KKR 1996 FUND L P
SC 13D/A, EX-9, 2000-10-27
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<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit 9

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








                                CREDIT AGREEMENT


                                   dated as of


                                October 25, 2000,






                                      among








                              CAIS INTERNET, INC.,
                                  as Borrower,


                            The Lenders Party Hereto





                                       and




                              CII VENTURES II LLC,
                             as Administrative Agent

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

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                                                            Page

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                    ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

      SECTION 1.01.  DEFINED TERMS .........................................   1
      SECTION 1.02.  CLASSIFICATION OF LOANS AND BORROWINGS. ...............  15
      SECTION 1.03.  TERMS GENERALLY. ......................................  16
      SECTION 1.04.  ACCOUNTING TERMS; GAAP ................................  16


                                   ARTICLE II

                                  THE CREDITS

      SECTION 2.01.  COMMITMENT ............................................  17
      SECTION 2.02.  LOANS AND BORROWINGS ..................................  17
      SECTION 2.03.  REQUESTS FOR BORROWINGS ...............................  18
      SECTIONS 2.04-2.05.  [Intentionally Omitted] .........................  18
      SECTION 2.06.  FUNDING OF BORROWINGS .................................  18
      SECTION 2.07.  INTEREST ELECTIONS ....................................  19
      SECTION 2.08.  TERMINATION AND REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS ..............  21
      SECTION 2.09.  REPAYMENT OF LOANS; EVIDENCE OF DEBT ..................  22
      SECTION 2.10.  [Intentionally Omitted] ...............................  23
      SECTION 2.11.  PREPAYMENT OF LOANS ...................................  23
      SECTION 2.12.  [Intentionally deleted] ...............................  24
      SECTION 2.13.  INTEREST ..............................................  24
      SECTION 2.14.  ALTERNATE RATE OF INTEREST ............................  25
      SECTION 2.15.  INCREASED COSTS .......................................  26
      SECTION 2.16.  BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS ................................  27
      SECTION 2.17.  TAXES .................................................  27
      SECTION 2.18.  PAYMENTS GENERALLY; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF
                     SET-OFFS ..............................................  29
      SECTION 2.19.  MITIGATION OBLIGATIONS; REPLACEMENT OF LENDERS ........  31


                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      SECTION 3.01.  ORGANIZATION; POWERS ..................................  32
      SECTION 3.02.  AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABILITY .........................  32
      SECTION 3.03.  GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS; NO CONFLICTS ..................  33
      SECTION 3.04.  WARRANT AGREEMENT .....................................  33
      SECTIONS 3.05-3.06.  [intentionally omitted] .........................  34

                                       ii
<PAGE>

                                                                            Page

      SECTION 3.07.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND AGREEMENTS ...................  34
      SECTION 3.08.  INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY STATUS .................  35


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   CONDITIONS

      SECTION 4.01.  EFFECTIVE DATE ........................................  35
      SECTION 4.02.  EACH CREDIT EVENT .....................................  36


                                    ARTICLE V

                             AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

      SECTION 5.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION ............  37
      SECTIONS 5.02-5.03.  [Intentionally Omitted]. ........................  38
      SECTION 5.04.  EXISTENCE; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS ........................  38
      SECTION 5.05.  ASSET SALE PROCEEDS ...................................  38
      SECTION 5.06.  CONSENTS TO CAIS ASSUMPTION ...........................  38
      SECTIONS 5.07-5.08.  [Intentionally Omitted] .........................  38
      SECTION 5.09.  BOOKS AND RECORDS; INSPECTION AND AUDIT RIGHTS ........  38
      SECTION 5.10.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS ..................................  39
      SECTION 5.11.  USE OF PROCEEDS .......................................  39
      SECTION 5.12.  ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARIES ...............................  39


                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

      SECTION 6.03.  RESTRICTED PAYMENTS ...................................  41
      SECTION 6.04.  CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ..................................  41
      SECTION 6.05.  INVESTMENTS ...........................................  42


                                   ARTICLE VII

                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

                                      iii
<PAGE>

                                                                            Page

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

      SECTION 9.01.  NOTICES ...............................................  48
      SECTION 9.02.  WAIVERS; AMENDMENTS ...................................  49
      SECTION 9.03.  EXPENSES; INDEMNITY; DAMAGE WAIVER ....................  50
      SECTION 9.04.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS ................................  52
      SECTION 9.05.  SURVIVAL ..............................................  55
      SECTION 9.06.  COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS ..............  55
      SECTION 9.07.  SEVERABILITY ..........................................  56
      SECTION 9.08.  RIGHT OF SETOFF .......................................  56
      SECTION 9.09.  GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE OF
                     PROCESS ...............................................  56
      SECTION 9.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL ..................................  57
      SECTION 9.11.  HEADINGS ..............................................  57
      SECTION 9.12.  CONFIDENTIALITY .......................................  57
      SECTION 9.13.  INTEREST RATE LIMITATION ..............................  59
      SECTION 9.14.  ASSUMPTION BY CAIS, INC. ..............................  59
      SECTION 9.15.  WARRANTS ..............................................  59
      SECTION 9.16.  REPRESENTATIONS OF THE LENDERS ........................  60


      SCHEDULES:

      Schedule 1.01         --Sale/Leaseback Transaction
      Schedule 2.01         --Commitments
      Schedule 6.01         --Existing Indebtedness
      Schedule 6.01A        --Agreed to Indebtedness
      Schedule 6.02         --Existing Liens
      Schedule 6.02A        --Agreed to Liens
      Schedule 6.03         --Restricted Payments
      Schedule 6.04         --Capital Expenditures
      Schedule 6.05         --Employee Advances
      Schedule 6.05A        --Other Investments


      EXHIBITS:

      Exhibit A     --    Form of Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP
      Exhibit B     --    Form of Indemnity, Subrogation and
                          Contribution Agreement
      Exhibit C     --    Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement
      Exhibit D     --    Form of Parent Guarantee Agreement
      Exhibit E     --    Form of Warrant Agreement

                                       iv
<PAGE>

              CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 25, 2000, among
             CAIS INTERNET, INC., the LENDERS party hereto, and CII
                    VENTURES II LLC, as Administrative Agent.


            The parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

            SECTION 1.01.  DEFINED TERMS.  As used in this Agreement, the
      following terms have the meanings specified below:

            "ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
      whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
      interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

            "ADJUSTED LIBO RATE" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing
      for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
      necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such
      Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

            "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT" means CII Ventures II LLC, in its capacity as
      administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

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

            "ADVERSE EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section
      4.02(b)(ii)(B).

            "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to a specified Person, another
      Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
      Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person
      specified.

            "ALTERNATE BASE RATE" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to
      the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Base CD
      Rate in effect on such day plus 1% and (c) the Federal Funds Effective
      Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the
<PAGE>

                                                                               2

      Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or
      the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the
      effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Base CD Rate or the
      Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

            "ASSESSMENT RATE" means, for any day, the annual assessment rate in
      effect on such day that is payable by a member of the Bank Insurance Fund
      classified as "well-capitalized" and within supervisory subgroup "B" (or a
      comparable successor risk classification) within the meaning of 12 C.F.R.
      Part 327 (or any successor provision) to the Federal Deposit Insurance
      Corporation for insurance by such Corporation of time deposits made in
      dollars at the offices of such member in the United States; PROVIDED that
      if, as a result of any change in any law, rule or regulation, it is no
      longer possible to determine the Assessment Rate as aforesaid, then the
      Assessment Rate shall be such annual rate as shall be determined by the
      Administrative Agent to be representative of the cost of such insurance to
      the Lenders.

            "ASSET SALE" means the sale by CAIS, Inc. and CAIS Software of the
      assets described in the Asset Purchase Agreement (the "ASSET PURCHASE
      AGREEMENT"), by and among Cisco Systems, Inc., Holdings, Cais Software and
      CAIS Inc.

            "ASSET SALE DATE" means the date on which the Asset Sale
      closes.

            "ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE" means an assignment and acceptance
      entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party
      whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the
      Administrative Agent, in any form approved by the Administrative Agent.

            "BASE CD RATE" means the sum of (a) the Three-Month Secondary CD
      Rate multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate plus (b) the Assessment
      Rate.

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

            "BORROWER" means, subject to Section 9.14, CAIS Internet, Inc., a
      Delaware corporation.

            "BORROWING" means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or
      continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to
      which a single Interest Period is in effect.
<PAGE>

                                                                               3

            "BORROWING REQUEST" means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing
      in accordance with Section 2.03.
            "BUSINESS DAY" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other
      day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required
      by law to remain closed; PROVIDED that, when used in connection with a
      Eurodollar Loan, the term "BUSINESS DAY" shall also exclude any day on
      which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London
      interbank market.

            "CAIS ASSUMPTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.14.

            "CAIS, INC." means Cais Inc., a Virginia corporation.

            "CAIS SOFTWARE" means CAIS Software Solutions, Inc., a
      California corporation.

            "CAPITAL EXPENDITURES" means for any period, with respect to any
      Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its
      subsidiaries for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease)
      of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including
      replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period)
      that should be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of
      such Person and its subsidiaries.

            "CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS" of any Person means the obligations of
      such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other
      arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
      combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
      accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under
      GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount
      thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

            "CAPITAL STOCK" means any and all shares, interest, participations
      or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a
      corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other
      than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to
      purchase any of the foregoing.

            "CASH EQUIVALENTS" means (a) marketable direct obligations issued
      by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or
      issued by an agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the
      United States, in each case maturing within one year from
<PAGE>

                                                                               4

      the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits,
      eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of
      six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by
      any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United Stated or any
      state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than
      $500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by
      Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or P-1 by Moody's Investors
      Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or carrying an equivalent rating by a
      nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating
      agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally,
      and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition; (d)
      repurchase obligations of any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the
      requirement of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more
      than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or
      insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of
      one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed
      by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any
      political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth
      or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state,
      commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or
      foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A
      by Moody's; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the
      date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any
      Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of
      this definition; or (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds
      which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses
      (a) through (f) of this definition.

            "CHANGE IN LAW" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or
      regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law,
      rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any
      Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance
      by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office
      of such Lender or by such Lender's holding company, if any) with any
      request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
      of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this
      Agreement.

            "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
      to time.
<PAGE>

                                                                               5

            "COMMITMENT" means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if
      any, of such Lender to make Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount
      representing the maximum principal amount of such Lender's Loans to be
      outstanding hereunder, as such Commitment may be (a) reduced from time to
      time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b) reduced or increased from time to
      time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section
      9.04. The initial amount of each Lender's Commitment is set forth on
      Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such
      Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial
      aggregate amount of the Lenders' Commitments is $20,000,000.

            "CONTROL" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
      to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
      Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract
      or otherwise. "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings correlative
      thereto.

            "DEFAULT" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of
      Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or
      waived, become an Event of Default.

            "DOLLARS" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States
      of America.

            "EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date on which the conditions specified in
      Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

            "EQUITY INTERESTS" means shares of capital stock, partnership
      interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial
      interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person.

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

            "EURODOLLAR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
      refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are
      bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO
      Rate.

            "EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning assigned to such term in
      Article VII.

            "EXCLUDED TAXES" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent,
      any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on
      account of any obligation
<PAGE>

                                                                               6

      of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or
      measured by) its net income, net profits or gross receipts by the United
      States of America (or any State or other political subdivision thereof or
      therein), or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is
      organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of
      any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any
      branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any
      similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a)
      above and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee
      pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)), any
      withholding tax that (i) is in effect and would apply to amounts payable
      to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to
      this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent
      that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the
      time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive
      additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax
      pursuant to Section 2.17(a), or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign
      Lender's failure to comply with Section 2.17(e).

            "FEDERAL FUNDS EFFECTIVE RATE" means, for any day, the weighted
      average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the
      rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
      Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next
      succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if
      such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the
      average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the
      quotations for such day for such transactions received by the
      Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized
      standing selected by it.

            "FINANCIAL OFFICER" means the chief financial officer, senior
      vice-president - finance, principal accounting officer, treasurer or
      controller of the Borrower.

            "FINANCING TRANSACTIONS" means the execution, delivery and
      performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is to be
      a party, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof.

            "FOREIGN LENDER" means any Lender that is organized under the laws
      of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For
      purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State
<PAGE>

                                                                               7

      thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a
      single jurisdiction.

            "FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary that is organized under
      the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any
      State thereof or the District of Columbia.

            "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
      United States of America.
            "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means the government of the United States
      of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether
      state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
      body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
      legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or
      functions of or pertaining to government.

            "GUARANTEE" of or by any Person (the "GUARANTOR") means any
      obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or
      having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
      obligation of any other Person (the "PRIMARY OBLIGOR") in any manner,
      whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
      guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or
      supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other
      obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase
      of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease
      property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of
      such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to
      maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
      condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary
      obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account
      party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to
      support such Indebtedness or obligation; PROVIDED that the term
      "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in
      the ordinary course of business.

            "GUARANTEE AGREEMENTS" means the Parent Guarantee Agreement
      and the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.

            "GUARANTEED PARTIES" has the meaning assigned to such term in
      the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement.
<PAGE>

                                                                               8

            "HEDGING AGREEMENT" means any interest rate protection agreement,
      foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement
      or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging
      arrangement.

            "HOLDINGS" means CAIS Internet, Inc., a Delaware corporation that,
      as of the Effective Date, owns all the outstanding capital stock of CAIS,
      Inc.

            "INDEBTEDNESS" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
      obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits
      or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
      bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obliga tions of
      such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all
      obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention
      agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all
      obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of
      property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA
      and current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business),
      (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such
      Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured
      by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not
      the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by
      such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations
      of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such
      Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of
      guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person
      in respect of bankers' acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall
      include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in
      which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is
      liable therefor as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or
      other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of
      such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. The
      amount of any Indebtedness described in clause (g) above shall be limited
      to the maximum amount payable under the applicable Guarantee of such
      Person if such Guarantee contains limitations on the amount payable
      thereunder.

            "INDEMNIFIED TAXES" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

            "INDEMNITY, SUBROGATION AND CONTRIBUTION AGREE MENT" means the
      Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution
<PAGE>

                                                                               9

      Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, among Holdings, the
      Borrower, the Subsidiary Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent.

            "INTEREST ELECTION REQUEST" means a request by the Borrower to
      convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

            "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the
      last day of each calender month and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar
      Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of
      which such Loan is a part.

            "INTEREST PERIOD" means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing,
      the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the
      numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one month
      thereafter; PROVIDED that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day
      other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the
      next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day
      would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
      shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any Interest Period
      that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day
      for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar
      month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the
      last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date
      of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made
      and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion
      or continuation of such Borrowing.

            "LENDER AFFILIATE" means, (a) with respect to any Lender, (i) an
      Affiliate of such Lender or (ii) an entity (whether a corporation,
      partnership, trust or otherwise) that is engaged in making, purchasing,
      holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of
      credit in the ordinary course of its business and is administered or
      managed by such Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect
      to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans and similar
      extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and
      similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor
      as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

            "LENDERS" means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other
      Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
      Acceptance or pursuant to Section 9.02(c), other than any such Person
<PAGE>

                                                                              10

      that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance
      or Section 9.02(c).

            "LIBO RATE" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any
      Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate Service
      (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor
      to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to
      those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by
      the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing
      quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London
      interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business
      Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for
      dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the
      event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then
      the "LIBO RATE" with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such
      Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000
      and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the
      principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately
      available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00
      a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
      Interest Period.

            "LIEN" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of
      trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security
      interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor
      under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention
      agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic
      effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case
      of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party
      with respect to such securities.

            "LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Guarantee Agreements, the
      Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement, the promissory notes,
      if any, executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.09(e).

            "LOAN PARTIES" means Holdings, CAIS, Inc. (at such times as it
      is the Borrower hereunder in accordance with Section 9.14) and the
      Subsidiary Loan Parties.

            "LOANS" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower
      pursuant to this Agreement.

            "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse effect on (a) the
      business, assets, operations,
<PAGE>

                                                                              11

      prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of Holdings, CAIS, Inc.
      and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of Holdings, CAIS,
      Inc. or any Subsidiary Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under
      any Loan Document or (c) the ability of the Lenders to enforce any Loan
      Document.

            "MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans),
      or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or
      more of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate
      principal amount exceeding $2,500,000. For purposes of determining
      Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the obligations of
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement
      at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any
      netting agreements) that Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or such Subsidiary would be
      required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

            "MATURITY DATE" means the earlier of (a) March 31, 2001 and (b) the
      Asset Sale Date.

            "NET PROCEEDS" means, with respect to any event (a) the cash
      proceeds received in respect of such event, including any cash received in
      respect of any non-cash proceeds, but only as and when received, net of
      (b) the sum of (i) all commissions, fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid
      by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries to third parties (other than
      Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a sale,
      transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale
      and leaseback transaction), the amount of all payments required to be made
      by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries as a result of such event to
      repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise
      subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) the
      amount of all Taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) by
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries, and the amount of any reserves
      established by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries to fund (A)
      retained liabilities relating to the assets sold or (B) contingent
      liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the
      year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are
      directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good
      faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower).

            "NORTEL" means Nortel Networks Inc., a Delaware corporation.
<PAGE>

                                                                              12

            "NORTEL CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Credit Agreement dated as of
      June 4, 1999 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to
      time) by and among CAIS, Inc. and Nortel.

            "OTHER TAXES" means any and all current or future recording, stamp,
      documentary, excise, transfer, sales, property or similar taxes, charges
      or levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from
      the execution, delivery or enforcement of any Loan Document.

            "PARENT GUARANTEE AGREEMENT" means the Parent Guarantee Agreement,
      substantially in the form of Exhibit D, made by Holdings in favor of the
      Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Guaranteed Parties.

            "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" means:

            (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being
      contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, PROVIDED that
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or the applicable Subsidiary has set aside on its
      books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, such
      contest effectively suspends collection of the contested obligation and
      the enforcement of any Lien securing such obligation and the failure to
      make payment pending such contest would not reasonably be expected to
      result in a Material Adverse Effect;

            (b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's,
      repairmen's and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary
      course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more
      than 30 days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate
      proceedings, PROVIDED that Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or the applicable
      Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
      thereto in accordance with GAAP, such contest effectively suspends
      collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien
      securing such obligation and the failure to make payment pending such
      contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
      Effect;

            (c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in
      compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other
      social security laws or regulations;

            (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts,
      leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds
      and other
<PAGE>

                                                                              13

      obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of
      business;

            (e) judgment liens in respect of judgments for payments of money in
      an aggregate amount not greater than $1,000,000; and

            (f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar
      encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary
      course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
      materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere
      with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any
      Subsidiary;

      PROVIDED that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any Lien
      securing Indebtedness.

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

            "PREPAYMENT EVENT" means:

            (a) any sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a
      sale and leaseback transaction (other than the sale-leaseback transaction
      described on Schedule 1.01) but excluding any sale, transfer or other
      disposition of collateral securing the obligations under the Nortel Credit
      Agreement as in effect on the date hereof the net proceeds of which are
      required to prepay such obligations) of any property or asset of Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary outside the ordinary course of business
      including, without limitation, the Asset Sale; or

            (b) the issuance by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary of any
      Equity Interests, or the receipt by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary
      of any capital contribution, other than any such issuance of Equity
      Interests to, or receipt of any such capital contribution from, Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. or a Subsidiary Loan Party, PROVIDED that CAIS, Inc. and CAIS
      Software shall only be permitted to receive funds in an amount sufficient
      to satisfy their respective working capital requirements in the ordinary
      course of business (as communicated to the Administrative Agent); or
<PAGE>

                                                                              14

            (c) the incurrence by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary of any
            Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01.

            "PRIME RATE" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced
      from time to time by The Chase Manhattan Bank as its prime rate in effect
      at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate
      shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly
      announced as being effective.

            "REGISTER" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

            "RELATED PARTIES" means, with respect to any specified Person, such
      Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees,
      agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

            "REQUIRED LENDERS" means, at any time, Lenders having Loans and
      unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the total outstanding
      Loans and unused Commitments at such time.

            "RESTRICTED PAYMENT" means (a) any dividend or other distribution
      (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity
      Interests in Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary or (b) any payment
      (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking
      fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption,
      retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity
      Interests in Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant
      or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in Holdings, CAIS,
      Inc. or any Subsidiary.

            "REVOLVING AVAILABILITY PERIOD" means the period from and including
      the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and
      the date of termination of the Commitments.

            "STATUTORY RESERVE RATE" means a fraction (expressed as a decimal),
      the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is
      the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages
      (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves)
      expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the
      Administrative Agent is subject (a) with respect to the Base CD Rate, for
      new negotiable nonpersonal time deposits in dollars of over $100,000 with
      maturities approximately equal to three months and (b) with respect to the
      Adjusted LIBO Rate, for
<PAGE>

                                                                              15

      eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency Liabilities"
      in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include
      those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
      deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such
      reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration,
      exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any
      Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory
      Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective
      date of any change in any reserve percentage.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person (the "PARENT") at any
      date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association
      or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of
      the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such
      financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such
      date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company,
      partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other
      ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than
      50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more
      than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned,
      controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled,
      by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent
      and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

            "SUBSIDIARY" means any subsidiary of Holdings other than CAIS,
      Inc.

            "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT" means the Subsi diary Guarantee
      Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, made by the Subsidiary
      Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
      Guaranteed Parties.

            "SUBSIDIARY LOAN PARTY" means any Subsidiary other than any
      Foreign Subsidiary.

            "TAXES" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts,
      deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any taxing authority.

            "THREE-MONTH SECONDARY CD RATE" means, for any day, the secondary
      market rate for three-month certificates of deposit reported as being in
      effect on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next
      preceding Business Day) by the Board through the public
<PAGE>

                                                                              16

      information telephone line of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (which
      rate will, under the current practices of the Board, be published in
      Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) during the week following
      such day) or, if such rate is not so reported on such day or such next
      preceding Business Day, the average of the secondary market quotations for
      three-month certificates of deposit of major money center banks in New
      York City received at approximately 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
      such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next preceding
      Business Day) by the Administrative Agent from three negotiable
      certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by it.

            "TYPE", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to
      whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such
      Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the
      Alternate Base Rate.

            "WARRANT AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.15.

            SECTION 1.02. CLASSIFICATION OF LOANS AND BORROWINGS. For purposes
      of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (I.E.,
      a "Eurodollar Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by
      Type (I.E., a "Eurodollar Borrowing").

            SECTION 1.03. TERMS GENERALLY. The definitions of terms herein shall
      apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.
      Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
      corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include",
      "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase
      "without limitation". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same
      meaning and effect as the word "shall". Unless the context requires
      otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument
      or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such
      agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended,
      supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such
      amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any
      reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's
      successors and assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder",
      and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement
      in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all
      references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
      construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
<PAGE>

                                                                              17

      Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words "asset" and "property"
      shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any
      and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash,
      securities, accounts and contract rights.

            SECTION 1.04. ACCOUNTING TERMS; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly
      provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be
      construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time;
      PROVIDED that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the
      Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the
      effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the
      application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the
      Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders
      request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless
      of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or
      in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on
      the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change
      shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or
      such provision amended in accordance herewith.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

            SECTION 2.01. COMMITMENTS. Subject to the terms and conditions set
      forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the Borrower from time
      to time during the Revolving Availability Period in an aggregate principal
      amount that will not result in such Lender's Loans exceeding such Lender's
      Commitment, PROVIDED that no more than $3,000,000 in Loans may be made in
      any calendar week (except that the initial borrowing hereunder may be made
      in any amount up to $5,000,000). Within the foregoing limits and subject
      to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow,
      prepay and reborrow Loans.

            SECTION 2.02. LOANS AND BORROWINGS. (a) Each Loan shall be made as
      part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the
      Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The
      failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not
      relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; PROVIDED that the
      Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible
      for any other Lender's failure to make Loans as required.
<PAGE>

                                                                              18

            (b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised
      entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in
      accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar
      Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender
      to make such Loan; PROVIDED that any exercise of such option shall not
      affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance
      with the terms of this Agreement.

            (c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar
      Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an
      integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time
      that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate
      amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than
      $1,000,000; PROVIDED that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount
      that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments,
      notwithstanding the foregoing. Borrowings of more than one Type may be
      outstanding at the same time; PROVIDED that there shall not at any time be
      more than a total of four Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

            (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
      Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or
      continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect
      thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

            SECTION 2.03. REQUESTS FOR BORROWINGS. To request a Borrowing, the
      Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by
      telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00
      a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the
      proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than
      11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the
      proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be
      irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy
      to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form
      approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such
      telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following
      information in compliance with Section 2.02:

                  (i) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;

                  (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business
            Day;
<PAGE>

                                                                              19

                  (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
            Eurodollar Borrowing;

                  (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial
            Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period
            contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and

                  (v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which
            funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements
            of Section 2.06.

      If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the
      requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is
      specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the
      Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one
      month's duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in
      accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each
      Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to
      be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

            SECTIONS 2.04-2.05.  [Intentionally Omitted]

            SECTION 2.06. FUNDING OF BORROWINGS. (a) Each Lender shall make each
      Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire
      transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time,
      to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it
      for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will
      make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly (but in no event
      later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time) transferring the amounts so
      received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the
      Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

            (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
      a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will
      not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such
      Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made
      such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this
      Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
      Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in
      fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the
      Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower
      severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand
      such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day
<PAGE>

                                                                              20

      from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower
      to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i)
      in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective
      Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with
      banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of
      the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender
      pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall
      constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.

            SECTION 2.07. INTEREST ELECTIONS. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall
      be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request. Thereafter,
      the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to
      continue such Borrowing as provided in this Section. The Borrower may
      elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected
      Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably
      among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the
      Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate
      Borrowing.

            (b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall
      notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time
      that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the
      Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such
      election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such
      telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be
      confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative
      Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the
      Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

            (c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall
      specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

            (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies
            and, if different options are being elected with respect to
            different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to
            each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be
            specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be
            specified for each resulting Borrowing);

            (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such
            Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
<PAGE>

                                                                              21

            (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
            Eurodollar Borrowing; and

            (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
            Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such
            election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of
            the term "Interest Period".

            (d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the
      Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and
      of such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.

            (e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election
      Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the
      Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid
      as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing
      shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary
      provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
      and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so
      notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing
      (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a
      Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing
      shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period
      applicable thereto.

            SECTION 2.08.  TERMINATION AND REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS.  (a)
      Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate at
      5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Maturity Date.

            (b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time
      reduce, the Commitments; PROVIDED that (i) each reduction of the
      Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of
      $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not
      terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any
      concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with this Agreement, the
      outstanding principal amount of the Loans would exceed the total
      Commitments.

            (c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are
      received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of
      any Prepayment Event, the Commitments shall be reduced in an aggregate
      amount equal to 100% (or 50% in the case of a Prepayment Event pursuant to
      paragraph (b) of the definition thereof) of such Net Proceeds.
<PAGE>

                                                                              22

            (d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
      election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of
      this Section, or any required reduction of the Commitments under paragraph
      (c) of this Section, at least three Business Days prior to the effective
      date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the
      effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the
      Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.
      Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be
      irrevocable; PROVIDED that a notice of termination of the Commitments
      delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon
      the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice
      may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on
      or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not
      satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be
      permanent. Except as provided in paragraph (e) below, each reduction of
      the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with
      their respective Commitments.

            (e) In the event the Borrower is entitled to replace a
      non-consenting Lender pursuant to Section 9.02(c), the Borrower shall have
      the right, upon five Business Days' written notice to the Administrative
      Agent (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to
      each of the Lenders), to terminate the entire Commitment of such Lender,
      so long as (i) all Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest and
      other amounts owing to such Lender are repaid pursuant to Section 2.11(e)
      concurrently with the effectiveness of such termination and (ii) the
      consents required by Section 9.02(c) in connection with the prepayment
      shall have been obtained, and at such time, such Lender shall no longer
      constitute a "Lender" for purposes of this Agreement, except with respect
      to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 of this Agreement, which shall
      survive as to such Lender.

            SECTION 2.09. REPAYMENT OF LOANS; EVIDENCE OF DEBT. (a) The Borrower
      hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the
      account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan of
      such Lender on the Maturity Date.

            (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice
      an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such
      Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts
<PAGE>

                                                                              23

      of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to
      time hereunder.

            (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it
      shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof
      and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any
      principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from
      the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum
      received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the
      Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.

            (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to
      paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be PRIMA FACIE evidence of the
      existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; PROVIDED that
      the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such
      accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the
      obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms
      of this Agreement.

            (e) The Borrower or any Lender may request that any Loan made by it
      be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall
      prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to
      the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender
      and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative
      Agent. Thereafter, any Loan evidenced by such promissory note and interest
      thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section
      9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable
      to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a
      registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

            SECTION 2.10.  [Intentionally Omitted]

            SECTION 2.11.  PREPAYMENT OF LOANS.  (a)  The Borrower shall
      have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
      Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this
      Section.

            (b) In the event and on each occasion that the outstanding principal
      amount of the Loans exceeds the total Commitments then in effect, the
      Borrower shall prepay Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to such
      excess.

            (c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are
      received by or on behalf of the Borrower
<PAGE>

                                                                              24

      or any Subsidiary in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall
      prepay Borrowings in an aggregate amount equal to 100% (or 50% in the case
      of a Prepayment Event pursuant to paragraph (b) of the definition thereof)
      of such Net Proceeds.

            (d) Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings
      hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be
      prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment
      pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section.

            (e) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone
      (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
      prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York
      City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in
      the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
      York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such
      notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the
      principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid;
      PROVIDED that, if a notice of optional prepayment is given in connection
      with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as
      contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be
      revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with
      Section 2.08. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the
      Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.
      Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would
      be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as
      provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied
      ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall
      be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.

            (f) In the event the Borrower is entitled to replace a
      non-consenting Lender pursuant to Section 9.02(c), the Borrower shall have
      the right, upon five Business Days' prior written notice to the
      Administrative Agent (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly
      transmit to each of the Lenders), to prepay all Loans, together with
      accrued and unpaid interest and other amounts, owing to such Lender in
      accordance with Section 9.02(c) so long as (i) in the case of the
      prepayment of the Loans of any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.11(f),
      the Commitment of such Lender is terminated concurrently with such
      prepayment pursuant to Section 2.08(b), and (ii) in the case of the
      prepayment of the Loans of any Lender, the consents required by
<PAGE>

                                                                              25

      Section 9.02(c) in connection with the prepayment pursuant to this Section
      2.11(f) shall have been obtained, and at such time, such Lender shall no
      longer constitute a "Lender" for purposes of this Agreement, except with
      respect to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 of this Agreement, which
      shall survive as to such Lender.

            SECTION 2.12.  [Intentionally deleted]

            SECTION 2.13.  INTEREST.  (a)  The Loans comprising each ABR
      Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus 5.00%.

            (b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear
      interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for
      such Borrowing plus 6.00%.

            (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest
      on any Loan or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid
      when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such
      overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a
      rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overDue principal of any Loan,
      2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the
      preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other
      amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph
      (a) of this Section.

            (d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on
      each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the
      Commitments; PROVIDED that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c)
      of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any
      repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR
      Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Availability Period), accrued
      interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the
      date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any
      conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest
      Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the
      effective date of such conversion.

            (e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year
      of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate
      Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate
      shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a
      leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of
      days elapsed (including
<PAGE>

                                                                              26

      the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base
      Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative
      Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

            SECTION 2.14.  ALTERNATE RATE OF INTEREST.  If prior to the
      commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

            (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall
            be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable
            means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such
            Interest Period; or

            (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that
            the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately
            and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining
            their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

      then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower
      and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable
      thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and
      the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer
      exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of
      any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar
      Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests
      a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing

            SECTION 2.15.  INCREASED COSTS.  (a)  If any Change in Law
      shall:

            (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit
            or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
            account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such
            reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

            (ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other
            condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such
            Lender or any participation therein;

      and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to
      such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of
      maintaining its obligation to
<PAGE>

                                                                              27

      make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender of
      participating in, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
      receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or
      otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional
      amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs
      incurred or reduction suffered.

            (b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding
      capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of
      return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's holding
      company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by
      such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's
      holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking
      into consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of such
      Lender's holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time
      to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or
      amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender's holding company
      for any such reduction suffered.

            (c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts
      necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case
      may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be
      delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
      The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such
      certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

            (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
      compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
      such Lender's right to demand such compensation; PROVIDED that the
      Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this
      Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days
      prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in
      Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's
      intention to claim compensation therefor; PROVIDED FURTHER that, if the
      Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is
      retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended
      to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

            SECTION 2.16. BREAK FUNDING PAYMENTS. In the event of (a) the
      payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day
      of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an
      Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar
<PAGE>

                                                                              28

      Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
      (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Loan on the
      date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of
      whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(e) and is revoked in
      accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other
      than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result
      of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such
      event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and
      expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such
      loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount
      determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of
      interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had
      such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been
      applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the
      last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of
      a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have
      been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest
      which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the
      interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the
      commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount
      and period from other banks in the Eurodollar market. A certificate of any
      Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to
      receive pursuant to this Section, shall be delivered to the Borrower and
      shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such
      Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days
      after receipt thereof.

            SECTION 2.17. TAXES. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of
      any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document
      shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified
      Taxes or Other Taxes; PROVIDED that if the Borrower shall be required to
      deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i)
      the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all
      required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums
      payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the
      case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received
      had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such
      deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to
      the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
<PAGE>

                                                                              29

            (b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the
      relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

            (c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
      Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount
      of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent
      or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by
      or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any
      other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or
      asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any
      penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with
      respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were
      correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental
      Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability
      delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on
      its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent
      manifest error.

            (d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or
      Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower
      shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy
      of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such
      payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of
      such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

            (e) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of
      the deduction, withholding or payment of an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax
      under the law of the United States or the jurisdiction in which the
      Borrower is located (or any political subdivision thereof), or any treaty
      to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this
      Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative
      Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly
      completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or
      reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be
      made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

            (f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines in good
      faith, but in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund (or a
      reduction in Taxes attributable to foreign tax credits) in respect of any
      Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by
      the Borrower or with respect to which the
<PAGE>

                                                                              30

      Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it
      shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of
      indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under
      this Section 2.17 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
      giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the
      Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any
      interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such
      refund or reduction in Taxes); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Borrower, upon
      the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay
      the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or
      other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the
      Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent
      or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental
      Authority. Nothing contained in this Section 2.17(f) shall require the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or
      any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential)
      to the Borrower or any other Person.

            SECTION 2.18. PAYMENTS GENERALLY; PRO RATA TREATMENT; SHARING OF
      SET-OFFS. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by
      it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of principal,
      interest, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or
      otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when due,
      in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any
      amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
      Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next
      succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All
      such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at
      [ ] except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03
      shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments
      pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified
      therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments
      received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate
      recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment under any
      Loan Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date
      for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in
      the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be
      payable for the period of such extension. All payments under each Loan
      Document shall be made in dollars.
<PAGE>

                                                                              31

            (b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available
      to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal and
      interest then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first,
      towards payment of interest then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
      entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest then due to
      such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due
      hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with
      the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

            (c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or
      counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of
      or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment
      of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued
      interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then
      the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at
      face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent
      necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
      Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of
      and accrued interest on their respective Loans; PROVIDED that (i) if any
      such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment
      giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded
      and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without
      interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed
      to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance
      with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a
      Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation
      in any of its Loans other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
      Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall
      apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent
      it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a
      participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against
      the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such
      participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the
      Borrower in the amount of such participation.

            (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
      the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the
      Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the
      Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume
      that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance
      herewith and may, in reliance upon such
<PAGE>

                                                                              32

      assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if
      the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then the Lenders severally
      agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount
      so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and
      including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the
      date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal
      Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
      accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

            (e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made
      by it pursuant to Section 2.06(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the
      Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
      provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the
      Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such
      Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied
      obligations are fully paid.

            SECTION 2.19. MITIGATION OBLIGATIONS; REPLACEMENT OF Lenders. (a) If
      any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is
      required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
      Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then
      such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending
      office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights
      and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
      affiliates, if, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or
      reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may
      be, in the future and (ii) in the reasonable judgment of such Lender,
      would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and
      would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby
      agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in
      connection with any such designation or assignment.

            (b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if
      the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
      Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section
      2.17, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder,
      then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such
      Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and
      delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
      restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and
      obligations under this
<PAGE>

                                                                              33

      Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which
      assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment);
      PROVIDED that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written
      consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be
      unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an
      amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans accrued interest
      thereon, and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee
      (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) or the
      Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any
      such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15
      or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment
      will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments. A
      Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation
      if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise,
      the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and
      delegation cease to apply.


                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

            Each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. (at such time as it is the
      Borrower hereunder) represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

            SECTION 3.01. ORGANIZATION; POWERS. Each of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and
      the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
      under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite
      power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except
      where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not
      reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is
      qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every
      jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

            SECTION 3.02. AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABILITY. The Financing
      Transactions to be entered into by each Loan Party are within such Loan
      Party's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary
      corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been
      duly executed and delivered by each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. and
      constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is to be
      a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute,
      a legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or such Loan
      Party (as the case may be), enforceable in
<PAGE>

                                                                              34

      accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
      reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights
      generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of
      whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

            SECTION 3.03. GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS; NO CONFLICTS. The Financing
      Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration
      or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except
      (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or
      (ii) routine corporate filings to maintain the good standing of Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. and the Subsidiaries, (b) will not violate any applicable law
      or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any of the Subsidiaries or any order of any
      Governmental Authority and (c) will not violate or result in a default
      under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. or any of the Subsidiaries or their assets, or give rise to a
      right thereunder to require any payment (other than the payments required
      to be made under the Loan Documents) to be made by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or
      any of the Subsidiaries.

            SECTION 3.04.  WARRANT AGREEMENT.  (a)  The Company has the
      corporate power and authority to enter into each Warrant Agreement.

            (b) Each Warrant Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by
      Holdings and, when duly executed and delivered by Holdings, will be the
      legal, valid and binding obligation of Holdings, enforceable against
      Holdings in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
      insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or similar laws
      affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general
      principles of equity and limitations on the validity or enforceability of
      provisions relating to rights of indemnity and contribution set forth
      herein.

            (c) The warrants to be issued under each Warrant Agreement
      (collectively, the "WARRANTS") have been duly and validly authorized for
      issuance and sale by Holdings and, when issued, delivered and paid for in
      accordance with the respective Warrant Agreement, will be the legal, valid
      and binding obligation of Holdings enforceable against Holdings in
      accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the applicable
      Warrant Agreement, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
      fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or similar laws
<PAGE>

                                                                              35

      affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general
      principles of equity.

            (d) The Warrants will be exercisable for common stock of Holdings in
      accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement. The common
      stock to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants has been duly
      authorized for issuance by Holdings and, when issued upon exercise of the
      Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof will be validly issued,
      fully paid and non-assessable, free of any preemptive or similar rights,
      Holdings has reserved sufficient shares of common stock for issuance upon
      the exercise of the Warrants.

            (e) None of (i) the execution, delivery or performance by Holdings
      of either Warrant Agreement, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Warrants
      and (iii) the consummation by Holdings of the transactions contemplated by
      each Warrant Agreement violate, conflict with or constitute a breach of
      any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under (or an event that
      with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default), or
      require consent under, or resulting in the imposition of a lien on any
      properties of Holdings, or an acceleration of any indebtedness of Holdings
      pursuant to, (A) the charter or bylaws of Holdings, (B) any bond,
      debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other
      agreement or instrument to which Holdings is a party or by which it or its
      properties is or may be bound, (C) any statute, rule or regulation
      applicable to Holdings or any of its assets or properties or (D) any
      judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or authority
      having jurisdiction over Holdings or any of its assets or properties,
      except in the case of clauses (B), (C) and (D) for such violations,
      conflicts, breaches, defaults, consents, impositions of liens or
      accelerations that would not singly, or in the aggregate, have a Material
      Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
      filing, registration, qualification, license or permit of or with, (i) any
      court or governmental agency, body or administrative agency or (ii) any
      other person is required for (A) the execution, delivery and performance
      by Holdings of each Warrant Agreement, (B) the issuance of the Warrants
      (or the issuance of the common stock upon exercise of the Warrants) and
      (C) the consummation by Holdings of the transactions contemplated by each
      Warrant Agreement.

            SECTIONS 3.05-3.06.  [intentionally omitted]

            SECTION 3.07. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND AGREEMENTS. Each of Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. and the
<PAGE>

                                                                              36

      Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any
      Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all
      indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its
      property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
      aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
      Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
      continuing.

            SECTION 3.08.  INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY STATUS.  Neither
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) an
      "investment company" as defined in, or subject to regulation under,
      the Investment Company Act of 1940 or (b) a "holding company" as
      defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility
      Holding Company Act of 1935.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   CONDITIONS

            SECTION 4.01. EFFECTIVE DATE. The obligations of the Lenders to make
      Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of
      the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with
      Section 9.02):

            (a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received
            from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement
            signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory
            to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission
            of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has
            signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

            (b) The Lenders shall have received favorable written opinion
            (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the
            Effective Date) of Morrison & Foerster LLP, counsel for Holdings,
            CAIS, Inc. and the other Loan Parties, substantially in the form of
            Exhibit B, and covering such other matters relating to the Loan
            Parties, the Loan Documents or the Financing Transactions as the
            Required Lenders shall reasonably request. Holdings hereby requests
            the counsel referred to in this paragraph to deliver such opinion.

            (c) The Lenders shall have received such documents and certificates
            as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request
            relating
<PAGE>

                                                                              37

            to the organization, existence and good standing of each Loan Party,
            the authorization of the Financing Transactions and any other legal
            matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the
            Financing Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to
            the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

            (d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate,
            dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice
            President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming
            compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
            of Section 4.02.

            (e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all amounts due and
            payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent
            invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses
            required to be reimbursed or paid by any Loan Party hereunder or
            under any other Loan Document.

            (f) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of
            the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement signed on behalf of each
            Subsidiary Loan Party, (ii) counterparts of the Indemnity,
            Subrogation and Contribution Agreement signed on behalf of the
            Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party and (iii) counterparts of
            the Warrant Agreement, signed on behalf of each of the parties
            thereto.

      The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
      Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make
      Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing
      conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior
      to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 25, 2000 (and, in the event
      such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall
      terminate at such time).

            SECTION 4.02. EACH CREDIT EVENT. The obligation of each Lender to
      make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to receipt of the
      request therefor in accordance herewith and to the receipt of a
      certificate from a Financial Officer:

            (a) Certifying that the representations and warranties of each Loan
            Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in
            all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing.
<PAGE>

                                                                              38

            (b) Certifying that (i) at the time of and immediately after giving
            effect to such Borrowing, no Default or Event of Default shall have
            occurred and be continuing and (ii) as of the date of such
            Borrowing, (A) it is reasonably foreseeable that the Asset Sale will
            be completed prior to January 31, 2001 and (B) such Financial
            Officer, after reasonable investigation, has no knowledge of any
            representation or warranty being untrue or covenant breached
            (individually or collectively, an "ADVERSE EVENT") under the Asset
            Purchase Agreement which is reasonably likely to prohibit any party
            thereto from satisfying conditions precedent to closing the Asset
            Sale in accordance with the Asset Purchase Agreement prior to
            January 31, 2001.

            (c) if the Borrowing, together with all other Borrowings made or to
            be made on the same date, is for an amount in excess of $1,000,000,
            specifying in reasonable detail the working capital requirements for
            which the proceeds of such Borrowing will be used and the timing
            thereof.

      Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty
      by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in
      paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section.


                                    ARTICLE V

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

            Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the
      principal of and interest on each Loan payable hereunder shall have been
      paid in full, each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. (at such times as it is the
      Borrower hereunder) covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

            SECTION 5.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION. The
      Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender: (a)
      promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic
      and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Holdings,
      CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
      or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of
      said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed
      by Holdings or CAIS, Inc. to its shareholders generally, as the case may
      be;
<PAGE>

                                                                              39

            (b) promptly following any request therefor, such other information
      regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of
      Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of
      any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
      reasonably request, and

            (c) promptly after the occurrence thereof, information describing
      the occurrence of (i) any Default or Event of Default, (ii) any Adverse
      Event or (iii) any other event or development that could delay or
      materially interfere with the closing of the Asset Sale prior to January
      1, 2001.

            SECTIONS 5.02-5.03.  [Intentionally Omitted].

            SECTION 5.04. EXISTENCE; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Each of Holdings and
      CAIS, Inc. will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or cause
      to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force
      and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits,
      privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names
      material to the conduct of its business.

            SECTION 5.05. ASSET SALE PROCEEDS. Holdings and its Subsidiaries
      shall take all actions requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure
      that the Net Proceeds of the Asset Sale are applied to prepay the Loans in
      accordance with Section 2.11(c), including, if not prohibited by any
      contract to which any Loan Party is a party, granting the Lenders a
      security interest in such Net Proceeds (and related contract rights).

            SECTION 5.06. CONSENTS TO CAIS ASSUMPTION. The Borrower will use
      commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any and all consents necessary
      or reasonably advisable to permit the CAIS Assumption (such that CAIS,
      Inc. is not in violation or default under any indenture, agreement or
      other instrument binding upon CAIS, Inc. or any Loan Party or result in
      the imposition of any Lien or an acceleration of any indebtedness of CAIS,
      Inc. or any Loan Party).

            SECTIONS 5.07-5.08.  [Intentionally Omitted]

            SECTION 5.09. BOOKS AND RECORDS; INSPECTION AND AUDIT Rights. Each
      of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries
      to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and
      correct entries in compliance with GAAP are made of all dealings and
      transactions in relation to its business and
<PAGE>

                                                                              40

      activities. Each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. will, and will cause each of
      the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit
      and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books
      and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its
      officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as
      often as reasonably requested, PROVIDED that the Borrower shall be given
      the opportunity to be present at any discussion with its independent
      accountants.

            SECTION 5.10. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc.
      will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws,
      rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to
      it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in
      the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            SECTION 5.11. USE OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds of the Loans will be
      used solely for working capital requirements within five Business Days of
      the borrowing of such Loans or such unspent amounts shall be repaid to the
      Lenders. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether
      directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of
      the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

            SECTION 5.12. ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARIES. If any additional Subsidiary
      is formed or acquired after the Effective Date, Holdings will notify the
      Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and (a) if such Subsidiary is
      a Subsidiary Loan Party, (i) Holdings will cause such Subsidiary to
      execute and deliver a Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement and (ii) Holdings
      will cause such Subsidiary to become a party to the Indemnity, Subrogation
      and Contribution Agreement, in each case within three Business Days after
      such Subsidiary is formed or acquired.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

            Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal
      of and interest on each Loan payable hereunder have been paid in full,
      each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. (at such times as it is the Borrower
      hereunder) covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
<PAGE>

                                                                              41

            SECTION 6.01.  INDEBTEDNESS.  Holdings and CAIS, Inc. will
      not, and Holdings will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur,
      assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

            (a) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

            (b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in
            Schedule 6.01 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such
            Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount
            thereof or result in an earlier maturity date or decreased weighted
            average life thereof;

            (c) Indebtedness of Holdings to CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary, and of
            any Subsidiary Loan Party (other than CAIS Software) to Holdings,
            CAIS, Inc. or any other Subsidiary and of CAIS, Inc. or CAIS
            Software to Holdings or any Subsidiary in an amount not to exceed
            that required to satisfy their respective working capital needs (as
            communicated to the Administrative Agent hereunder) in the ordinary
            course of business;

            (d) Guarantees by Holdings of Indebtedness of CAIS, Inc. or any
            Subsidiary Loan Party, by CAIS, Inc. of Indebtedness of Holdings or
            any Subsidiary Loan Party and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of
            Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party; provided that any such
            Guarantees of Indebtedness of CAIS, Inc. or CAIS Software shall only
            be to provide credit support in connection with their respective
            working capital requirements (as communicated to the Administrative
            Agent) in the ordinary course of business;

            (e) other Indebtedness referred to on Schedule 6.01A (which shall be
            subject to mutual agreement of the parties hereto); and

            (f) other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not
            exceeding $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.

            SECTION 6.02. LIENS. Holdings and CAIS, Inc. will not, and Holdings
      will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to
      exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by
      it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts
      receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

            (a) Liens created under the Loan Documents;

            (b) Permitted Encumbrances;
<PAGE>

                                                                              42

            (c) any Lien on any property or asset of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any
            Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule
            6.02; PROVIDED that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other
            property or asset of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary and (ii)
            such Lien shall secure only those obligations that it secures on the
            date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that
            do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

            (d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the
            acquisition thereof by CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary or existing on
            any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after
            the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;
            PROVIDED that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in
            connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a
            Subsidiary , as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to
            any other property or assets of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any
            Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations
            that it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such
            Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions,
            renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the
            outstanding principal amount thereof;

            (e) other Liens referred to on Schedule 6.02A (which shall be
            subject to mutual agreement of the parties hereto); and

            (f) other Liens securing obligations not exceeding $1,000,000 at any
            time outstanding.

            SECTION 6.03.  RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.  (a) Each of Holdings and
      CAIS, Inc. will not, nor will Holdings permit any of the
      Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly
      or indirectly, any Restricted Payment except:

            (i) Holdings may declare and pay dividends with respect to its
      capital stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock,

            (ii) Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to Holdings or to any
      wholly owned Subsidiary Loan Party, and

            (iii) Holdings may declare and pay dividends on its Series C
      Preferred Stock in cash to U.S. Telesource, Inc. to the extent required by
      and in accordance with the terms thereof in effect on the date hereof
      (including the
<PAGE>

                                                                              43

      related escrow agreement) on the dates and in the amounts set forth on
      Schedule 6.03.

            SECTION 6.04.  CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  Make or commit to make
      any Capital Expenditure, except Capital Expenditures of CAIS, Inc.
      and other Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business not
      exceeding an amount described on Schedule 6.04 hereto.

            SECTION 6.05. INVESTMENTS. Make any advance, loan, extension of
      credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or
      purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt
      securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any
      other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, "INVESTMENTS"),
      except:

            (a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of
            business;

            (b) investments in Cash Equivalents;

            (c) Guarantee obligations permitted by Section 6.01;

            (d) loans and advances to employees of Holdings or any Subsidiary in
            the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment
            and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any
            one time outstanding an amount set forth on Schedule 6.05;

            (e) Investments existing on the date hereof;

            (f) in addition to Investments otherwise expressly permitted by this
            Section, Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
            an aggregate amount (valued at cost) not to exceed the amount set
            forth on Schedule 6.05A during the term of this Agreement; and

            (g) Investments in any Subsidiary Loan Party or CAIS, Inc., PROVIDED
            that such Investments may be made in CAIS, Inc. or CAIS Software
            solely to satisfy their respective working capital requirements in
            the ordinary course of business (as communicated to the
            Administrative Agent hereunder).
<PAGE>

                                                                              44

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

            If any of the following events ("EVENTS OF DEFAULT") shall occur:

            (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when
            and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due
            date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

            (b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any
            fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause
            (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan
            Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and
            such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three
            Business Days;

            (c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on
            behalf of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any of the Subsidiaries in or in
            connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification
            thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate or other
            document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan
            Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver
            thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material
            respect when made or deemed made;

            (d) Holdings or CAIS, Inc. shall fail to observe or perform any
            covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.04 (with
            respect to the existence of Holdings or CAIS, Inc.) or 5.11 or in
            Article VI;

            (e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant,
            condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than
            those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such
            failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after
            notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which
            notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

            (f) Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any
            payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount)
            in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall
            become due and payable;
<PAGE>

                                                                              45

            (g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material
            Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that
            enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse
            of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness
            or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material
            Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment,
            repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled
            maturity; PROVIDED that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured
            Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or
            transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

            (h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary
            petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or
            other relief in respect of Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary or
            its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any
            Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
            similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a
            receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar
            official for Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary or for a
            substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, either (A)
            there shall be a period of 60 days during which such proceeding or
            petition shall not be dismissed, vacated or stayed pending appeal or
            (B) an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing
            shall be entered;

            (i) Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily
            commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation,
            reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign
            bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter
            in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in
            a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition
            described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent
            to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator,
            conservator or similar official for Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any
            Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an
            answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed
            against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for
            the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of
            effecting any of the foregoing;
<PAGE>

                                                                              46

            (j) Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any Subsidiary shall become unable,
            admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as
            they come due; or

            (k) any Loan Document shall, at any time, cease to be in full force
            and effect (unless released by the Administrative Agent at the
            direction of the Required Lenders or all Lenders (to the extent
            required by subsection 9.02 of this Agreement) or as otherwise
            permitted under this Agreement) or shall be declared null and void,
            or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any
            Loan Party,

      then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the
      Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time
      thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent
      may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the
      Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or
      different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the
      Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then
      outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any
      principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared
      to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so
      declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and
      all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall
      become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest
      or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the
      Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described
      in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically
      terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with
      accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the
      Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable,
      without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
      which are hereby waived by the Borrower.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

            Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative
      Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such
      actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the
      Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents,
<PAGE>

                                                                              47

      together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental
      thereto.

            The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have
      the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender
      and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent,
      and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to
      and generally engage in any kind of business with Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or
      any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the
      Administrative Agent hereunder.

            The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations
      except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting
      the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be
      subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a
      Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall
      not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any
      discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly
      contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is
      required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other
      number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the
      circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly
      set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have
      any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
      any information relating to Holdings, CAIS, Inc. or any of the
      Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as
      Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The
      Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken
      by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such
      other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the
      circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own
      gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be
      deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written
      notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by Holdings, CAIS,
      Inc. or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible
      for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement,
      warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan
      Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document
      delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or
      observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or
      conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity,
      enforceability,
<PAGE>

                                                                              48

      effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement,
      instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth
      in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm
      receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative
      Agent.

            The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall
      not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request,
      certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing
      believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper
      Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to
      it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper
      Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The
      Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel
      for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by
      it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in
      accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

            The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and
      exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents
      appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any
      such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights
      and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory
      provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent
      and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such
      sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection
      with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well
      as activities as Administrative Agent.

            Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
      Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative
      Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower.
      Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in
      consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor
      shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have
      accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative
      Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative
      Agent may, in consultation with the Borrower and on behalf of the Lenders,
      appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an
      office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the
      acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a
      successor, such successor shall
<PAGE>

                                                                              49

      succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and
      duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
      Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
      hereunder. After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the
      provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for
      the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and
      their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or
      omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative
      Agent.

            Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without
      reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on
      such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
      credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender
      also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon
      the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents
      and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue
      to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based
      upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or related agreement or any
      document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            SECTION 9.01. NOTICES. Except in the case of notices and other
      communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices
      and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall
      be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or
      registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

            (a) if to the Borrower, to it at 1255 22nd Street N.W., Fourth
            Floor, Washington, D.C. 20037, Attention of the President
            (Telecopy No. 202-463-7190); with a copy to
            Morrison & Foerster LLP, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
            New York 10104-0050, Telephone: (212) 468-8000,
            Facsimile: (212) 468-7900, Attention: Lorraine Massaro, Esq.;

            (b) if to the Administrative Agent to it at c/o Kohlberg Kravis
            Roberts & Co., 9 West 57th Street, Suite 4200, New York, New York
            10019, Telephone: (212) 750-8300; Facsimile: (212) 750-0003,
            Attention: Alexander Navab; with a copy to Simpson Thacher &
            Bartlett, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017,
            Telephone: (212) 455-2000, Facsimile: (212) 455-2502,
            Attention: Marni Lerner, Esq.

            (c) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy
            number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
<PAGE>

                                                                              50

      Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and
      other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All
      notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance
      with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given
      on the date of receipt.

            SECTION 9.02. WAIVERS; AMENDMENTS. (a) No failure or delay by the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power
      hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver
      thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or
      power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a
      right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
      exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
      Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan
      Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies
      that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan
      Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in
      any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)
      of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only
      in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without
      limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not
      be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of
      such Default at the time.

            (b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any
      provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except, in
      the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in
      writing entered into by Holdings, CAIS, Inc. and the Required Lenders or,
      in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or
      agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the
      Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each case with the
      consent of the Required Lenders; PROVIDED that no such agreement shall (i)
      increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such
      Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of
      interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the
      written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the
      maturity of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable
      hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such scheduled
      payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment,
      without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change
      Section
<PAGE>

                                                                              51

      2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of
      payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v)
      change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of the term
      "Required Lenders" or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying
      the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any
      rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent
      thereunder, or (vi) release Holdings from its Guarantee under the Parent
      Guarantee Agreement (except as expressly provided in the Parent Guarantee
      Agreement), or limit its liability in respect of such Guarantee or release
      any Subsidiary Loan Party from its Guarantee under the Subsidiary
      Guarantee Agreement (except as expressly provided in the applicable
      Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement), or limit its liability in respect of such
      Guarantee, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;
      PROVIDED FURTHER that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise
      affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent without the prior
      written consent of the Administrative Agent.

            (c) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, modification,
      termination or waiver of or to any of the provisions of this Agreement or
      the other Loan Documents contemplated by the first proviso to Section
      9.02(b) the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of
      one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not
      obtained, then the Borrower shall have the right to either (i) replace any
      such non-consenting Lender or Lenders with one or more replacement Lenders
      in the same manner as provided in Section 2.19(b) so long as at the time
      of such replacement, each such replacement Lender consents to the proposed
      amendment, modification, termination or waiver, or (ii) terminate any such
      non-consenting Lender's Commitment and repay in full its outstanding Loans
      in accordance with Sections 2.08(e) and 2.11(f); PROVIDED that unless the
      Commitments that are terminated and the Loans that are repaid pursuant to
      the preceding clause (ii) are immediately replaced in full at such time
      through the addition of new Lenders or the increase of the Commitments
      and/or outstanding Loans of existing Lenders (who in each case must
      specifically consent thereto), then in the case of any action pursuant to
      the preceding clause (ii), each Lender (other than the terminated Lender
      or Lenders) must consent to such termination.

            SECTION 9.03. EXPENSES; INDEMNITY; DAMAGE WAIVER. (a) The Borrower
      shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
      Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including charges and
      disbursements of counsel and accountants (including,
<PAGE>

                                                                              52

      without limitation, Deloitte & Touche) for the Administrative Agent, in
      connection with the preparation and administration of, or decision to
      enter into, the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers
      of the provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated
      hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all reasonable
      out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, including the
      reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the
      Administrative Agent, in connection with the enforcement or protection of
      its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights
      under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder,
      including all such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any
      workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

            (b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
      Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such
      Person being called an "INDEMNITEE") against, and hold each Indemnitee
      harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
      related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any
      counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee
      arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or
      delivery of any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument
      contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties to the Loan Documents
      of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the
      Financing Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii)
      any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or
      prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any
      of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and
      regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; PROVIDED that
      such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
      that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses
      resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such
      Indemnitee.

            (c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required
      to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of
      this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative
      Agent such Lender's pro rata share (determined as of the time that the
      applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such
      unpaid amount; PROVIDED that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss,
      claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was
      incurred by or asserted
<PAGE>

                                                                              53

      against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such. For purposes
      hereof, a Lender's "pro rata share" shall be determined based upon its
      share of the total outstanding Loans and unused Commitments at the time.

            (d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, neither Holdings nor
      CAIS, Inc. shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any
      Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, (i) for special, indirect,
      consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages)
      arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or
      any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Financing
      Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or (ii) arising
      out of, in connection with, or as a result of the use by others of
      information or other materials obtained through electronic,
      telecommunications or other information transmission systems (PROVIDED
      that, in the case of clause (ii), such Indemnitee utilized the same degree
      of care in connection therewith as it uses for other confidential
      information).

            (e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly
      after written demand therefor.

            SECTION 9.04. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. (a) The provisions of this
      Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
      hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby,
      except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its
      rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each
      Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without
      such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed
      or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the
      parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby
      and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of
      each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable
      right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

            (b) Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion
      of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
      portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); PROVIDED
      that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or a Lender
      Affiliate of a Lender, the Administrative Agent must give its prior
      written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be
      unreasonably withheld), (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a
      Lender or a Lender Affiliate of a Lender
<PAGE>

                                                                              54

      or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's
      Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the
      assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the
      date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is
      delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $2,500,000
      unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise
      consent, (iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
      proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations
      under this Agreement, (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute
      and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance,
      together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (v) the
      assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative
      Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and PROVIDED FURTHER that any
      consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not
      be required if an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII
      has occurred and is continuing. Subject to acceptance and recording
      thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the
      effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee
      thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest
      assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
      obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender
      thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such
      Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this
      Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all
      of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement,
      such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be
      entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any
      assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this
      Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for
      purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in
      such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this
      Section.

            (c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of
      the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York
      a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register
      for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the
      Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender
      pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "REGISTER"). The
      entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and Holdings, CAIS, Inc., the
      Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is
      recorded in the Register
<PAGE>

                                                                              55

      pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of
      this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall
      be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any
      reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

            (d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance
      executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's completed
      Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a
      Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in
      paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment
      required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall
      accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained
      therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of
      this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in
      this paragraph.

            (e) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the
      Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other
      entities (a "PARTICIPANT") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and
      obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its
      Commitment and the Loans owing to it); PROVIDED that (i) such Lender's
      obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender
      shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
      performance of such obligations and (iii) Holdings, CAIS, Inc., the
      Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely
      and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
      obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to
      which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender
      shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve
      any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan
      Documents; PROVIDED that such agreement or instrument may provide that
      such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any
      amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to
      Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of
      this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled
      to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if
      it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to
      paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each
      Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as
      though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees
<PAGE>

                                                                              56

      to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.

            (f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater
      payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have
      been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such
      Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is
      made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would
      be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the
      benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the
      participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for
      the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it
      were a Lender.

            (g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest
      in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure
      obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and with the consent of the
      Borrower and Administrative Agent any Lender which is an investment fund
      may pledge all or any portion of its loans to its trustee in support of
      its obligations to such trustee, and this Section shall not apply to any
      such pledge or assignment of a security interest; PROVIDED that no such
      pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from
      any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or
      assignee for such Lender as a party hereto and in no event shall such
      Federal Reserve Bank or trustee be considered to be a "Lender" or be
      entitled to require the assigning Lender to take or omit to take any
      action hereunder.

            SECTION 9.05. SURVIVAL. All covenants, agreements, representations
      and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the
      certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant
      to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have
      been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the
      execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans
      regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its
      behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may
      have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or
      warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue
      in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued
      interest on any Loan or any other amount payable under this Agreement is
      outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or
      terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and
      Article VIII shall survive and remain in
<PAGE>

                                                                              57

      full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions
      contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or
      termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any
      provision hereof.

            SECTION 9.06. COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS. This
      Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto
      on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original,
      but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
      This Agreement, the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract
      among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any
      and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating
      to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this
      Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
      Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received
      counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of
      each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and
      inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
      and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of
      this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually
      executed counterpart of this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.07. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement held to
      be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
      jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality
      or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and
      enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a
      particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate
      such provision in any other jurisdiction.

            SECTION 9.08. RIGHT OF SETOFF. If an Event of Default shall have
      occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is
      hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent
      permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or
      special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other
      obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the
      credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the
      obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement
      held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have
      made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be
      unmatured. The rights of each Lender
<PAGE>

                                                                              58

      under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including
      other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

            SECTION 9.09.  GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION; CONSENT TO SERVICE
      OF PROCESS.  (a)  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
      with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

            (b) Each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. hereby irrevocably and
      unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive
      jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New
      York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern
      District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any
      action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or
      for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties
      hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in
      respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in
      such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal
      court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such
      action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
      jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by
      law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any
      right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to
      bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other
      Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any
      jurisdiction.

            (c) Each of Holdings and CAIS, Inc. hereby irrevocably and
      unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and
      effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
      laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
      relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court
      referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto
      hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the
      defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
      proceeding in any such court.

            (d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
      process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in
      this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any
      party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by
      law.
<PAGE>

                                                                              59

            SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES,
      TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
      TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING
      OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE
      TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY
      OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE,
      AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR
      OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION,
      SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE
      OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY,
      AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

            SECTION 9.11. HEADINGS. Article and Section headings and the Table
      of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not
      part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be
      taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

            SECTION 9.12. CONFIDENTIALITY. Each of the Administrative Agent and
      the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as
      defined below) in accordance with their customary procedures, except that
      Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors,
      officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and
      other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such
      disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such
      Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to
      the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent
      required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar
      legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection
      with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or
      proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
      enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement
      containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to
      any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or
      Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g)
      with the consent of the Borrower, (h) to the extent such Information (i)
      becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this
      Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any
      Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Holdings or
      CAIS, Inc. or any of its Affiliates or (i) to any actual or prospective
      direct or indirect contractual counterparty with a Lender
<PAGE>

                                                                              60

      or its affiliates in a swap or other derivative agreement or such
      counterparty's professional advisor (so long as such contractual
      counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty
      agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 9.12); PROVIDED that,
      unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each
      Lender shall notify the Borrower of any request by any regulatory
      authority or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process (other
      than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial
      condition of such Lender by such regulatory authority) for disclosure of
      any such nonpublic information prior to disclosure of such information.
      For the purposes of this Section, "INFORMATION" means all information
      received from Holdings or CAIS, Inc. or any of its Affiliates relating to
      Holdings or CAIS, Inc. or any of the Subsidiaries or their respective
      businesses, other than any such information that is available to the
      Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
      disclosure by Holdings or CAIS, Inc. or any of its Affiliates; PROVIDED
      that, in the case of information received from Holdings or CAIS, Inc.
      after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time
      of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the
      confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be
      considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person
      has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of
      such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential
      information.

            SECTION 9.13. INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Notwithstanding anything
      herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any
      Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated
      as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the
      "CHARGES"), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "MAXIMUM RATE")
      which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the
      Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of
      interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all
      Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate
      and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been
      payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the
      operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges
      payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be
      increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated
      amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate
      to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
<PAGE>

                                                                              61

            SECTION 9.14. ASSUMPTION BY CAIS, INC. The parties hereto agree that
      if Holdings or any other Loan Party shall obtain any necessary consents in
      respect of the CAIS Assumption from Nortel and its Affiliates (or the CAIS
      Assumption is otherwise not prohibited), CAIS, Inc. shall assume (the
      "CAIS ASSUMPTION") Holdings' rights and obligations as Borrower under this
      Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to documentation
      satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, Holdings shall simultaneously be
      released from its obligations as Borrower hereunder and shall execute and
      deliver the Parent Guarantee Agreement, and all references herein to the
      Borrower shall be deemed to be references to CAIS, Inc. MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

            SECTION 9.15. WARRANTS. (a) In the event that the CAIS Assumption
      does not occur by November 15, 2000, then Holdings shall enter into a
      warrant agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto (the
      "INITIAL WARRANT AGREEMENT"), with each Lender and issue warrants to
      purchase 500,000 shares of common stock of Holdings, which warrants shall
      be issued pro rata to the Lenders based on the amount of each of their
      respective Commitments, Loans and other amounts owed hereunder as of such
      date. In the event the CAIS Assumption does not occur by November 22,
      2000, then Holdings shall issue additional warrants to purchase 500,000
      shares of common stock of Holdings pursuant to the Initial Warrant
      Agreement, which warrants shall be issued pro rata to the Lenders based on
      the amount of each of their respective Commitments, Loans and other
      amounts owed hereunder as of such date.

            (b) In the event that the Commitments have not been terminated and
      the principal of and the interest on each Loan and any fees hereunder have
      not been paid in full on or before December 31, 2000, Holdings shall enter
      into a warrant agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto
      (the "SECOND WARRANT AGREEMENT", together with the Initial Warrant
      Agreement, the "WARRANT AGREEMENT"), with each Lender and issue warrants
      to purchase a number of shares of common stock of Holdings equal to the
      difference between (i) the number of shares of common stock of Holdings
      equal to 19.9% of the number of outstanding shares of common stock on the
      date hereof and (ii) the sum of (A) 2,000,000 and (B) the number of
      warrants issued pursuant to Section 9.15(a).

            SECTION 9.16. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE LENDERS. Each Lender represents
      and acknowledges that the Loans are not registered under the Securities
      Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any state
      securities laws, that the extension of the Loans are being
<PAGE>

                                                                              62

      made in reliance on the exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of
      the Securities Act and from similar exemptions under state securities laws
      as not involving any public offering and that the Borrower's reliance on
      such exemption is predicated in part on the representations made by each
      Lender to and with the Borrower that such Lender (1) is acquiring the
      Loans for investment for its own account, with no present intention of
      reselling or otherwise distributing the same (other than a portion of its
      Commitments, Loans and other obligations hereunder to R. Theodore Ammon),
      (2) is an "accredited investor" as defined in Regulation D under the
      Securities Act, and (3) has such knowledge and experience in financial and
      business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
      the investments made or to be made in connection with the extension of the
      Loans. The Loans may not be transferred except (i) pursuant to an
      effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) pursuant
      to Rule 144 under the Securities Act if the transferor delivers a
      certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
      Borrower, that such transfer complies with the requirements of Rule 144,
      or (iii) pursuant to any other available exemption from registration if
      such transferee makes the representations set forth in the preceding
      sentence in writing to the Borrower and, in the case of any transfer
      pursuant to clause (iii) other than to an affiliate of such Lender or R.
      Theodore Ammon, with the delivery to the Borrower of an opinion of counsel
      reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower by counsel reasonably satisfactory
      to the Borrower (and the Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that
      Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower),
      stating that no registration is required under the Securities Act.

<PAGE>

                                                                              63

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


                                    CAIS INTERNET, INC.,

                                       by
                                         /s/ William M. Campbell IV
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: William M. Campbell IV
                                         Title: President


                                    CII Ventures II LLC,
                                    individually and as
                                    Administrative Agent,

                                       by
                                         /s/ Alexander Navab
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Alexander Navab
                                         Title: President


                                    ULYSSES G. AUGER II

                                    by
                                         /s/ Ulysses G. Auger II
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: Ulysses G. Auger
                                         Title:


<PAGE>


                                    R. THEODORE AMMON

                                    by:
                                         /s/ R. Theodore Ammon
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name: R. Theodore Ammon
                                         Title:



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