of
all other amounts payable hereunder.

      2.21. Actions of Banks. Each Bank agrees to use reasonable efforts
(including reasonable efforts to change the Lending Installation for its Loans)
to avoid or minimize any illegality pursuant to subsection 2.17 or any amounts
which might otherwise be payable pursuant to subsection 2.18 or 2.19; provided,
however, that such efforts shall not cause the imposition on such Bank of any
additional costs or legal or regulatory burdens deemed by such Bank to be
material. In the event that such reasonable efforts are insufficient to avoid
all such illegality, all such events or circumstances or all amounts that might
be payable pursuant to subsection 2.18 or 2.19, then the Company may remove any
such Bank pursuant to subsection 2.23 or replace any such Bank pursuant to
subsection 2.24.

      2.22. Lending Installations. Each Bank may hold its Loans at any Lending
Installation selected by it and may change its Lending Installation from time to
time, provided that no such Bank shall be entitled to receive any greater amount
under subsections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 or 9.5 as a result of a transfer of any such
Loans to a different office of such Bank than it would be entitled to
immediately prior thereto unless such claim would have arisen even if such
transfer had not occurred. All provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any
such Lending Installation. Each Bank may, by written or telex notice to the
Company and the Administrative Agent, designate a Lending Installation through
which the Loans will be made by it and for whose account payments are to be
made.

<PAGE>
                                                                              30

      2.23. Removal of Banks. The Company shall be permitted, from time to time
in its discretion, to remove Banks from this Agreement and to reduce the
Aggregate Commitment; provided, that (a) the Aggregate Commitment may not be
reduced below $1,000,000,000 as a result of removal of one or more Banks from
this Agreement pursuant to this Section, (b) after giving effect to such
removal, no Bank shall have a Commitment hereunder which exceeds an amount equal
to 20% of the Aggregate Commitment and (c) a Bank may not be removed from this
Agreement at any time a Default or an Event of Default exists and remains
uncured or unwaived under this Agreement. If the Company elects to terminate the
Commitment of a Bank, it shall give not less than 30 days written notice to the
Administrative Agent and such Bank. On the effective date of such termination,
the Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Bank,
in immediately available funds, an amount equal to all Loans and other amounts
(including accrued interest and fees) owing to such Bank plus the amounts, if
any, owing to such Bank under subsections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 9.5.
Notwithstanding the removal of any Bank pursuant to this subsection, such Bank
shall continue to have all such rights as would survive the termination of this
Agreement under subsections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 9.5.

      2.24. Replacement of Banks. In the event that any Bank (a "Notifying
Bank") (a) shall demand payment by the Company of any amount pursuant to
subsection 2.18 or 2.19, (b) shall cause the suspension of the availability of
any Type pursuant to subsection 2.17, (c) shall have excused itself from funding
a Loan pursuant to subsection 2.17, (d) shall have failed to make available a
Loan on the date on which it was obligated to do so or (e) shall have failed to
consent to any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that has been
consented to by the Required Banks, the Company may, upon notice to such
Notifying Bank and the Administrative Agent, nominate a new financial
institution or group of financial institutions willing to participate in the
facility in the place of such Notifying Bank ("Replacement Bank"). Upon receipt
of such notice from the Company and upon the consent of the Administrative Agent
as to the Replacement Bank, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
such Notifying Bank shall be obligated to transfer without recourse,
representation, warranty (other than that it has not in any way transferred,
assigned, encumbered, sold or conveyed its rights under its Loans) or expense to
such Notifying Bank, all of its rights (other than rights that would survive the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to subsections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 9.5)
and obligations hereunder to the Replacement Bank; provided that the Replacement
Bank satisfies all of the requirements of this Agreement and pays such Notifying
Bank all amounts owing to such Notifying Bank under this Agreement and the
Company pays such Notifying Bank any funding losses incurred pursuant to
subsection 2.20, if any, as a result of such replacement. This subsection 2.24
shall in no way affect the right of the Company to replace, remove or add a Bank
pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement.

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      To induce the Banks to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans
hereunder, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative
Agent and each Bank that:

      3.1. Financial Condition. The consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002, and the related
consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the transition period
(from October 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002)

<PAGE>
                                                                              31

ended on such date, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, copies of which
have heretofore been furnished to each Bank, present fairly the consolidated
financial condition of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such
date, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated
cash flows for the fiscal year then ended. All such financial statements,
including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved
(except as approved by such accountants or Responsible Officer, as the case may
be, and as disclosed therein).

      3.2. No Change. Since June 30, 2003 and until the date of this Agreement,
except to the extent publicly disclosed on or prior to June 30, 2003 through
filings made by the Company with the SEC or press releases issued by the Company
there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      3.3. Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law; Significant Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization and (b) has the power and authority to conduct the business in
which it is currently engaged. As of December 31, 2002 (based on the transition
period), each Significant Subsidiary is listed on Schedule II hereto.

      3.4. Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. The Company
has the corporate power and authority to make, deliver and perform this
Agreement and to borrow hereunder and has taken all necessary corporate action
to authorize the borrowings on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. No consent
or authorization of, filing with or other act by or in respect of, any
Governmental Authority or any other Person is required on the part of the
Company in connection with the borrowings hereunder or with the execution,
delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company. This
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether
enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

      3.5. No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not
violate any Requirement of Law or material Contractual Obligation of the Company
or of any of its Significant Subsidiaries and will not result in, or require,
the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its or their material
respective properties or revenues pursuant to any such Requirement of Law or
material Contractual Obligation.

      3.6. No Material Litigation. (a) No litigation, investigation or
proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or against the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries or against any of its or their respective
properties or revenues, in any case that involves this Agreement, the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Borrowings hereunder.

<PAGE>
                                                                              32

      (b) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator
or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened by or against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or
against any of its or their respective properties or revenues which could
reasonably be expected to result in a violation of subsection 6.3, except to the
extent publicly disclosed prior to the date of this Agreement through filings
made by the Company with the SEC or press releases issued by the Company.

      3.7. No Default. (a) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant
Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual
Obligations in any respect which could reasonably be expected to result in a
violation of subsection 6.3.

      (b) No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

      3.8. Aggregation of the Representations and Warranties Relating to Net
Worth. The total effect of each event or circumstance referred to in subsections
3.6(b) and 3.7(a) is not, when taken together in the aggregate, reasonably
expected to result in a violation of subsection 6.3.

      3.9. Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans will be
used for "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" within the respective
meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System as now and from time to time hereafter
in effect in violation of the provisions of Regulations T, U and X of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

      3.10. ERISA. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, no Reportable Event has occurred
with respect to any Plan, neither the Company nor any other members of any
Commonly Controlled Entity has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do
so, and no steps have been taken to terminate any Plan, except in any case to
the extent that such failures could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a violation of subsection 6.3.

      3.11. Investment Company Act. The Company is not an "investment company"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

      3.12. Purpose of Loans. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used by the
Company for general corporate purposes and to repay outstanding Indebtedness.

                        SECTION 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

      4.1. Conditions to Initial Loans. The agreement of each Bank to make the
initial Loan requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent:

      (a) Credit Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received this
Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company,
with a counterpart for each Bank.

<PAGE>
                                                                              33

      (b) Corporate Proceedings of the Company. The Administrative Agent shall
have received, with a counterpart for each Bank, a copy of the resolutions, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizing (i) the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, and (ii) the borrowings contemplated hereunder, certified by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the Closing Date
pursuant to a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2, which
certificate shall state that the resolutions thereby certified have not been
amended, modified, revoked or rescinded.

      (c) Corporate Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received,
with a counterpart for each Bank, true and complete copies of the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws of the Company, certified as of the Closing Date as
complete and correct copies thereof by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company.

      (d) Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart for each Bank, (i) the executed legal opinion of the general counsel
of the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1, and (ii) the executed
legal opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to the Administrative
Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2.

      (e) Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart for each Bank, an officer's certificate of the chief financial
officer, treasurer or controller of the Company, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D-1, and a certificate of incumbency of the Company, substantially in
the form of Exhibit E.

      (f) Existing 364-Day Agreement. The Existing 364-Day Agreement shall have
been terminated and all amounts, if any, owing by the Company thereunder shall
have been paid in full.

      (g) Reduction of Existing 5-Year Credit Agreement. The Company shall have
delivered notice to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent under the
Existing 5-Year Credit Agreement, reducing the facility amount from
$3,720,000,000 to $2,000,000,000, and all amounts, if any, owing by the Company
thereunder shall have been repaid to the extent such amounts exceed
$2,000,000,000.

      (h) Transfer Instructions. The Administrative Agent shall have received
written money transfer instructions addressed to the Administrative Agent and
signed by a duly authorized officer, together with such other related money
transfer authorizations as the Administrative Agent may have reasonably
requested.

      4.2. Conditions to Each Loan. The agreement of each Bank to make any Loan
requested to it on any date (including, without limitation, its initial Loan) is
subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties
made by the Company in Section 3 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all material respects on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date
except (i) to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to
an earlier date, (ii) for changes in the

<PAGE>
                                                                              34

Schedules hereto reflecting transactions permitted by this Agreement and (iii)
subsequent to the Closing Date, for the representations and warranties contained
in subsection 3.2.

      (b) No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on such date or after giving effect to the Loans requested to be made
on such date.

      (c) Borrowing Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
notice of borrowing from the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

Each Borrowing by the Company hereunder shall constitute a representation and
warranty by the Company as of the date of such Loan that the conditions
contained in this subsection 4.2 have been satisfied. It is understood and
agreed that conversions and continuations of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to
subsection 2.10 shall not be subject to the conditions set forth in this
subsection 4.2.

                        SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

      The Company hereby agrees that, so long as any Commitment shall remain in
effect or any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount shall be
unpaid hereunder, the Company shall:

      5.1. Financial Statements. Furnish to:

      (a) each Bank, promptly after becoming available, each annual and
quarterly report which the Company files with the SEC;

      (b) each Bank, promptly after becoming available and in any event within
120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of
such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash
flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a manner acceptable to
the SEC by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of
nationally recognized standing (provided that no such financial statements of
the Company need be so delivered if the Company shall have delivered to such
Bank its annual report for the relevant year containing such financial
statements pursuant to subsection 5.1(a));

      (c) each Bank, promptly after becoming available and in any event within
60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of
the Company, (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and (ii) the related
consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter and for the
portion of the Company's fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting
forth in comparative form (i) in the case of clause (i) above, the figures for
the previous fiscal year end, and (ii) in the case of clause (ii) above, the
figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the
Company's previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to the absence of
footnotes and normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation,
generally accepted accounting principles and consistency by the chief financial
officer or the chief

<PAGE>
                                                                              35

accounting officer of the Company (the "Certificate") (provided that no such
financial statements of the Company or the Certificate need be so delivered if
the Company shall have delivered to such Bank its quarterly report for the
relevant quarter containing such financial statements pursuant to subsection
5.1(a);

all such financial statements to fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and to be prepared
in reasonable detail and in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles
(except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and
disclosed therein);

      (d) the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Bank), each Report
on Form 8-K (if any) which the Company files with the SEC;

      (e) the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Bank), upon
specific request, copies of all financial statements and reports which the
Company has sent to holders of its publicly issued debt securities, and after
the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and reports which the
Company may make to, or file with, the SEC; and

      (f) the Administrative Agent (for distribution to each Bank requesting
such information), promptly, such other information regarding the operations,
business affairs and financial condition of the Company as any Bank may from
time to time reasonably request through the Administrative Agent.

      5.2. Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy, and
cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay, discharge or otherwise
satisfy, at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may
be, all its obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity
thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on
the books of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or
except to the extent that the failure to pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy the
same could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
violation of subsection 6.3.

      5.3. Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. Preserve, renew and
keep in full force and effect, and cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to
preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect, its corporate existence and
take, and cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to take, all reasonable
action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises material to the normal
conduct of its significant businesses, provided, however, that notwithstanding
this subsection 5.3, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary may (a)
discontinue any of its businesses that are no longer deemed advantageous to it
(such determination to be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company or
such Significant Subsidiary) and (b) sell or dispose of any assets, subsidiaries
or the capital stock thereof, or consolidate with, accept a merger of, or permit
the merger of such Person into any other Person in a transaction permitted
pursuant to subsection 6.2; and comply, and cause each of its Significant
Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all Requirements of Law
(including, but not limited to, ERISA), except to the extent that failure to
comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a violation of subsection 6.3.

<PAGE>
                                                                              36

      5.4. Notices. Promptly give notice (or in the case of subsection 5.4(d), a
copy) to the Administrative Agent of:

      (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

      (b) any litigation, investigation or proceeding affecting the Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to result
in a violation of subsection 6.3;

      (c) the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30
days after the Company knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) the occurrence
or expected occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, or any
withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of any
Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any
other action by the PBGC or the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any
Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination,
Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan, in any event which could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

      (d) as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after receipt by
the Company, a copy of (i) any notice or claim to the effect that the Company or
any Subsidiary is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or
hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (ii) any notice alleging
any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law
or regulation by the Company or any Subsidiary, which could reasonably be
expected to result in a claim, liability or loss that will, in the case of
clauses (i) or (ii), when aggregated with the effect of any failure by the
Company to (x) maintain and preserve all property material to the conduct of its
business, (y) keep such property in good repair, working order and condition and
(z) from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs,
renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto, result in a
violation of subsection 6.3.

Each notice pursuant to this subsection shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

      5.5. Status of Obligations. Ensure that its obligations under this
Agreement shall at all times be direct and general obligations of the Company
and shall at all times rank at least pari passu in all respects with all other
outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

      5.6. Maintenance of Property. At all times maintain and preserve, and
cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all
property material to the conduct of its business and keep such property in good
repair, working order and condition and from time to time make, or cause to be
made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and
replacements thereto except where the failure to do so would not result in a
violation of subsection 6.3; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection
5.6 shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from (a) discontinuing the
operation and maintenance of any of its properties no longer deemed useful in
the conduct of its business or (b) selling or disposing of

<PAGE>
                                                                              37

any assets, subsidiaries or the capital stock thereof in a transaction permitted
pursuant to subsection 6.2.

      5.7. Payment of Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly when due, and cause each
of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay and discharge promptly when due, all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies the amounts of which are
material to the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial
or otherwise, of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, imposed upon
it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same
shall become delinquent or in default; provided, however, that such payment and
discharge shall not be required with respect to any such tax, assessment,
charge, or levy so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in
good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings and the Company shall have set
aside on its books appropriate reserves with respect thereto.

      5.8. Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans for general corporate
purposes and to repay outstanding Indebtedness. The Company will not, nor will
it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Loans to purchase or
carry any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U) in violation of the
provisions of Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.

                         SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

      The Company hereby agrees that, so long as any Commitment remains in
effect or any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount shall be
unpaid hereunder, the Company shall not:

      6.1. Negative Pledge. (a) (1) Create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien
upon any of its property or assets to secure indebtedness for money borrowed,
incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed by the Company or (2) create any Lien
upon any of its property or assets to secure any indebtedness or other
obligations of any Person if such Lien is a Lien created by any action of the
Company (including any grant by the Company of any Lien pursuant to a written
instrument or by the pledge by the Company of property, but excluding Liens
arising by operation of law), without, in the case of any Lien described in the
foregoing clauses (1) and (2), thereby expressly securing the due and punctual
payment of the principal of and interest on the Loans and all other amounts
payable by the Company hereunder equally and ratably with any and all other
obligations and indebtedness secured by such Lien, so long as any such other
obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, however, that this
restriction shall not prohibit or otherwise restrict:

            (i) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist upon
      any of its property or assets any Lien in favor of any subsidiary of the
      Company;

            (ii) the Company (A) from creating, incurring or suffering to exist
      a purchase money Lien upon any such property, assets, capital stock or
      indebtedness acquired by the Company prior to, at the time of, or within
      one year after (1) in the case

<PAGE>
                                                                              38

      of physical property or assets, the later of the acquisition, completion
      of construction (including any improvements on existing property) or
      commencement of commercial operation of such property or (2) in the case
      of shares of capital stock, indebtedness or other property or assets, the
      acquisition of such shares of capital stock, indebtedness, property or
      assets, (B) from acquiring property or assets subject to Liens existing
      thereon at the date of acquisition thereof, whether or not the
      indebtedness secured by any such Lien is assumed or guaranteed by the
      Company, or (C) from creating, incurring or suffering to exist Liens upon
      any property of any Person, which Liens exist at the time any such Person
      is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company (or becomes a
      subsidiary of the Company) or which Liens exist at the time of a sale or
      transfer of the properties of any such Person as an entirety or
      substantially as an entirety to the Company;

            (iii) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist
      upon any of its property or assets Liens in favor of the United States of
      America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, or any agency,
      department or other instrumentality thereof, to secure progress, advance
      or other payments pursuant to any contract or provision of any statute
      (including maintaining self-insurance or participating in any fund in
      connection with worker's compensation, disability benefits, unemployment
      insurance, old age pensions or other types of social benefits, or joining
      in any other provisions or benefits available to companies participating
      in any such arrangements);

            (iv) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist upon
      any of its property or assets Liens securing the performance of letters of
      credit, bids, tenders, sales contracts, purchase agreements, repurchase
      agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances, leases,
      surety and performance bonds, and other similar obligations incurred in
      the ordinary course of business;

            (v) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist Liens
      upon any real property acquired or constructed by the Company primarily
      for use in the conduct of its business;

            (vi) the Company from entering into any arrangement with any Person
      providing for the leasing by the Company of any property or assets, which
      property or assets have been or will be sold or transferred by the Company
      to such Person with the intention that such property or assets will be
      leased back to the Company, if the obligations in respect of such lease
      would not be included as liabilities on a consolidated balance sheet of
      the Company;

            (vii) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist
      upon any of its property or assets Liens to secure non-recourse debt in
      connection with the Company engaging in any leveraged or single-investor
      or other lease transactions, whether (in the case of Liens on or relating
      to leases or groups of leases or the particular properties subject
      thereto) such Liens are on the particular properties subject to any leases
      involved in any of such transactions and/or the rental or other payments
      or rights under such leases or, in the case of any group of related or
      unrelated leases, on the properties subject to the leases comprising such
      group and/or on the rental or other payments or

<PAGE>
                                                                              39

      rights under such leases, or on any direct or indirect interest therein,
      and whether (in any case) (A) such Liens are created prior to, at the time
      of, or at any time after the entering into of such lease transactions
      and/or (B) such leases are in existence prior to, or are entered into by
      the Company at the time of or at any time after, the purchase or other
      acquisition by the Company of the properties subject to such leases;

            (viii) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist
      (A) other consensual Liens in the ordinary course of business of the
      Company that secure indebtedness that, in accordance with generally
      accepted accounting principles, would not be included in total liabilities
      as shown on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, or (B) Liens created
      by the Company in connection with any transaction intended by the Company
      to be a sale of property or assets of the Company, provided that such
      Liens are upon any or all of the property or assets intended to be sold,
      the income from such property or assets and/or the proceeds of such
      property or assets;

            (ix) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist
      Liens on property or assets financed through tax-exempt municipal
      obligations, provided that such Liens are only on the property or assets
      so financed;

            (x) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions,
      renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any of the foregoing;
      provided, however, that any such extension, renewal or replacement shall
      be limited to all or a part of the property or assets (or substitutions
      therefor) which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus
      improvements on such property); and

            (xi) the Company from creating, incurring or suffering to exist any
      other Lien not otherwise permitted by any of the foregoing clauses (i)
      through (ix) above if the aggregate amount of all secured debt of the
      Company secured by such Liens would not exceed 10% of the excess of the
      Company's consolidated assets over the consolidated liabilities as shown
      on the Company's most recent audited consolidated financial statements in
      accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

      (b) For the purposes of this subsection 6.1, any contract by which title
is retained as security (whether by lease, purchase, title retention agreement
or otherwise) for the payment of a purchase price shall be deemed to be a
purchase money Lien. Nothing in this subsection 6.1 shall apply to any Lien of
any kind upon any of the properties of any character of the Company existing on
the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement.

      (c) Subject to subsection 6.3, nothing contained in this subsection 6.1 or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent or be deemed to prohibit the creation,
assumption or guaranty by the Company of any indebtedness not secured by a Lien
or the issuance by the Company of any debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness not secured by a Lien, whether in the ordinary course of business
or otherwise.

      6.2. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. Consolidate with any
other corporation or limited liability company or accept a merger of any other
corporation or limited liability company into the Company or permit the Company
to be merged into any other

<PAGE>
                                                                              40

corporation or limited liability company, or sell its properties and assets as,
or substantially as, an entirety; provided, however, that subject to the
provisions of subsection 6.1, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed to prevent (i) the merger into the Company of another corporation or
limited liability company, (ii) the consolidation of the Company and another
corporation or limited liability company, (iii) the merger of the Company into
another corporation or limited liability company or (iv) the sale of the
property or assets of the Company to another corporation or limited liability
company, so long as (a) no Default or Event or Default shall have occurred and
be continuing and (b) with respect to clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, the
surviving corporation or limited liability company of the merger or the
purchaser of the Company's assets, as the case may be, shall expressly assume
the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and expressly agree to be
bound by all other provisions applicable to the Company under this Agreement.

      6.3. Net Worth. Permit Net Worth at any time to be less than
$4,000,000,000.

                          SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

      If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

      (a) The Company shall (i) fail to pay any principal of any Loan when due
in accordance with the terms hereof; (ii) fail to pay any interest on any Loan,
any Utilization Fee or any Facility Fee within five Business Days after any such
interest or fee becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or (iii) fail
to pay any expenses or other amounts payable under this Agreement to the
Administrative Agent or any Bank within fifteen days after such expenses or
other amounts become due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

      (b) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Company
herein or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other
statement furnished at any time under or in connection with this Agreement shall
prove to have been incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made
or deemed made; or

      (c) The Company shall default in the observance or performance of any
agreement contained in Section 6; or

      (d) The Company shall default in the observance or performance of any
other agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as provided in
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section), and such default shall continue
unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice shall have been given to the
Company by the Administrative Agent; or

      (e) Any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration
of the maturity of any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount equal to or greater than
$100,000,000; or the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall not
make any liquidation or termination payment or payments in an aggregate amount
equal to or greater than $100,000,000 when it becomes due (any applicable grace
period having expired) under one or more Hedging Agreements; or the Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall not pay the principal of or interest
on any Indebtedness with

<PAGE>
                                                                              41

respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of
$100,000,000 when it becomes due and beyond any period of grace with respect
thereto; or

      (f) (i) The Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall commence
any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered
with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation,
dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B)
seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Company or any
of its Significant Subsidiaries shall make a general assignment for the benefit
of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action of a nature
referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results in the entry of an order for
relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed,
undischarged or unbonded for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be
commenced against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries any case,
proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment,
execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of
its assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which
shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal
within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Company or any of its
Significant Subsidiaries shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating
its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in
clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in
writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

      (g) (i) Any Person shall engage in any "prohibited transaction" (as
defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan,
(ii) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA),
whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan, (iii) a Reportable
Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a
trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to
terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of
proceedings or appointment of a trustee is likely to result in the termination
of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan
shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) the Company or any
Commonly Controlled Entity shall incur any liability in connection with a
withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or
(vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist, with respect to a Plan;
and in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or condition,
together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be
expected to result in a violation of subsection 6.3; or

      (h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Company
or any of its Significant Subsidiaries involving in the aggregate a liability
(not paid or fully covered by insurance) of $100,000,000 or more and such
judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded
pending appeal within 90 days from the entry thereof; or

      (i) If at any time the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries shall
become liable for remediation and/or environmental compliance expenses and/or
fines, penalties or other

<PAGE>
                                                                              42

charges which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a
violation of subsection 6.3;

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified
in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) above with respect to the Company,
automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans
hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this
Agreement shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any
other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken:
(i) with the consent of the Required Banks, the Administrative Agent may, or
upon the request of the Required Banks the Administrative Agent shall, by notice
to the Company declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the
Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the
Required Banks, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the
Required Banks the Administrative Agent shall, by notice of default to the
Company, declare the Loans hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all
other amounts owing under this Agreement to be due and payable forthwith,
whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. Except as expressly
provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and all other
notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived.

                             SECTION 8. THE AGENTS

      8.1. Appointment. Each Bank hereby designates and appoints JPMorgan Chase
Bank as the Administrative Agent of such Bank under this Agreement, and each
such Bank authorizes JPMorgan Chase Bank as the Administrative Agent to take
such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and to exercise
such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such other
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or
any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. The Joint Lead
Arrangers, the Syndication Agents and the Documentation Agent, in their
respective capacities as such, shall not have any duties or responsibilities
hereunder nor any fiduciary relationship with any Bank, and no implied
covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall
be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against the Joint Lead Arrangers,
the Syndication Agents or the Documentation Agent in their respective capacities
as such.

      8.2. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its
duties under this Agreement by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall
be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such
duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or
misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable
care.

      8.3. Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of
its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates
shall be (i) liable for any

<PAGE>
                                                                              43

action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in
connection with this Agreement (except for its or such Person's own gross
negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of
the Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by
the Company or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement 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 for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement or for any failure of the Company to perform
its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be
under any obligation to any Bank to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance
or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this
Agreement, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company.

      8.4. Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be
entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing,
resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram,
telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order 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, without limitation, counsel to the
Company), independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of
the Bank specified in the Register with respect to any amount owing hereunder as
the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment,
negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative
Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall first receive such
advice or concurrence of the Required Banks as it deems appropriate and it shall
first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks 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
in accordance with a request of the Required Banks, and such request and any
action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the
Banks and all future holders of the obligations owing by the Company hereunder.

      8.5. 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
hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Bank or the
Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default
and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the
Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give
notice thereof to the Banks. The Administrative Agent shall take such action
with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed
by the Required Banks; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent
shall have received such directions, 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 in the
best interests of the Banks.

      8.6. Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Banks. Each Bank
expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made
any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative
Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs

<PAGE>
                                                                              44

of the Company, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
the Administrative Agent to any Bank. Each Bank represents to the Administrative
Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative
Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Company and made its own decision to make its Loans
hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Bank also represents that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Bank, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions
in taking or not taking action under this Agreement, and to make such
investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Company. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to
be furnished to the Banks by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any
Bank with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations,
property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of
the Company which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or
any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
Affiliates.

      8.7. Indemnification. The Banks agree to indemnify the Administrative
Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Company and
without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), ratably according to
their respective Commitment Percentages in effect on the date on which
indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought
after the date upon which the Commitment shall have terminated and the Loans
shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with their Commitment
Percentages immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time
(including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Loans
and all other amounts owing hereunder) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or the
transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or omitted by the
Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided
that no Bank shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities,
obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs,
expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this subsection shall
survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

      8.8. Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The Administrative
Agent and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally
engage in any kind of business with the Company as though the Administrative
Agent were not the Administrative Agent hereunder. With respect to its Loans
made or renewed by it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and
powers under this Agreement as any Bank and may exercise the same as though it
were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms "Bank" and "Banks" shall
include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.

<PAGE>
                                                                              45

      8.9. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign
as Administrative Agent upon thirty days' notice to the Banks, and may be
removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Banks. Upon any
resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent, the Required Banks shall
appoint from among the Banks a successor Administrative Agent for the Banks,
which successor Administrative Agent shall be approved by the Company. If no
successor Administrative Agent shall have been so approved by the Company and
shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the resignation of
the Administrative Agent, then in place or the Required Banks' removal of the
retiring Administrative Agent, such retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf
of the Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent (which shall be a
commercial bank or trust company organized or licensed under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof) which appointment shall be subject to the
approval of the Company such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor
Administrative Agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the
Administrative Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean such
successor agent effective upon its appointment, and the former Administrative
Agent's rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated,
without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former
Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of
the obligations owing hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent's
resignation or removal as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this
subsection shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement.

                            SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS

      9.1. Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, nor any terms hereof
or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with
the provisions of this subsection. With the written consent of the Required
Banks, the Administrative Agent and the Company may, from time to time, enter
into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto for the purpose of
adding any provisions to this Agreement or adding any financial institution
(other than as provided for herein) as a Bank hereunder (thereby increasing the
Aggregate Commitment) or changing in any manner the rights of the Banks or of
the Company hereunder or thereunder or waiving, on such terms and conditions as
the Administrative Agent may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements
of this Agreement or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences;
provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or
modification shall (a) reduce the amount or extend the maturity of any Loan or
any installment thereof, or reduce the rate of interest (other than default
interest rates) thereon or extend the time of payment of interest or fees
thereon, or reduce any fee payable to any Bank hereunder, or change the amount
of any Bank's Commitment, in each case without the written consent of the Bank
affected thereby, or (b) amend, modify or waive any provision of subsection 2.7,
subsection 2.1(c) or this subsection 9.1, amend the definition of Required Banks
or consent to the assignment or transfer by the Company of any of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (other than as set forth in subsection 6.2), in
each case without the written consent of all the Banks or (c) amend, modify or
waive any provision of Section 8 or any reference to the Administrative Agent,
the Syndication Agents or the Documentation Agent in any other provision of this
Agreement which alters the duties or obligations of the

<PAGE>
                                                                              46

Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents or the Documentation Agent without
the written consent of the then Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agents or
the Documentation Agent, as the case may be. Nothing in this subsection 9.1
shall prevent or prohibit the Administrative Agent, the Company or any Bank from
taking any action in accordance with subsection 2.1(c), 2.7, 2.21, 2.23 or 2.24
notwithstanding anything contained in this subsection 9.1 to the contrary,
including, without limitation (i) allowing the Administrative Agent to increase
the Aggregate Commitment, (ii) allowing any Bank to increase its Commitment and
allowing the execution and delivery of any Commitment Increase Supplement, (iii)
allowing an Other Bank to become an Additional Bank and allowing the execution
and delivery of an Additional Bank Agreement, (iv) allowing a Non-Extending Bank
to transfer its rights and obligations hereunder to a Continuing Bank, (v)
allowing a Notifying Bank to transfer its rights and obligations to a
Replacement Bank, or (vi) the modification, amendment or supplement of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, Schedule I), in each case solely in
accordance with, or upon a transfer by a Bank of its rights and obligations
hereunder pursuant to, the applicable provisions of subsection 2.1(c), 2.7,
2.21, 2.23 or 2.24. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or
modification shall apply equally to each of the Banks and shall be binding upon
the Company, the Banks, the Agents and all future holders of the obligations
owing hereunder. In the case of any waiver, the Company, the Banks and the
Agents shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder, and any
Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not
continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default
or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

      9.2. Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective
parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy,
telegraph or telex), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be
deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered by hand, or three days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy
notice, when received, or, in the case of telegraphic notice, when delivered to
the telegraph company, or, in the case of telex notice, when sent, answerback
received, addressed, in the case of the Company and the Administrative Agent, as
follows, and as set forth on Schedule I in the case of the other parties hereto,
or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties
hereto and any future holders of the obligations owing hereunder:

    The Administrative Agent:
                           JPMorgan Chase Bank Agency Services Group
                           1111 Fannin - 10th Floor
                           Houston, Texas  77002
                           Attention:  Eleanor Fiore
                           Telecopy:  (713) 750-2223

    The Company:

                           CIT Group Inc.
                           1 CIT Drive
                           Livingston, New Jersey  07039
                           Attention: Executive Vice President and Treasurer
                           Telecopy: (973) 535-3761

<PAGE>
                                                                              47

      9.3. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay
in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Bank, any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and
privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights,
remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

      9.4. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties made hereunder and in any document, certificate or statement
delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans hereunder.

      9.5. Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Company agrees (a) to pay or
reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of its reasonable out-of-pocket costs
and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of, and
any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and any other
documents prepared in connection herewith (including, without limitation, any
Commitment Increase Supplement or Additional Bank Agreement pursuant to
subsection 2.1), including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (b) to pay or reimburse
each Bank and the Agents for all its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this
Agreement and any such other documents prepared in connection herewith,
including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements (including the
allocated costs and expenses of in-house counsel) of counsel to the
Administrative Agent and to the several Banks, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold
each Bank and the Administrative Agent harmless from, any and all recording and
filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any
delay in paying, stamp, excise and other taxes, if any, which may be payable or
determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment,
supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of,
this Agreement and any such other documents prepared in connection herewith, and
(d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Bank and the Administrative Agent, and each
of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors and employees, harmless from
and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), with
respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration
of this Agreement, any Loan (including the use of proceeds thereof) and any such
other documents prepared in connection herewith (all the foregoing,
collectively, the "indemnified liabilities"), provided, that the Company shall
have no obligation hereunder to any Administrative Agent or any Bank with
respect to indemnified liabilities arising from (i) the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Administrative Agent or such Bank, (ii) legal
proceedings commenced against any Administrative Agent or any Bank by any
security holder or creditor thereof arising out of and based upon rights
afforded any such security holder or creditor solely in its capacity as such, or
(iii) legal proceedings commenced against any Agent or any Bank by any other
Bank or by any Transferee. The

<PAGE>
                                                                              48

agreements in this subsection shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other
amounts payable hereunder.

      9.6. Successors and Assigns; Participations; Purchasing Banks. (a) This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the
Administrative Agent, the Banks, all future holders of the obligations owing
hereunder and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Company
may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement
without the prior written consent of each Bank (except as provided in subsection
6.2).

      (b) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance
with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities
("Participants") participating interests in any Loan owing to such Bank, any
Commitment of such Bank or any other interest of such Bank hereunder. In the
event of any such sale by a Bank of participating interests to the Participant,
such Bank's obligations under this Agreement to the other parties to this
Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Bank shall remain solely responsible for
the performance thereof, such Bank shall remain the holder of any obligation
owing to it hereunder for all purposes under this Agreement, and the Company and
the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Bank in connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement;
provided, that such Bank shall retain the sole right to approve, without the
consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any
provision of the Credit Agreement other than, as may be agreed to by such Bank
and Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Loan
or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which forgives
principal, interest or fees or reduces the interest rate or fees payable with
respect to any such Loan or Commitment or postpones any date fixed for any
regularly-scheduled payment of principal of, or interest or fees on, any such
Loan or Commitment. The Company agrees that if amounts outstanding under this
Agreement are due or unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have become
due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant
shall be deemed to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating
interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent as if the
amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Bank under
this Agreement. The Company also agrees that each Participant shall be entitled
to the benefits of subsections 2.18, 2.19, 2.20 and 9.5 with respect to its
participation in the Commitment and the Loans outstanding from time to time;
provided, that no Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater amount
pursuant to such subsections than the transferor Bank would have been entitled
to receive in respect of the amount of the participation transferred by the
transferor Bank to such Participant had no such transfer occurred.

      (c) Any Bank may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance
with applicable law, at any time sell to any Bank or any Affiliate thereof and,
with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld), to one or more additional banks or financial
institutions ("Purchasing Banks") all or any part of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement pursuant to a Commitment Transfer Supplement, substantially
in the form of Exhibit C (a "Commitment Transfer Supplement"), executed by such
Purchasing Bank and such transferor Bank (and, in the case of a Purchasing Bank
that is not then a Bank or an Affiliate thereof, by the Company and the
Administrative Agent) and delivered to the Administrative Agent for its
acceptance and recording in the Register. The Company shall

<PAGE>
                                                                              49

have no obligation to consent to a sale by a Bank to any Person that is not a
Bank or an Affiliate of a Bank. Each such assignment shall be in a minimum
amount of $5,000,000 (other than in the case of an assignment of all of a Bank's
interests under this Agreement) and the parties to each such assignment shall
execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance, a
Commitment Transfer Supplement, and the Transferor Bank or the Purchasing Bank,
as agreed between them, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a processing
and recordation fee of $3,500. After giving effect to any such assignment (other
than an assignment of all of a Bank's interests under this Agreement), the
assigning Bank (together with any Bank which is an Affiliate of such assigning
Bank) shall retain Revolving Credit Loans and/or Commitments aggregating not
less than $15,000,000. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording,
from and after the Transfer Effective Date determined pursuant to such
Commitment Transfer Supplement (the "Transfer Effective Date"), (x) the
Purchasing Bank thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent provided
in such Commitment Transfer Supplement, have the rights and obligations of a
Bank hereunder with a Commitment as set forth therein, and (y) the transferor
Bank thereunder shall, to the extent provided in such Commitment Transfer
Supplement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the
case of a Commitment Transfer Supplement covering all or the remaining portion
of a transferor Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such
transferor Bank shall cease to be a party hereto). Such Commitment Transfer
Supplement shall be deemed to amend this Agreement to the extent, and only to
the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of such Purchasing Bank and the
resulting adjustment of Commitment Percentages arising from the purchase by such
Purchasing Bank of all or a portion of the rights and obligations of such
transferor Bank under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this
subsection 9.6, the consent of the Company shall not be required for any
assignment which occurs at any time when any of the events described in Section
7(f) shall have occurred and be continuing.

      (d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in
subsection 9.2 a copy of each Commitment Transfer Supplement delivered to it and
a register (the "Register") for the recordation of the names and addresses of
the Banks and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to,
each Bank from time to time. The entries in the Register shall constitute prima
facie evidence of the items contained therein, and the Company, the
Administrative Agent and the Banks shall treat each Person whose name is
recorded in the Register as the owner of the Loan recorded therein for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by
the Company or any Bank at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.

      (e) Upon its receipt of a Commitment Transfer Supplement executed by a
transferor Bank and Purchasing Bank (and, in the case of a Purchasing Bank that
is not then a Bank or an Affiliate thereof, by the Company and the
Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent shall (i) promptly accept such
Commitment Transfer Supplement and (ii) on the Transfer Effective Date
determined pursuant thereto record the information contained therein in the
Register and give notice of such acceptance and recordation to the Banks and the
Company.

      (f) If, pursuant to this subsection, any interest in this Agreement is
transferred to any Participant or Assignee (each, a "Transferee") which is
organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any
state thereof, the transferor Bank shall cause such Transferee, concurrently
with the effectiveness of such transfer, (i) to represent to the transferor

<PAGE>
                                                                              50

Bank (for the benefit of the transferor Bank and the Company) that under
applicable law and treaties no taxes will be required to be withheld by the
Company or the transferor Bank with respect to any payments to be made to such
Transferee in respect of the Loans (except to the extent that such Transferee's
assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional
amounts from the Company with respect to Taxes pursuant to subsection 2.19(a))
and (ii) to furnish to the transferor Bank (and, in the case of any Assignee, to
the Company) the forms and certificates required to be delivered pursuant to
subsection 2.19(b).

      (g) Nothing herein shall prohibit any Bank from pledging or assigning all
or any portion of its Loans to any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with
applicable law.

      9.7. Dissemination of Information; Confidentiality. (a) The Company
authorizes each Bank to disclose to any Participant or Purchasing Bank or any
other Person acquiring an interest in this Agreement by operation of law, or
(with the consent of the Company; provided that such consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld and shall not be required for any disclosure which occurs
at any time when any of the events described in Section 7(f) shall have occurred
and be continuing) any contractual counterparty to any swap, hedge,
securitization or other derivative transaction entered into by such Bank in
connection with this Agreement (each a "Transferee") and any prospective
Transferee any and all information in such Bank's possession concerning the
creditworthiness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, provided that such
Transferee or prospective Transferee agrees to be bound by this subsection 9.7
with respect to such information as though such Transferee or prospective
Transferee were a Bank hereunder.

      (b) Each Bank and each Transferee that receives information which is not
publicly available and which has been identified by the Company as confidential
("Proprietary Information") will be bound to treat such Proprietary Information
in a confidential manner and to use such Proprietary Information only for the
purpose of evaluating and monitoring the creditworthiness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in connection with such Bank's or such Transferee's extensions of
credit pursuant to this Agreement or such Bank's or Transferee's other
agreements with the Company, or as otherwise may be required by law, regulation
or court order; provided, that if any Bank or Transferee shall be required to
disclose any Proprietary Information by a court order (i) such Bank or
Transferee shall, unless prohibited by applicable law, applicable regulation or
the terms of the applicable court order, communicate such fact to the
Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall communicate such fact to
the Company and (ii) such Bank or Transferee shall disclose only such
Proprietary Information which it is requested to disclose or advised by counsel
to disclose; provided, further, that any Bank or Transferee may disclose such
information which it is requested to disclose or is advised by counsel to
disclose to an auditor or examiner if it has advised such auditor or examiner
that such information is confidential; provided, further, that any Bank or
Transferee may disclose Proprietary Information (A) to Affiliates of such Bank
or Transferee provided that such Affiliates agree to keep the Proprietary
Information confidential as set forth herein, (B) with the written consent of
the Company, (C) in connection with any litigation involving the Company and
such Bank or Transferee, (D) to legal counsel to such Bank or Transferee if it
advises such legal counsel that such information is confidential, (E) if such
Proprietary Information was in the possession of such Bank or Transferee on a
non-confidential basis prior to the Company furnishing it to such Bank or
Transferee as shown by clear and convincing evidence, or (F) if

<PAGE>
                                                                              51

such Proprietary Information is received by such Bank or Transferee, without
restriction as to its disclosure or use, from a Person who, to such Bank's or
Transferee's knowledge or reasonable belief, was not prohibited from disclosing
it by any duty of confidentiality.

      (c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Bank and each
Transferee (and any employee, representative or other agent of such party) may
disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S.
federal income tax treatment and the U.S. federal income tax structure of the
transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including
opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax
treatment and tax structure. However, no disclosure of any information relating
to such tax treatment or tax structure may be made to the extent nondisclosure
is necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws.

      9.8. Adjustments. (a) If any Bank (a "benefitted Bank") shall at any time
receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive
any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by
set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section
7(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or
collateral received by any other Bank, if any, in respect of such other Bank's
Loans, or interest thereon, such benefitted Bank shall purchase for cash from
the other Banks such portion of each such other Bank's Loan, or shall provide
such other Banks with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds
thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefitted Bank to share the excess
payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the
Banks; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or
benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefitted Bank, such purchase shall
be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of
such recovery, but without interest. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, this subsection 9.8 shall only be applicable to (i)
payments received by a Bank in respect of the obligations of the Company under
this Agreement and (ii) collateral received from the Company, if any, to secure
obligations of the Company under this Agreement.

      (b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Banks provided by law,
upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and
(ii) the declaration by the Administrative Agent that the Loans are immediately
due and payable pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 7, or the occurrence
and continuance of an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of
paragraph (f) of Section 7, each Bank shall have the right, without prior notice
to the Company, any such notice being expressly waived by the Company to the
extent permitted by applicable law (but without waiving any notices specified in
Section 7), upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Company hereunder
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and
appropriate and apply against such amount 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 matured
or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Bank or any branch or agency
thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Company. Each Bank agrees
promptly to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent after any such
set-off and application made by such Bank, provided that the failure to give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

<PAGE>
                                                                              52

      9.9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of
said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties
shall be lodged with the Company and the Administrative Agent.

      9.10. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

      9.11. Integration. This Agreement represents the agreement of the Company,
the Agents and the Banks with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there
are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Company, the
Agents or any Bank relative to subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein other than any agreements referred to in subsection 2.5(b).

      9.12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

      9.13. Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Company hereby irrevocably
and unconditionally:

      (a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding
relating to this Agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgement
in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of
the State of New York, the courts of the United States for the Southern District
of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

      (b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such
courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue
of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or
proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim
the same;

      (c) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be
effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any
substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Company at its
address set forth in subsection 9.2 or at such other address of which the Bank
shall have been notified pursuant thereto; and

      (d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of
process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in
any other jurisdiction.

      9.14. WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY, THE AGENTS AND THE BANKS HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR
PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    CIT GROUP INC.

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as
                                    Administrative Agent and as a Bank

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., as Joint
                                    Lead Arranger

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., as
                                    Joint Lead Arranger

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication
                                    Agent and as a Bank

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    CITIBANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Documentation
                                    Agent and as a Bank

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

<PAGE>

      Signature page to the 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10,
2003 among CIT Group Inc., the banks parties thereto, J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers, Citibank, N.A.
and Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agents, Barclays Bank PLC, as
Documentation Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent.

                                    Name of Bank:

                                    By:
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:Exhibit 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      AGREEMENT by and among CIT Group Inc. a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and Jeffrey M. Peek (the "Executive") dated as of the 22nd day of
July, 2003.

      WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the Executive in accordance with
the following terms and conditions, and the Executive desires to be so employed.

      NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

      1. Effective Date. The "Effective Date" shall mean September 3, 2003.

      2. Term. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the
Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Company subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, for the period of thirty-six (36) months
commencing on the Effective Date (the "Term"). This Employment Agreement and the
Term may be extended for one (1) or more additional periods by written agreement
signed by the parties hereto at any time prior to the end of the term in effect.
The Company or the Executive, as applicable, shall give notice no later than
thirty (30) days before the end of the Term (or extended term) of its or his
intent not to extend the Agreement.

      3. Terms of Employment.

      (a) Position and Duties.

            (i) During the Term the Executive shall initially serve as President
and Chief Operating Officer with such authority, duties and responsibilities as
are commensurate with such position and as may be consistent with such position,
reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chairman of the
Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Executive will be responsible for all
business units and credit risk at the Company. The Executive shall serve as a
member of the Board. During the Term, the Company expects to promote the
Executive to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, with such
authority, duties and responsibilities as are commensurate with such position
and as may be consistent with such position. At such time as Executive is
promoted to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, he shall
report directly to the Board. Executive's services shall be performed in
Livingston, New Jersey.

            (ii) During the Term, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick
leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote
substantially all of his attention and time during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Term, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement
for the Executive to serve on civic or charitable boards or committees, or
manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly
interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an
employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement.

      (b) Compensation.

<PAGE>

            (i) Base Salary. During the Term, the Executive shall receive an
annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"). For calendar year 2003, the Annual
Base Salary shall be $750,000.00. After the first anniversary of the Effective
Date, the Annual Base Salary shall be $800,000.00. Thereafter, the Annual Base
Salary shall be reviewed at the time that the salaries of all of the executive
officers of the Company are reviewed. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall
not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this
Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and
the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual
Base Salary as so increased. For calendar year 2005, the Executive's Base Salary
shall be set in accordance with the charter of the Compensation and Governance
Committee, as then in existence.

            (ii) Annual Bonus. For each complete calendar year during the Term
(except for 2003), the Executive shall be entitled to a bonus pursuant to the
Company's incentive plans and programs ("Annual Bonus"). For partial calendar
year 2003, Executive shall receive a guaranteed cash bonus of $1,300,000.00 paid
to the Executive in February 2004, if the Executive's employment is not
terminated for "Cause" as defined in Section 4(b) or by the Executive without
Good Reason as defined in Section 4(c) prior to January 1, 2004. The Executive's
Annual Bonus for 2004 shall be $2,200,000.00 if the Company achieves its pre-tax
income goal for 2004. Notwithstanding Section 3(b)(v) hereof, the Target Bonus,
as used herein, shall be not less than the greater of $1,600,000 or 200 percent
of the Executive's Base Salary.

            (iii) Incentive Awards. During the Term, the Executive shall be
eligible to participate in annual and long-term incentive plans applicable to
the senior most executives of the Company. During the 2003 calendar year, the
Company shall grant stock options and restricted stock under the CIT Group Inc.
Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan") as set forth in the Award
Agreement annexed hereto as Exhibit A. During the 2004 calendar year and prior
to September 2004, provided that Executive is employed by the Company on the
date of grant, the Company shall grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to
the Executive options to purchase Company common stock having the aggregate fair
market value of $2,500,000.00 on the date of grant determined in accordance with
the terms of and standard practice under the Plan (the "Option"). One-third of
the Option will vest, on a cumulative basis, on each of the first, second and
third anniversaries of the date of grant. During the 2004 calendar year and
prior to September 2004, provided that Executive is employed by the Company on
the date of grant, the Company shall grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan,
to the Executive restricted shares of the Company's common stock having the
aggregate fair market value of $2,500,000.00 on the date of grant determined in
accordance with the terms of and standard practice under the Plan (the
"Restricted Stock"). The restrictions on the shares of Restricted Stock shall
lapse based on attainment of performance targets set by the Company in its sole
discretion. Grants of options or restricted stock for calendar year 2005 shall
be determined in accordance with charter of the Compensation and Governance
Committee, as then in existence.

            (iv) Other Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to participate in all employee pension, welfare, perquisites, fringe
benefit, and other benefit plans, practices, policies and programs generally
applicable to the senior most executives of the Company in substantially
comparable positions as the Executive. In addition, the Executive shall be
entitled to participate in any supplemental and/or excess retirement plans
available to similarly situated executives of the Company, and in the Company's
Executive Retirement Plan,

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

and retiree medical and life insurance plans existing on the Effective Date, at
economic levels at least equal to the levels of the senior most executives of
the Company.

            (v) Modifications. The Company may at any time or from time to time
amend, modify, suspend or terminate any bonus or incentive compensation or
employee benefit plans or programs provided hereunder for any reason and without
the Executive's consent; provided that, without the Executive's consent, the
Company may not reduce the aggregate value of the employee benefit plans or
programs provided to the Executive hereunder unless such reduction is consistent
with reductions affecting similarly situated employees of comparable rank of the
Company.

            (vi) Expense Reimbursement. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all expenses incurred by the
Executive in accordance with the Company's expense reimbursement policies.

            (vii) Vacation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and practices of
the Company as in effect with respect to the senior executives of the Company.

            (viii) Additional Benefits. In addition to the benefits described
above, the Company shall provide the following additional benefits to the
Executive:

                  A. Financial Planning. The Company shall reimburse the
Executive for up to $20,000 annually for tax advice, financial counseling and
for accounting fees incurred by the Executive.

                  B. Car and Driver. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to the use of a car owned by the Company and the services of a driver
employed by the Company.

                  C. Air Travel. When traveling on Company business, the
Executive shall be authorized for security reasons to travel on the Company's
corporate aircraft when the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is not then
using the Company's corporate aircraft. When traveling for personal reasons, the
Executive shall be authorized to travel on the Company's corporate aircraft if
(i) the Chief Executive Officer of the Company is not then using the Company's
corporate aircraft, and (ii) the Company's security provider determines the
Executive's use of the Company's corporate aircraft is necessary for security
reasons. The cost of the Executive's personal travel on the Company's corporate
aircraft shall be imputed to the Executive as income.

      4. Termination of Employment.

      (a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Term. If the Company
determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred
during the Term (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it
may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 12(a) of
this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such
event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on
the 30th

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective
Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive
shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive
from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180
consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical
illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by
the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's
legal representative.

      (b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the
Term for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:

            (i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its affiliates
(other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental
illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Executive by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board (if
Executive is then the Chief Executive Officer), which specifically identifies
the manner in which the Chief Executive Officer or if the Executive is then the
Chief Executive Officer, the Board, believes that the Executive has not
substantially performed the Executive's duties, or

            (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or
gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company
or its affiliates, or

            (iii) conviction of a felony or guilty or nolo contendere plea by
the Executive with respect thereto; or

            (iv) a material breach of Section 8 of this Agreement.

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act on the part of the
Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon express authority given pursuant to a
resolution duly adopted by the Board with respect to such act or omission or
upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or the
Board, if Executive is then the Chief Executive Officer of the Company) or based
upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be
done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best
interests of the Company.

      (c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall
mean in the absence of a written consent of the Executive:

            (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially
inconsistent with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles
and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as
contemplated by Section 3(a) of this Agreement (provided that a promotion shall
not be Good Reason), or any other action by the Company which results in a
material diminution in such position, authority, duties or

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an action not taken in bad faith
and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof
given by the Executive; or

            (ii) the failure of the Board to elect or appoint Executive to the
position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company within twelve (12) months
after the Effective Date, provided that the Executive provides Notice of
Termination within thirty (30) days of the date he receives notice from the
Company that he shall not be appointed or elected to the position of Chief
Executive Officer within the time period set forth herein; or

            (iii) any material failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, other than failure not occurring
in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
notice thereof given by the Executive; or

            (iv) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office
or location more than 50 miles from that provided in Section 3(a)(i) hereof; or

            (v) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or

            (vi) the failure of the Company to offer to renew this Agreement on
the terms and conditions (including payment of Annual Base Salary and
participation in incentive plan and benefit programs, but excluding the value of
the guaranteed bonuses and option and restricted stock grants, as set forth in
Sections 3(b)(ii) and 3(b)(iii), respectively) at least as favorable as in the
final year of the Executive's last Employment Agreement, unless, at the time of
a failure to renew this Employment Agreement, the Executive has reached the age
of 65 and can be lawfully required to retire; or

            (vii) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section
10(b) of this Agreement.

      (d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by
the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to
the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(a) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon; (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated; and (iii) if the Date of
Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice,
specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days
after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to
set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which
contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of
the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive
or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.

      (e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein
within 30 days of such notice, as the case may be; (ii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the
Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the
Executive of such termination; and (iii) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be
the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case
may be.

      5. Obligations of the Company upon Termination.

      (a) Good Reason or Without Cause. If, during the Term, the Company shall
terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or the Executive shall
terminate employment for Good Reason:

            (i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash the aggregate of
the following amounts:

                  A. in a lump sum within 10 days after the Date of Termination,
the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, and (2) the product of (x) the
Severance Bonus defined below and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs
through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, in each
case to the extent not theretofore paid. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "Severance Bonus" means the greater of (I) the Executive's average Annual
Bonus over the two calendar years preceding the Date of Termination and (II) the
Executive's Target Bonus, unless the Executive terminates his employment for the
reason set forth in Section 4(c)(ii), in which case the Severance Bonus shall be
$2,200,000. For the purpose of calculating the Executive's average Annual Bonus
hereunder, $1,300,000 shall be the Executive's Bonus for calendar year 2003; and

                  B. the amount equal to the product of (x) 2.5 and (y) the sum
of (I) the Executive's Annual Base Salary and (II) the Severance Bonus, which
shall be paid in accordance with Executive's normal payroll periods immediately
prior to the Date of Termination in equal installments for a period of 2.5
years, subject to compliance with Section 8 of this Agreement; and

                  C. if Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to this
Section 5(a) after calendar year 2004 and during the Term, a lump sum payment in
the amount of the difference, if any, between $2,200,000.00 and the actual
Annual Bonus paid to him for 2004 if such Annual Bonus was less than
$2,200,000.00.

            (ii) all restrictions on restricted stock held by the Executive
shall lapse and all outstanding unvested stock options, stock appreciation
rights, tandem options, tandem stock appreciation rights, performance shares,
performance units, or any similar equity share or unit held by the Executive
shall vest immediately, and the Executive shall have a period of two (2) years
from the Date of Termination to exercise any outstanding stock options, except
that with respect to outstanding options and restricted stock granted to the
Executive during 2003 and 2004, the Executive shall have a period of five (5)
years from the Date of Termination to

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

exercise them (provided that any such extension shall not extend the maximum
term during which any such option may be exercised beyond ten (10) years); and

            (iii) subject to compliance with Section 8, continued benefit
coverage which permits the Executive to continue to receive, for two and a half
(2.5) years from the Date of Termination, at the Company's expense, life
insurance and medical, dental and disability benefits at least comparable to
those provided by the Company on the Date of Termination, provided that the
Executive shall not receive such life insurance, medical, dental or disability
benefits, respectively, if the Executive obtains other employment that provides
for such benefit(s); and

            (iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive
under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the
Company and its affiliates in accordance with the terms and normal procedures of
each such plan, program, policy or practice; and

            (v) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Executive shall
be credited with two additional years of age and service credit under all
relevant Company retirement plans (including qualified, supplemental and excess
plans, including without limitation the Company's Executive Retirement Plan,
and, for the purpose of clarity, to the extent the Executive is a participant in
the cash balance arrangement under the Company's Retirement Plan, the cash
balance account will be increased as if the Executive had received two
additional years of contributions based upon the Executive's compensation as of
the Date of Termination); and

            (vi) the Company shall provide the Executive with outplacement
services, not to exceed a reasonable cost, until the Executive accepts new
employment.

      (b) Cause and Without Good Reason. If the Executive's employment shall be
terminated for Cause or the Executive terminates his employment without Good
Reason during the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay or provide to the
Executive an amount equal to the amount described in clause (1) of Section
5(a)(i)(A) above and timely payment or provision of the benefits set forth in
Section 5(a)(iv) above, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.

      (c) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death during the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for (i) payment of a lump sum cash amount equal to the
Executive's Annual Base Salary as in effect at the time of the Executive's
death, (ii) payment of the amount set forth in Section 5(a)(i)(A) above; and
(iii) timely payment or provision of the benefits set forth in Section 5(a)(iv)
above. In addition, all restrictions on restricted stock held by the Executive
shall lapse and all outstanding unvested stock options, stock appreciation
rights, tandem options, tandem stock appreciation rights, performance shares,
performance units, or any similar equity share or unit held by the Executive
shall vest immediately. The payments provided for in subsections (i) and (ii) of
this Section 5(c)

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.

      (d) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive's Disability, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive, other than for (i) payment of a lump sum cash
amount equal to the Executive's Annual Base Salary as in effect at the time of
the Executive's disability, (ii) payment of the amount set forth in Section
5(a)(i)(A) above (payable to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination); and (iii) timely payment or provision of the
benefits set forth in Section 5(a)(iv) above. In addition, all restrictions on
restricted stock held by the Executive shall lapse and all outstanding unvested
stock options, stock appreciation rights, tandem options, tandem stock
appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units, or any similar
equity share or unit held by the Executive shall vest immediately. To the extent
permitted by applicable law and in accordance with the Company's Long-Term
Disability plan, the Executive shall continue to accrue age and service credit
through retirement for purposes of the Company's qualified and nonqualified
retirement plans.

      (e) Retirement. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
his retirement under the terms of the applicable Company retirement plan during
the Term, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive other than for (i) payment of the amount set forth in Section
5(a)(i)(A) above (payable to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination) and (ii) timely payment or provision of the benefits
set forth in Section 5(a)(iv) above.

      (f) Non-exclusivity of Rights. Except as specifically provided, nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its affiliates and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject
to Section 12(e), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as
the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or its
affiliates. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is
otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of, or
any contract or agreement with, the Company or its affiliates at or subsequent
to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan,
policy, practice or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly
modified by this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the terms "affiliated
companies" and "affiliates" shall include any company controlled by, controlling
or under common control with the Company.

      6. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided
for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall
not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or
others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or
take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the
Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, such amounts shall
not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The
Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and
expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest
(regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of
the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of
any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this
Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable
Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), if the Executive prevails on any material
claim made by the Executive and disputed by the Company under this Agreement.

      7. Certain Additional Payments by the Company. If at any time for any
reason any payment or distribution (a "Payment") by the Company or any other
person or entity to or for the benefit of the Executive is determined to be a
"parachute payment" (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code),
whether paid or copayable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement or otherwise in connection with or arising out of his
employment with the Company or a change in ownership or excise tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), within a reasonable period of time
after such determination is reached the Company shall pay to the Executive an
additional payment (the Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that the net amount
retained by the Executive, after deduction of any Excise Tax on such Payment and
any federal, state or local income or employment tax or other taxes and Excise
Tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall equal the amount of such Payment (including
any interest or penalties with respect to any of the foregoing). All
determinations concerning the application of the foregoing shall be made by a
nationally recognized firm of independent accountants (together with legal
counsel of its choosing), selected by the Company after consultation with the
Executive (which may be the Company's independent auditors), whose determination
shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. The fees and expenses of such
accountants and counsel shall be borne by the Company. If the accounting firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the
Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to
report any Excise Tax on his Federal income tax return. In the event the
Internal Revenue Service assesses the Executive an amount of Excise Tax in
excess of that determined in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall
pay to the Executive an additional Gross-Up Payment, calculated as described
above in respect of such excess Excise Tax, including a Gross-Up Payment in
respect of any interest or penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service
with respect to such excess Excise Tax.

      8. Confidentiality and Competitive Activity.

      (a) The Executive acknowledges that he has acquired and will continue to
acquire during the Term confidential information regarding the business of the
Company and its respective affiliates. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that,
without the written consent of the Board, he will not, at any time, disclose to
any unauthorized person or otherwise use any such confidential information. For
this purpose, confidential information means nonpublic information concerning
the financial data, business strategies, product development (and proprietary
product data), customer lists, marketing plans, and other proprietary
information concerning the Company and its respective affiliates, except for
specific items which have become publicly available other than as a result of
the Executive's breach of this agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall prevent Executive from responding to lawful subpoenas or court
orders without the Company's prior written consent; provided, that the

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

Executive shall have given the Company prior written notice of any such subpoena
or court order promptly following receipt thereof.

      (b) During the time that the Executive is employed by the Company under
this Agreement and for one year after the Date of Termination (two years in the
case of a termination by the Executive without Good Reason or by the Company for
Cause), the Executive will not, without the written consent of the Board,
directly or indirectly (A) knowingly engage or be interested in (as owner,
partner, stockholder, employee, director, officer, agent, consultant or
otherwise), with or without compensation, any business in the United States
which is in competition with any line of business actively being conducted on
the Date of Termination by the Company, unless such line of business accounts
for less than ten percent (10%) of the gross revenues of the Company as of the
Date of Termination, and (B) disparage or publicly criticize the Company or any
of its affiliates. Nothing herein, however, will prohibit the Executive from
acquiring or holding not more than one percent of any class of publicly traded
securities of any such business; provided that such securities entitle the
Executive to not more than one percent of the total outstanding votes entitled
to be cast by securityholders of such business in matters on which such
securityholders are entitled to vote.

      (c) During the time that the Executive is employed by the Company under
this Agreement and then for two years after the Date of Termination of the
employment of the Executive for any reason, the Executive will not, without the
written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, hire any person who was
employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (other than
persons employed in a clerical or other non-professional position) within the
six-month period preceding the date of such hiring, or solicit, entice, persuade
or induce any person or entity doing business with the Company and its
respective affiliates, to terminate such relationship or to refrain from
extending or renewing the same.

      (d) The Executive hereby acknowledges that the provisions of this Section
8 are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company and its
respective affiliates. In addition, he further acknowledges that the Company and
its respective affiliates will be irrevocably damaged if such covenants are not
specifically enforced. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that, in addition to
any other relief to which the Company may be entitled, the Company will be
entitled to seek and obtain injunctive relief (without the requirement of any
bond) from a court of competent jurisdiction for the purposes of restraining him
from an actual or threatened breach of such covenants. In addition, and without
limiting the Company's other remedies, in the event of any breach by the
Executive of such covenants, the Company will have no obligation to pay any of
the amounts that continue to remain payable to the Executive after the date of
such breach under Section 5 hereof.

      9. Change of Control.

            (a) Contract Extension. In the event of a Change of Control during
the Term, the Term shall be extended to the second anniversary of the Change of
Control (such two year period, the "Change of Control Extension Period").

            (b) Payment of Severance. If the Executive's employment is
terminated without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason during the Change
of Control

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

Extension Period, the Executive will receive the compensation and benefits
already required under the provisions of this Agreement; provided that the
payments set forth in Section 5(a)(i)(B) shall be payable in a lump sum within
30 days after the Date of Termination.

            (c) No Plan Modification. In the event of a Change of Control during
the Term, Section 3(b)(v) shall not be effective.

            (d) Change of Control Defined. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:

                  (i) any Person or Group, as a result of a Transaction (as
defined below) or otherwise, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities representing a majority of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding securities generally entitled to vote for the
election of directors (capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used
as defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder); or

                  (ii) as a direct or indirect result of any cash tender offer,
acquisition of securities, merger or other business combination, acquisition or
sale of assets, actual or threatened election contest (including any settlement
thereof or any agreement intended to avoid or settle such a contest) or
contractual arrangement, or any combination of the foregoing (a "Transaction"),
the persons who were directors of the Company immediately before the Transaction
(the "Incumbent Board") shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the
Board of the Company or any successor to the Company (including any entity
resulting from such Transaction or which, as a result of such Transaction,
directly or indirectly owns or controls the Company or such successor or all or
substantially all of its assets); provided that any person becoming a director
thereafter whose election as a director was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed to
be a member of the Incumbent Board.

      10. Successors.

      (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior
written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

      (b) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any
successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to
perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

      11. Representations. Executive expressly represents and warrants to the
Company that as of the date of his signing this Agreement that he is not a party
to any contract or

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

agreement which will or may restrict in any way his ability to perform his
duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, and that he will not after the
date of signing this Agreement become a party to any contract or agreement which
will or may restrict in any way his ability to perform this duties under this
Agreement, and that the performance of his duties for the Company will not
breach any agreements with former employers.

      12. Miscellaneous.

      (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York without reference to principles of conflict of
laws. The parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit to the jurisdiction and
venue of the courts of the States of New York or New Jersey, in any action or
proceeding brought with respect to or in connection with this Agreement. The
captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have
no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than
by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective
successors and legal representatives. All notices and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other
party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:

      If to the Executive:

      At the most recent home address on file for the Executive at the Company;

      If to the Company:

      1 CIT Drive
      Livingston, New Jersey 07039
      Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

      (b) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.

      (c) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such Federal, state, or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant
to any applicable law or regulation.

      (d) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of
such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

      (e) From and after the Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any
term sheet, employment, severance or change of control agreement between the
parties or severance or change of control plan, program or policy of the Company
covering the Executive with respect to the subject matter except as expressly
provided herein.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors and the Company
have caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of
the day and year first above written.

                                          --------------------------------------
                                                       Jeffrey M. Peek

                                          CIT GROUP INC.

                                          By
                                            ------------------------------------

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

CIT Group Inc.
Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan
Award Agreement

As a result of your selection to be a Participant in the CIT Group Inc.
Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan, you have been granted Stock Options and
Restricted Stock under the CIT Group Inc. Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan,
effective June 1, 2002 (the "Plan") as amended and restated as specified below:

Participant:  Jeffrey M Peek
            -----------------------------------------------

Date of Award:  September 3, 2003
              ---------------------------------------------

      The Award Agreement, effective as of the Date of Award (the "Date of
Award") set forth above, represents the grant of Options and Restricted Stock by
CIT Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to the Participant named
above, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

      The Plan provides a complete description of the terms and conditions
governing the Awards. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this
Award Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan's terms shall completely
supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Award Agreement. All
capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless
specifically set forth otherwise herein. The parties hereto agree as follows:

I.    Stock Options

      A.    Grant of Stock Options. The Company hereby grants to the Participant
            Options to purchase Shares in the manner and subject to the terms
            and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement as follows:

            1.    Number of Shares Covered by this Option: 450,000

            2.    Option Price: $27.65 (The closing price of CIT Group Inc.
                  common shares on the Date of Award.)

            3.    Option Term: The Options have been awarded for a period of ten
                  (10) years from the Date of Award (the "Option Term").

<PAGE>

II.   Restricted Stock

      A.    Grant of Restricted Stock. The Company hereby grants to the
            Participant shares of Restricted Stock as follows:

            1.    The Company hereby grants 150,000 shares of Restricted Stock.

            2.    Period of Restriction: Three Years from the Date of Award

            III.  Terms and Conditions Applicable to Options Under This Award
                  Agreement

      A.    Vesting and Exercise of Options

            1.    Subject to Section III (D) of this Award Agreement, Options do
                  not provide the Participant with any rights or interests
                  therein until they vest and become exercisable in accordance
                  with the following or as otherwise set forth in an Employment
                  Agreement between the Company and the Participant:

                  a) With respect to the Options described in Section I of this
                  Award Agreement, one-third of the Options will vest and become
                  exercisable, on a cumulative basis, on each of the first,
                  second and third anniversaries of the Date of Award.

                  b) All Options not previously vested as provided in Section
                  III (A)(1)(a) shall vest and become fully exercisable as of
                  the date of the Participant's termination of employment due to
                  death, Disability, for "Good Reason," or due to a termination
                  by the Company without "Cause" as defined in an Employment
                  Agreement between the Participant and the Company ("Good
                  Reason" or "Cause").

                  c) In event of Participant's Retirement, all Options not
                  previously vested as provided in Section III (A)(1)(a) shall
                  continue to vest and become exercisable according to the terms
                  provided in III (A)(1)(a). "Retirement" for all Participants,
                  means either (i) a Participant's election to retire upon
                  attaining his or her "Normal Retirement Age"; or (ii) a
                  Participant's election to retire upon (A) completing at least
                  a 10-year "Period of Benefit Service" and (B) having either
                  (1) attained age 55, or (2) incurred an "Eligible Termination"
                  and, at the time of such "Eligible Termination," having
                  attained age 54. The terms "Normal Retirement Age," "Period of
                  Benefit Service" and "Eligible Termination" shall have the
                  meanings as defined in the Retirement Plan.

            2.    If the Participant's employment with the Company terminates
                  for a reason other than as set forth in Section III (A)(1)(b)
                  or the Participant's Retirement as set forth in Section III
                  (A)(1)(c) above, Options which have not vested and become
                  exercisable shall, coincident therewith, terminate and be of
                  no force or effect.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

      B.    How to Exercise

            1.    The Options hereby granted shall be exercised by telephone or
                  written notice to the Company's stock plan administrator,
                  currently Smith Barney ("SB"), specifying the number of Shares
                  the Participant then desires to purchase, which may not be
                  fewer than twenty-five (25). Except as provided in Section III
                  (B)(2) below, a Participant must send a check payable to the
                  order of SB for an amount in United States dollars equal to
                  the Option Price of such Shares plus any fees or, if the
                  Committee permits, Shares having an aggregate Fair Market
                  Value (as of the trading date immediately preceding the date
                  of exercise) equal to such Option Price which have been held
                  by the Participant for at least six (6) months, or a
                  combination of cash and such Shares.

            2.    Subject to the approval of the Committee, the Participant may
                  be permitted to exercise pursuant to a "cashless exercise"
                  procedure, as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's
                  Regulation T, subject to securities law restrictions, or by
                  any other means which the Committee, in its discretion,
                  determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and
                  applicable law.

            3.    As soon as practicable after receipt of such written
                  notification and payment, Share certificates shall be issued
                  in the Participant's name. The Company and SB shall maintain a
                  record of all information pertaining to the Participant's
                  rights under this Award Agreement.

      C.    Termination of Options. The Options, which have vested and become
            exercisable as provided in Section III (A) above, shall terminate
            and be of no force or effect as follows:

            1.    If the Participant's employment terminates during the Option
                  Term by reason of the death, Disability of the Participant or
                  for Good Reason or without Cause, the Options terminate and
                  have no force or effect upon the earlier of (i) three (3)
                  years after the date of death or Disability, (ii) five (5)
                  years after a termination with Good Reason or without Cause,
                  or (iii) upon expiration of the Option Term.

            2.    If the Participant's employment terminates during the Option
                  Term by reason of the Retirement of the Participant, the
                  Options terminate and have no force or effect upon the
                  expiration of the Option.

            3.    If the Participant's employment terminates during the Option
                  Term for any reason not set forth in Section III (C)(1) or III
                  (C)(2), the Options terminate and have no force or effect upon
                  the expiration of three (3) months after the Participant's
                  termination of employment or the expiration of the Option
                  Term, whichever occurs first.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

            4.    If the Participant's employment with the Company does not
                  terminate prior thereto, all Options not exercised shall
                  terminate as of the expiration of the Option Term.

      D.    Change of Control. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this
            Award Agreement to the contrary, upon a Change of Control, all
            Options that have not been forfeited by the effective date of the
            Change of Control shall become immediately exercisable and shall
            remain exercisable until the earlier of the expiration of the Option
            Term or the second anniversary of the Participant's termination of
            employment with the Company.

      E.    Rights as Stockholder. The Participant shall have no rights as a
            stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares subject to the
            Options until such time as the purchase price has been paid, and the
            Shares have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

      F.    Transferability. Options may not be sold, transferred, pledged,
            assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will
            or by the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise permitted
            under Section 6.9 of the Plan. Further, the Options shall be
            exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the
            Participant or in the event of the Participant's legal incapacity,
            the Participant's legal guardian or representative.

IV.   Terms and Conditions Applicable to Restricted Stock Under this Award
      Agreement

      A.    Rights as a Stockholder. During the Period of Restriction,
            Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder
            may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares and may
            be credited with regular cash dividends paid with respect to the
            underlying Shares while they are so held. The Board may apply any
            restrictions to the dividends that the Board deems appropriate.

      B.    Transferability. This Restricted Stock is not transferable by the
            Participant, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of
            law or otherwise, prior to the vesting of the Restricted Stock, as
            provided in Section IV(C), except as provided in the Plan. If
            assignment, pledge, transfer, or other disposition, voluntary or
            involuntary, of this Restricted Stock shall be made, or if any
            attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be issued against
            or placed upon the Restricted Stock, then the Participant's right to
            the Restricted Stock shall immediately cease and terminate and the
            Participant shall promptly forfeit to the Company all Restricted
            Stock awarded under this Award Agreement.

      C.    Vesting and Termination of Employment. Subject to Section IV(E), all
            Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest in accordance with the
            provisions of this Section IV(C):

            1.    Provided the Participant has continued in the employment of
                  the Company to the last day of the Period of Restriction, the
                  restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock shall lapse
                  and the Shares of Restricted Stock shall

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  become freely transferable as of the third anniversary of the
                  Date of Award (for the purposes of this Award Agreement, such
                  period shall be the "Period of Restriction").

            2.    In the event the Participant's employment with the Company is
                  terminated by reason of death, Disability, Retirement after
                  December 31, 2004, by the Company without "Cause" as defined
                  in an Employment Agreement between the Participant and the
                  Company) or by the Participant with "Good Reason" (as defined
                  in an Employment Agreement between the Participant and the
                  Company) on or prior to the last day of the Period of
                  Restriction, all Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder
                  shall vest and all restrictions shall lapse upon the date of
                  termination.

                  "Retirement" for all Participants, means either (i) a
                  Participant's election to retire upon attaining his or her
                  "Normal Retirement Age"; or (ii) a Participant's election to
                  retire upon (A) completing at least a 10-year "Period of
                  Benefit Service" and (B) having either (1) attained age 55, or
                  (2) incurred an "Eligible Termination" and, at the time of
                  such "Eligible Termination," having attained age 54. The terms
                  "Normal Retirement Age," "Period of Benefit Service" and
                  "Eligible Termination" shall have the meanings as defined in
                  the Retirement Plan.

            3.    If the Participant's employment with the Company terminates
                  for a reason other than as set forth in Section IV(C)(2) above
                  on or prior to the last day of the Period of Restriction, all
                  Shares of unvested Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall
                  immediately be forfeited by the Participant and be of no force
                  or effect.

      D.    Share Certificates. The Company or its designee shall retain the
            certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the
            Company's possession until such time as all conditions and/or
            restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied. Once the
            Shares are vested in accordance with the provisions of Section
            IV(C), such Shares shall be released from all restrictions and the
            Participant shall be entitled to receive certificates representing
            the Shares of stock which have vested.

      E.    Change of Control. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this
            Award Agreement to the contrary, upon a Change of Control, any
            Period of Restriction imposed on Restricted Stock that has not been
            forfeited by the effective date of the Change of Control shall
            lapse.

V.    Miscellaneous

      A.    This Award Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are
            subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may
            be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and
            regulations as the Board may adopt for administration of the Plan.
            The Board shall have the right to impose such restrictions on any
            Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option or the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

            lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock as
            may be required under applicable federal securities laws, under the
            requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares
            are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state
            securities laws applicable to such Shares. It is expressly
            understood that the Board is authorized to administer, construe, and
            make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the
            administration of the Plan and this Award Agreement, all of which
            shall be binding upon the Participant.

      B.    The Board may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan; provided,
            however, that no such termination, amendment, or modification of the
            Plan may in any way adversely affect the Participant's rights under
            this Award Agreement, without the written consent of the
            Participant.

      C.    The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or
            withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an
            amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes
            (including the Participant's FICA obligation) required by law to be
            withheld with respect to any exercise of the Participant's rights
            under this Award Agreement (the tax consequences and tax obligations
            of the Company and the Participant with respect to the Options and
            Restricted Stock may vary according to the laws of different
            countries).

      D.    The Participant agrees to take all steps necessary to comply with
            all applicable provisions of federal and state securities law in
            exercising his or her rights under this Award Agreement.

      E.    This Award Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules,
            and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies
            or national securities exchanges as may be required.

      F.    All obligations of the Company under the Plan and this Award
            Agreement, with respect to the Awards, shall be binding on any
            successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is
            the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation,
            or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or
            assets of the Company.

      G.    To the extent not preempted by federal law, this Award Agreement
            shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
            the State of New Jersey.

VI.   Acceptance of Award. Acceptance of this Award requires no action on the
      part of the Participant and the Participant will be deemed to have agreed
      to all terms and conditions hereof. If the Participant, however, desires
      to refuse the Award, the Participant must notify the Company in writing.
      Such notification should be sent to CIT Group Inc., Human Resources
      Department, 1 CIT Drive, Livingston, New Jersey 07039 no later than thirty
      (30) days after receipt of this Award Agreement.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Award Agreement has been executed by the Company
by one of its duly authorized officers as of the Date of Award.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                                                     CIT Group Inc.

                                                     /s/ Susan P. Mitchell
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Susan P. Mitchell
                                                     Executive Vice President
                                                     Human Resources

                                      -7-

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